"unable to clean" message prevents me from printing. It started after I had changed a couple of ink cartridges. Have since tried to remove them and re-install, but same error message appears.

why does my printer say ink cartridge missing or damaged ...

h30434.www3.hp.com > Printers & All-In-Ones > Print Issues
Aug 8, 2012 - 10 posts I recently changed my ink cartridges ( colors and black) and now it says that the ... why does my printer say ink cartridge missing or damaged? ... cartridge from Office max and it still has the message and I am unable to print. ... Remove the cartridge and take a close look at the tiny circuit card on the section ...

The Lexmark x7170 should let you continue printing with the ink cartridge regardless of the estimated ink with most cartridges. The only exception to this is if the cartridges are part of Lexmark's returns programme. I would advise removing the cartridge and checking for small text stating "Return Programme Cartridge" on the label. If this is present sadly there is no way of continuing, apart from buying a new cartridge.

With regards to the low ink estimate, am I right in assuming you are using a refilled or remanufactured ink cartridge? If so this is unavoidable but should not prevent you from printing until the ink physically runs out.

The messages unable to print, unable to clean, unable 36, error 46 and error 32 are all print head errors.

1. Remove all the ink cartridges from the machine
2. Clean the contacts on the cartridges as well as inside the machine itself with a small amount of warm water or alcohol on a cotton swab until no ink comes off on the swab.

Note: if any of the other cartridges are low, empty, leaking or bulging replace them

3. Then turn off the machine and unplug it for 70 seconds
4. Plug it back it and wait for the insert cartridges message
5. Insert the cartridges and check to see if the problem is still there. If it is it means the print head has failed and in order to fix this the print head inside the printer needs to be replaced. The print head is the part of the printer that puts ink from the cartridges onto the page

Unfortunately this can sometimes cost more to replace then the machine itself.

Unplug the printer from power cord.Press and hold the "menu" button, then plug the device.You'll see on the LCD screen a "machine error" code.If this code is 40,41,49 or 4F the print head is defective.If the error is 48 - defective print head cable or circuit board.If the error is 50 or 51 there is error in Purge unit and printer require service.If the error is 46 the waste ink tank is full.Follow this:
Enter 80, then scroll down with the arrow down (round) key. You'll find an entry listed as purge count. If number is over 6000, enter 2 7 8 3.This will reset the purge count value. Then restart the printer, hopefully without the annoying cannot clean message.

Hi there, " Unplug the printer cable from the computer. " Unistall the printer drivers from Device manager and also unistall the all the printer appications " restart the computer " try to download drivers from the website " after installing drivers and software it will ask you to connect the printer. " then you can connect the printer and and try to Print the test page.



Print cartridge
When the print cartridge contacts are dirty and the printer cannot detect/communicate with print cartridge.
Clean the contact points on the cartridges with a dry, lint-free cloth.
1. Open the top cover of the printer.
2. Remove the print cartridges.
3. Clean the copper-colored contact points on the cartridges with a damp, lint-free cloth. Use a dry, lint-free cloth to remove moisture from the contacts.
5. Insert the cartridges back into the printer.
6. Close the top cover.
7. Try printing again.
If you still cant communicate try with new cartridge .

Not a cleanable type head, filiment gets burnt, when ink is not around it when printing is done. Ie dodgy ink blocks lines or has air in it and has permanently stuffed the print head, fix on brothers is replace head, cost excessive.,..time for the bin and the newfound wisdom that inks aint just inks.

Ink empy or no inks is read in ink well compartment via a black flag in ink cartridge that must be up and floating as not to obstuct photocell in well area.. check the rectangler bump in rear middle of cartridge. All cartridges must have flags up ie not empty, seeing ink does not indicate a cartridge with ink, a little is always left to prevent air entering system, hence machine calling out no innk cartridge to prevent damage...

My color has not worked well in the past few months. Now I get the message Unable to Print, Use Troubleshooting and rountine maintenance chapter in user's manual. I've tried everything it told me. I've removed all ink cartridges and left them upright (they are ALL brand new) and cleaned all the ink ports. I've cleaned the machine several times. It's told me there's no ink cartrige, I've replaced them, turned the machine off and on, unlplugged, etc. Then go to print and I get the same message again and it won't print. The machine is almost 2 years old and has worked fine until about 6 months ago when the magenta stopped working all together. Now this. Any help? Thanks.

Supported HP ink cartridge part numbers The HP PSC 2100, 2170, and 2200 all-in-one series products use the ink cartridges listed in the table below. The HP 58 tri-color photo ink cartridge replaces the black ink cartridge for six-ink photo printing. Ink cartridges Part number HP 56 black ink cartridge (19 ml) C6656A HP 57 tri-color ink cartridge (17 ml) C6657A HP 58 tri-color photo cartridge* (17 ml) C6658A HP 27 low capacity black ink cartridge (10 ml) C8727A HP 28 low capacity tri-color ink cartridge (8 ml) C8728A * Replaces the black ink cartridge for six ink photo printing and includes cartridge holder. Replacing the ink cartridges The power must be turned ON to the all-in-one or the print carriage will not come to the center.

1. Locate and raise the print cartridge access door on the front of the unit, just above the output tray. The print cartridge carriage will move into the middle of the access area. Figure 1: Raising the front access door and the ink cartridge latches
2. Press down lightly on the top of the ink cartridge latch of the ink cartridge to be replaced and then pull the lower section of the latch toward you to unlatch the ink cartridge.
3. Grasping the sides of the ink cartridge, pull the cartridge toward you to remove it as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2: Removing the cartridge after raising the latch
4. Remove the replacement cartridge from its packaging, and touching only the black plastic, gently remove any tape covering the nozzles. Do not touch the gold-colored contacts. Figure 3: Removing the protective tape
5. Holding the ink cartridge with the printed label up, slide the cartridges one at a time into the print carriage as shown in Figure 4. The black ink cartridge (HP 56 or HP 27) goes on the right side (with the gray latch) and the tri-color cartridge (HP 57 or HP 28) goes on the left side (with the blue latch). If the optional photo cartridge (HP 58) is installed for six-ink photo printing, it is installed in place of the black ink cartridge. Figure 4: Inserting the cartridge
6. Place your hand on the latch as shown in Figure 5, with the thumb pulling the end of the latch toward you. While holding the end of the latch out, press down on the top of the latch until it stops and then release the lower portion of the latch with your thumb so that it catches under the tabs. Do not force the latches into place or damage to the unit might occur. Close the all-in-one after latching the ink cartridges in place. Figure 5: Latching the ink cartridges in place
7. Close the print cartridge access door.
8. A message will appear in the front panel display requesting that the ink cartridges be aligned. Press ENTER on the front panel to start the cartridge alignment. Two pages will print. Following the instructions printed on the second page, place the first page on the scanner glass in the lower-right corner and then press ENTER to finish aligning the cartridges. Remove the page from the scanner glass when complete.

Storing the option photo printing cartridge while not in use The optional photo print cartridge (HP 58) that may be purchased separately for six-ink photo printing includes an ink cartridge protector. The protector is designed to keep the photo cartridge from drying out when it is not in use and for holding and protecting the black cartridge when the photo cartridge is in use.

• To insert a cartridge into the protector, slide it into the protector at a slight angle until it snaps in place.
• To remove a cartridge from the protector, push down and back on the top of the protector to release the cartridge and then slide the cartridge out of the protector.

Figure 6: Inserting and removing ink cartridges from the ink cartridge protector Fixing error messages that appear after changing a cartridge After inserting the cartridge, one of the following messages appears:

• Check the black (or color) cartridge
• Replace the black (or color) cartridge
• The wrong black (or color) cartridge is installed

These messages indicate that the ink cartridge is not making good electrical contact, is bad, or is the wrong cartridge. Complete the following steps to diagnose and correct the condition:

1. Open the front of the unit to access the print cartridges (as shown in Figure 1).
2. Remove the ink cartridge indicated in the message and inspect it.
3. Verify that it is the correct part number and if it is, reinsert it.
4. Close the lid to see if the problem is corrected.
5. If the message is still displayed after a few seconds, remove the ink cartridge again.
6. Unplug the power cord from the back of the unit.
7. Clean the electrical contacts on the ink cartridge with a soft clean cloth, slightly dampened (not wet) with clean water. Each contact is very small and shaped like a rounded square. Figure 7: Cleaning the cartridge contacts
8. Inside the HP all-in-one product, clean the contacts in the print carriage (the cartridge holder) with a clean cotton swab slightly dampened with clean water. Allow them to dry for five minutes before reinserting the cartridge(s) and turning on the printer. Figure 8: Contacts to be cleaned
9. If the problem remains, replace the ink cartridge.
10. If the problem still exists after trying all of the steps above, contact HP for assistance.

Refer to your printer manual, or the online manual at:

http://support.epson-europe.com/onlineguides/en/sc40/index.htm

Select "How To", "Replacing Ink Cartridges","Replacing An Ink Cartridge", then "Using the Printer's control panel". Ignore the blurb about lights etc, and proceed from "To replace an ink cartridge using the maintenance button ....".

There is also the "generic" approach. Turn the printer on, and as soon as the print head starts to move, pull the power lead out of the printer, or turn it off at the mains. The print head should now be free to move (gently!) by hand to the cartridge change position. The snag here is there is no inherent means of running an ink charge cycle - do a couple of head clean cycles instead.

The waistinktank has to be replaced. DO NOT only reset the code but change the waistinktank! Otherwise ink will flow into the machine and will cause serious damages!!!!!!!! See link how to do that: http://www.fixya.com/support/t202485-cleaning