I keep getting a cartridge alignment failure with multiple cartridges tried

If the new (or refilled/reman/compatible) HP 60 (or 60XL) ink cartridge refuses to complete the printer alignment following cartridge installation, then the ink cartridge either has a connectivity issue with the flexible printed circuit cable (inside unit where cartridge mates with cable), rear cartridge contacts or cable contacts are dirty with ink residue, or the cartridge is suffering from marginal internal electrical performance.

The types of 'more severe' cartridge errors (i.e. "refer to documentation" / "incompatible cartridges", etc.), including blinking power/exclamation lights, typically indicate the internal micro-electronics of the HP #60-61 cartridge are electrically damaged. The cartridge's electrical wire runs at rear and lower side of the ink cartridge, are very delicate and are somewhat susceptible to ink attack over time, which can lead to premature failures. In addition, the older the cartridge the higher the chance of an internal electrical failure due to prolonged ink exposure and subsequent circuit corrosion. I suggest you always run a 'Tap 41' diagnostic test to check cartridges electrical health (this is a forced test); you may also bypass the error (temporarily) on C4600-C4700 models which use HP 60 cartridges. Refer to Inkjet411 youtube videos below:

HP 60, 60XL, 61, 61XL Ink Cartridge Refills - Solving Errors & Warnings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BskAfa6NJSg

HP Photosmart C4600 & C4700 Printers - Diagnostics Tap 41 Test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghxjLCn07Jo

HP Photosmart C4600 C4700 D110a Printers - HP 60 Cartridge Error Bypass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNVJmKPlLsg

HP Deskjet F2400 F4400 and F4500 Printers - Diagnostics Tap 41 Test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-OM09NvNqg

HP Deskjet 4200 Printers - Diagnostics Tap 41 Test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16uXSBwTan8

HP Deskjet D2500 & D2600 Printer -Tap 10 Diagnostic Test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTFOBtdthAc

alignment error usually means that one cartridge is not printing, or paper tray is empty.
try removing both cartridges then stamp each printhead on some folded tissue paper. You should get one solid strip of black ink with the black cart and 3 colour strips with the colour cart.
If you don't...there is your problem.

good luck

LC1000
www.inkbank.com.au

Sorry to ask a dumb question but did you remove the protective tape on the cartridge when you installed it? If yes, then proceed to the following HP help page where the align cartridge error is outlined along with several solutions. Best of luck!
Greg

OfficeJet k60 Align Cartridge

go to properties on the printer, maintenance, and align the cartridges from there

try to hit set up button then hit opions button to by pass error message

Then printer successfully printed alligment page you must to put this list on scanner glass to confimation and calibration of printing heads and press "Start or OK", without this part of procedure yours printer will be show error message.

Who are you talking to? There are no replies to this post except yours.

Try switching the cartridges around.You may have them reversed.
Black in Color slot - Color in Black slot.

There is no doubt in my mind it Will be the cartridges you are using, alignment will continue to be requested if print out is missing bits do yourself a favour and use HP gen., not trying to plug HP just telling you the facts

Check the date on your ink cartridge.  I bet it has expired.  If you put in a "new"cartridge but it is even an HP one with an older date, it may not work.
I had my printer stop in the middle of a print job.  It was printing fine and suddenly would not print.  So I refilled the cartridge with an ink kit I had on hand and reinserted it--no go!  Then I opened a remanufactured cartridge I had bought some time ago and inserted it.  No go, despite the fact I could see ink coming from the jets.  I finally gave up and bought a new HP ink cartridge, and it worked just fine.  But it bugged me why the new one would work and the other two that seemed just fine would not.
Later I learned that HP has a chip that reads the expiration date on the cartridges and that is what keeps those old ones from printing.  I found one trick of setting my date on my computer back to a year earlier than the exp date on the cartridge.  I saw the date on the remanufactured one I had tried earlier was 2005, so I set my computer date to today's date but year 2004.  After forcing me to do print alignments several times and take the remanufactured cartridge out and put it back, I got it to print just fine.  And that 2005 cartridge that would not work earlier is what I am printing with right now.

Hi, You need to get a new ink cartridge. It is really not recommended to refill ink cartridges but if you do then it is advisable not to exceed 3 times because it could damage the printer head. If the new inks still gives error, then your printer head may need to be checked to see if it needs replacing. Good luck!