What is a incompatible print cartridge? Its coming up with a warning exclamation mark and it wont print?

printers are calibrated to only measure ink levels for original cartridges ( Lexmark)
if you refill or use generic cartridges the machine will not read the levels and will send a ink level warning or will not print because it thinks the ink is out and will not work to protect the printer
Talk with a lexmark service center for proper diagnosis

A flashing exclamation mark is typically associated with a sever cartridge error (i.e. "refer to documentation" / "incompatible cartridges", "print cartridge(s) problem" etc.) typically indicates the internal micro-electronics of the HP #901 / 901XL cartridge are damaged. Have you tried replacing the ink cartridge with a new HP genuine cartridge to confirm?

NOTE: 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. I suggest you first run a 'Tap 41' diagnostic test to check cartridges electrical health (this is a forced test); you may also bypass the error (temporarily) on all models which use HP 901 cartridges. Refer to Inkjet411 youtube videos below:

HP Officejet J4500 J4600 4500 Printer Error Messages -HP 901 & 901XL Cartridges

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RivHgvWCkJ8

HP 901 & 901XL Ink Cartridge Alerts - Low Ink Warnings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzLM5mlkTt4

HP Officejet J4500 J4600 4500 Printers Tap 41 Diagnostics - HP 901 Incompatible Print Cartridges: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6uATgXxQlE

HP Officejet J4500 J4600 4500 Cartridge Error Bypass - HP 901 Cartridge Errors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4-m_RLdRE4

HP 901 Ink Refilling & Cartridge Care Tips - Everything you need to know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTtNj6rN4g4

Are you sure its exclamation mark?..
This warning message related to print head. (warn out). When you are replacing ink tube assembly use dummy print heads to do the priming (new ink tubes are empty & they have to fill with ink)..
Action: Remove all cartridges and print heads, switch on the printer follow the screen message.(Insert cartridges first next dummy print heads).once its recognizes cartridges then it switch over to print heads,insert dummy print heads. Once printer recognized the dummy print heads, printer will perform priming, during priming dummy print heads will filled with respective inks.(follow the display message)Remove dummy print heads & insert normal print heads. Wait till printer recognizes print heads, load the paper & wait till performs the calibration, once calibration is successfully done issue closed.
If calibration not successfully done, check align print out for which print head is not printed properly, replace it..
Pl ensure that minimum 50% ink levels required in cartridges before performing the priming. Best of luck..

"All lights blinking and printer not responding" is indicative of serious ink cartridge issue. 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.

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.

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".

Cartridge electronic panel is dirty

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.

Good luck & God bless!

"All lights blinking and printer not responding" is indicative of serious ink cartridge issue. 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.

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.

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.


Good Luck & God bless!

“All lights blinking and printer not responding” is indicative of serious ink cartridge issue. 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.

slowly off and on the printer for five times without cartridge, printer saves data of cart of last 5 only so next time it reads full ink..

“All lights blinking” is indicative of serious ink cartridge issue. Usually when this happens the printer fails to goes through the motions of the printing process, kind of stands still. If it an All-in-One it still scans though. This could be as a result of eithe of these of scenarios.
i. Ink cartridge has developed incompatibility. 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 problem, always keep used cartridges somewhere safe; they come in handy for this type of troubleshooting.
The electronic panel on the cartridge that makes contact with the cartridge carrier inside the printer is dirty and needs cleaning. Solution is try to clean with a piece of folded tissue paper soaked in a bit of methylated spirit. Also clean the area in the cartridge carrier/holder that makes contact with the cartridge’s electronic panel. Allow to dry well and return the cartridges, close the cover. The blinking should stop if the electronic panel is the issue.

Usually if you leave the printer off for sometime the ink get dry on the heads or some ink may leake to the sensores so take the cartrage out clean it and clean the heads with cotton swaps...see if the help and let me know

This light is indeed designed to indicate a low toner condition. Its coming on is triggered not by the actual level of toner in the cartridge, but by a software process that estimates toner use. If you are inclined to refill your own cartridges, you can use install a glass fuse in the little clip on the back of the toner cartridge that will reset the counter, and turn out the light, otherwise the light will stay on. The reset process will blow the fuse, so a new fuse is needed each time a cartridge is refilled. Leaving the light lit does not hinder the operation of the printer, so as long as there is still sufficient toner to print, the printer will operate normally.