Epson Service warning

This is a common error with ALL Epson printers and you can find out more about what it means, what you can do about it and even instructions for fitting a waste ink kit for your printer via here:
http://www.octoink.co.uk/waste

In terms of resetting the waste ink counter, the SSC utility should work but you may need the AdjProg (Adjustment Program) instead depending on whether the printer firmware is willing to talk to SSC or not.

Hope that helps.

Martin

Main features.
SSC Service Utility allow you to do many amazing things with Your Epson printer :
1) Work directly with CSIC in Epson printers cartridges.
2) Reset or rewrite any chip using special addon device.
3) Freeze internal ink counters.
4) Reset internal ink counters even with empty cartridges.
5) Separate cleaning of color and black heads for all Epson inkjet printers, powerful cleaning mode.
6) Hot swapping of cartridges supported.
7) Resetting of protection counter (even then it is already full).
8) More then 100 different Epson printers supported
This allow many people with high printing demands to save some money (program works with both black and color cartridges).
Up to day this software works under Windows 95/98/ME/2K2/XP with both the LPT and USB printers.
NOTE ! You can lost Epson lifetime guarantee on print head by refilling ink cartridges!
Latest versions changes:

Take the printer to a qualified technician, to reset the "chip" that records the %-full of the ink-pad absorber.

this is idicative of a waste pad counter overflow, the ssc printer utility can clear the inbuilt counter but if your using your printer a lot it would be a good idea to replace or clean the waste pad, its inside the printer and will bee messy but if your doing lots of prints it will be less messy than if it overflows

its cause ur not black

Hi Beverley

There is some confusion here. You say "ink sponge needs replacing" in an Epson C86 (although you have your query posted under HP Officejet 5610!) - I presume you mean the waste ink pads. If so, you need to dismantle the printer - the pads are not under the print head but deep inside the case. I can provide all the information you need to complete this task if you really want to do it yourself. Please post a new comment requesting this assistance if you do.

Hi e-margaret. There's a bit of confusion here. Horizontal banding is due to LACK of ink flow to the paper. "Splodging" is due to too much. The former can be due to blocked/faulty print head nozzles or a faulty/empty-ish cartridge, or some less common problem like the waste ink pipe blocked. The latter is usually due to a leaking cartridge.

The first job is to mop up ink slopping around under the print head. Cut some strips of kitchen towel and fold them into 3 layers so you have a strip about 2 cm wide. Place them on the print head track. Turn on the printer, and as soon as the print head moves, pull out the power cord from the back of the printer. Now you should be able to move the print head carefully by hand too and fro over the towels. Repeat this with clean towel strips until most of the surplus ink is cleaned up. Remove the towel strips, replug in the power chord and switch the printer back on. Do a head clean cycle and nozzle check 3 or 4 times. If the nozzle check output looks OK, try a test print of a text document

If things are still not OK, report back on what happens in a new comment. If my instructions are not clear enough, please post a new comment asking for clarification.

I assume that you aren't getting any error messages or flashing lights and that the paper is going through but coming out clean. If so try doing 4 to 5 head cleans, wait about 10 hours for the ink to soften and do another 3 or 4 cleans with a nozzle check after each. You should see a gradual improvement in the nozzle checks. If there is no improvement then you need a head cleaning solution such as this one:
http://www.powerklin.co.uk/?gclid=CNGDypir-JgCFQ4yQgodZlC4lw

Others are available just try googling "inkjet head cleaning".
Hope this helps.
Please take a moment to rate this solution, thanks.

If you have already tried 3 consecutive head cleanings and nozzle check from the computer, tried reseating the inks and tried replacing the ink and it still acts like its printing but just provides a blank page chance are your printer already has hardware issue. The ink delivery system is already clogged. If your printer is still within the 1-year warranty period I suggest that you call Epson Tech support for more options otherwise, you would need to get the product repaired by an Epson certified service center. To locate a servicer in your area click on the link http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SuppProductSearch.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes

If you have already have done 3 consecutive head cleaning and nozzle check from the computer, reseated the ink and replaced the inks, you printer already has a hardware issue. The ink delivery system is clogged and needs to be serviced. If your printer is within the 1-year period I would recommend that you contact Epson Tech support for other options otherwise, you would need to get printer repaired by an Epson certified service center. To locate a servicer in you area click on the link http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SuppProductSearch.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes