Incompatible cartridges I have an Epson CX7450 Multifunction printer, on the epson website it says you can use 69, 88 & 68 print cartridges.T have purchased 68 cartridges from Epson, but the printer tells me that the cartridge is incompatible. Does anybody have an answer ?

Your black cartridge may be dried out. Repkace it and/or clean with warm water until ink appears on the bottom nozzles

Usually when this happens the printer fails to goes through the motions of the printing process, kind of stands still with indicator lights just blinking away. This could be as a result of either of these scenarios.
i.                     Ink cartridge has developed incompatibility or is incompatible
The Solution is to try an older/another cartridge (doesn’t matter if ink is finished. You must replace cartridge one at a time). If lights stop blinking it confirms that your cartridge has become incompatible or developed incompatibility. Also if your printer is the type that can work with only one cartridge, remove one after the other (closing back the lid/cover) to determine which in the set (black or color) has become incompatible. At the instance the incompatible one is removed and you close the lid, the blinking will stop (for printers that can print with one ink cartridge only). Just replace the incompatible one and start printing again. In most cases the issue is always with one cartridge. But if both are affected, you have to replace both. Because of this type of problem, always keep used cartridges somewhere safe; they come in handy for this type of troubleshooting.
ii.                   The Cartridge electronic panel  is dirty
The electronic panel on the cartridge that makes contact with the cartridge carrier inside the printer is dirty and needs cleaning.  This electronic panel is front part of the cartridge with copper “dots”.
The Solution is to try to clean this panel with a piece of folded tissue paper soaked in a bit of methylated spirit. Also try to clean the area in the cartridge carrier/holder that makes contact with the cartridge’s electronic panel (Usually this is more difficult). If you cannot reach it with your fingers, use a stick or something with tissue wrapped around it. Allow to dry well and return the cartridges, close the cover. The blinking should stop if the electronic panel is the issue. Once the blinking stops the printer will print.

You may download the Epson printer driver in Epson website.

Follow this link to Epson's manual for your printer.
On the left, choose Remove and Install Catridges. It will guide you through it.

http://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/cx74__/cx74__ug/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm

Did you remove the cartridges when it went out of ink? If so, the printer head is clogged. Anyway, If you didn't remove the cartridges and the "a while ago" means "Long time ago", is more likely the printer head is clogged. You may need to run the "cleaning printer head" feature from the printer or replace the printer head.

Inkjet printers should be used frequently to avoid this issue.

Fiend your solution direct from EPSON. Here is your solution...

http://www.epson.com/printer/prob676ijt65/solution

tiuy24

Hi, this is not a solution because I don't think there is one apart from buying new inks. You need to consider 2 things, firstly the official line: Epson (and all other inkjet manufacturers) do this to prevent the coloured print head nozzles from getting blocked. If they are not used for a long time the ink dries up and blocks the nozzles. Epson recommends printing at least once a month with all colours to prevent this. Whenever the printer is turned on it performs a head clean, this is why the coloured inks get used over time even though they are not used for printing. It is also why the "print in Black only" option (available on some printers) only works when the coloured inks are OK.
The 2nd unofficial line is that it is a win-win situation for manufacturers. Firstly they get to cut down on costly warranty call outs for blocked heads (replacement printers, technician manhours, etc) and secondly they get to sell lots more inks (Ka-ching!). If you really want to print black text only (and save cash on price per-print) then a mono-laser printer is the best way as they can now be bought at inkjet prices.

The cartridge may be defective, as I seen this numerous times, try buying another cartridge from a diffrent retailer and make sure the tape is removed before installing the cartridge.
If this works, you can contact Epson if it is there OEM cartridge that is defective for a refund or replacement.
Good Luck.

I don't know where you got your #88 cartridges from or who told you that they were compatible with your printer, but they were wrong.

The CX7450 will only work with the #69 type cartridges.

The cartridges themselves may look similar but the chip programming will be different for each.

Hope that helps.

Hi altashll,

Printers can be such a headache. Your problem could be one of two things.

Change the Ink
First, your printer may just be low on ink and the cartridge needs replaced.

Clean the Print Head
If you are having the same problems after replacing the cartridge, you may need to clean the Print Head. This is easier than it sounds. All you have to do is press and hold the Stop button for at least 3 seconds until the On light starts flashing. Then release. You will hear the printer making quite a racket, but the cleaning should only last 1 minute (do not turn off your printer during this process or you may damage it permanently)

Good luck.

-SHG