EpsonstylusPHOTOrx500 red light flashing no action with keys. Normal action yesterday when I tested ink nozzles and replaced two low ink cartridges. All Epson inks. The ink display now shows 100% full cartridges each dull off color and the notation UNKNOWN brand. Last color print made came through smeared and wet on HP Photo Paper - Laser! OooPs !! Laser! Have I really messed up? Help me out! George Gunn >[email protected]<

How to fix printer color problems
If you're unable to achieve accurate colours when printing, there are a couple of easy tests you can do to determine what needs to be done to resolve the issue.
More than likely the problem will be an empty cartridge, so firstly, you should check the ink levels of your printer. You won't need to open up the printer up to do this as you just need to access the printer's maintenance utilities. This can be found either through your start menu on your PC or, on the printer's LCD navigation screen, if it has one. Where this is located does depend on the make and model of your printer. Once you're in the maintenance utilities, you'll be able to see what cartridges are low or out of ink.
If the ink levels look normal but you're still not getting the quality printing you require, it may be time to do a test print or nozzle check. From this, you'll be able to determine what colour cartridge is causing the problem as the test separates cyan, magenta and yellow apart.
A test may be necessary because if you've not printed in a while the ink in the cartridges can dry up and clog the nozzle. By doing a nozzle check, the printer will essentially clean out the nozzle, freeing it of any clogged particles. It's best to do the nozzle test last, as this can consume large amounts of ink during the process.
With these simple tests you'll be able to determine which ink cartridge likely needs changing and this can, in turn, help maintain the upkeep of your printer.

I hope this will help you :)
* Green Power light flashes- The printer is receiving a print job, replacing an ink cartridge, charging ink, or cleaning the print head.
* RED paper light is On- If the CD/DVD try guide is open, close the CD/DVD tray guide, load paper, then press the paper button. Your paper ran out or multiple sheets loaded at the same time . Load paper and press the paper butoon to resume printing.
* RED paper light flashes- Paper is jammed in the printer. Press the paper button to eject the jammed paper. If the light is still flashing , open the cover and remove all paper, including any jammed or torn pieces. Then reload paper and press the paper button to continue printing.
* RED Ink Light Flashes - One or more cartridges are low on ink. Check the message that appears on your screen to determine which cartridge is low, or follow the instructions in " Checking the Ink Supply". Make sure you have a replacement cartridge.
* RED Ink Light is ON- One or more cartridges are out of ink or not installed. If you have just installed a new cartridge, it may be incomaptible with the printer or incorrectly installed. Reinstall it or replace it with the correct cartridge
* RED Ink and RED paper lights flash alternately- The CD/DVD tray guide was left open when you turned on the printer or when printing on paper. Just simply close it/
* Green Power Light is Off; RED paperand RED Ink Lights flashing- Paper may be blocking movement of the print head. Turn off the printer, then open the cover and remove any jammed paper or other foreign objects. Turn the printer back on again. Or it may have an internal error. Turn off the printer, wait a few seconds, then turn it on again.

1. Look at the indicator light on your Lexmark printer. You'll need to replace ink cartridges when the light flashes or turns red instead of the standard green.

2. Purchase Lexmark ink cartridges. You can buy the brand name or purchase a generic version that is compatible with your printer. You can shop for low cost ink cartridges from ABC Ink.

3. Remove the old cartridges from your printer. Grip the sides of the Lexmark ink cartridges and pull it out. Dispose of the ink cartridges in a recycle program like the one at Staples or save the cartridges for refill.

4. Install the new ink cartridges after removing the protective tabs. Avoid touching the IC chip when installing the new Lexmark ink cartridges. Replace the cover of the printer.

5. Allow the Lexmark printer to run a nozzle test. Print several pages with the new ink cartridges to make sure you installed the ink cartridges correctly. The indicator light should return to a solid green color.

do rate the solution if it helps

After few head cleaning, ink counter running low, so ink ligh (red) flashing. Then ink counter runing out, so the light stayed on. After replacing both of ink, red light stayed on, because the compatible ink (chip) not recognized by printer. Check epson status monitor. Use original ink or refill and reset ink level counter.

1. Look at the indicator light on your Lexmark printer. You'll need to replace ink cartridges when the light flashes or turns red instead of the standard green.
   
2. 
   Purchase Lexmark ink cartridges. You can buy the brand name or purchase a generic version that is compatible with your printer. You can shop for low cost ink cartridges from ABC Ink.
   
3. Step 3 Remove the old cartridges from your printer. Grip the sides of the Lexmark ink cartridges and pull it out. Dispose of the ink cartridges in a recycle program like the one at Staples or save the cartridges for refill.
   
4. Step 4 Install the new ink cartridges after removing the protective tabs. Avoid touching the IC chip when installing the new Lexmark ink cartridges. Replace the cover of the printer.
   
5. Step 5 Allow the Lexmark printer to run a nozzle test. Print several pages with the new ink cartridges to make sure you installed the ink cartridges correctly. The indicator light should return to a solid green color.
   

*** I'll be more than happy to help you on that. you might be talking about R280, because theres no R290 for epson. there is a great possibility thatsome of the nozzles of your printer are clogged by dried inks, thats why when it prints, the inks are not equally distributed or is not balanced.to check that, print a nozzle check, and if you see gaps or breaks, between the lines, do head cleaning. this is how you can do it, its very easy for you. Using the Buttons on the Printer 1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, that the CD/DVD tray is not inserted in the printer, and the red ink light is not on. (If the red ink light is on, you need to replace a cartridge.) 2. Turn the printer off and make sure the front tray is in the paper (lower) position. 3. Make sure letter-size plain paper is loaded in the printer. 4. Hold down the paper button, then press the power button. Hold down both buttons until the power light begins to flash, then release the power button. 5. When the nozzle check starts to print release the paper button. Check the nozzle check pattern that prints to see if there are gaps in the lines. 6. If there are no gaps or lines, the print head does not need to be cleaned. If there are gaps or lines, or the test patterns are faint, follow the steps in do the Head Cleaning to clean the nozzles. Using the Buttons on the Printer 1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the red ink light is off. (If the red ink light is flashing or on, you need to replace a cartridge.) 2. Hold down the ink button on the printer for approximately 3 seconds. The printer runs a head cleaning cycle and the green power light flashes. Cleaning takes several seconds. Caution:
Never turn off the printer while head cleaning is in progress. You may damage it.

Do not insert the CD/DVD tray until cleaning has finished. 3. When the green power light stops flashing, make sure paper is loaded in the printer, then print a nozzle check to determine whether you need to clean the print head again. Print Head Nozzles If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning three times, turn the printer off and wait overnight. This allows any dried ink to soften. Then, try cleaning the print head again.

this means your printer wast pad is full but your printer can be reset let me no and i will send you the info on now to reset your printer

hi!



Horizontal white lines usually indicate the ink cartridge is running out of ink or has some clogged ink nozzles. Try the following steps:

1. Some of the ink cartridge ink nozzles may be clogged with dry ink. Use the ink cartridge cleaning service to try to clear them. Follow the steps below:
   
   1. check if there is plain white paper in the Input tray.
      
   2. Press Setup .
      
   3. Press < or >to select Tools and then press OK .
      
   4. Press < or > to select Clean Print Cartridge and then press OK . The unit prints a test page.
      
   5. Examine the test page. If the print quality of the page is good, stop here. If the print quality appears to be getting better, run the Clean Print Cartridge utility again
      
2. If the self test appears better, Increase the copy quality setting (Normal or Best) and try copying again. If the quality is still poor, continue to the next step.
   
3. If the quality is still poor, one or more of the cartridges may be low on ink or empty. Follow the steps below to check the ink levels.
   
   1. Open HP Solution Center .
      
   2. Click Settings .
      
   3. Click Print Settings .
      
   4. Click Printer Toolbox .
      
   5. Click the Estimated Ink Levels tab.
      
   6. Replace any ink cartridge that is low on ink.
      
4. If the ink levels are not low, clean the cartridge face and electrical contacts at the back of the print carriage.
   
   1. Open the front of the unit to access the ink cartridges.
      
   2. After the ink cartridges are at the center, unplug the power cord from the back of the unit, and remove the ink cartridges. The power cord must be removed to ensure that the unit is not damaged during the cleaning process.
      
   3. Clean the cross-hatched area of the ink cartridge with a soft clean cloth that is slightly dampened with clean water to remove any build up. Avoid cleaning the ink cartridge nozzle plate. Cleaning this area can force foreign matter into the ink nozzles and plug them
      
   4. With a soft lint free cloth slightly dampened with clean water, clean the copper-colored contacts on the back of the ink cartridges.
      
   5. Allow the cartridges to dry before reinserting them.
      
   6. Close the unit, and plug the power cord back in.
      
   7. Print a self-test page to check the results. Follow the steps below to print a self-test page.
      
      1. Press Setup .
         
      2. Press <or > until Print Report displays and then press OK .
         
      3. Press < or > until Self-Test Report displays and then press OK . The self-test report prints.
         
   8. If the problem is not corrected by cleaning the ink cartridges, replace the ink cartridge(s).
      

- hope it will help to resolve you problem...

Issue: Tinted printing / Colors are not exact
Solution: Resolving ink tank and cartridge issues BJC-6000

Printer attempts to print but no ink is on the paper Printer attempts to print but no ink is on the paper If the print quality is poor or no ink is appearing on the page, it may be because of the following problems:

• The ink in the BJ tanks has run out.
• The print head nozzles may be clogged
• The protective cap or tape may have been reattached to the BJ cartridge
• The BJ cartridge may need to be replaced
• You may be using the wrong side of the media.

To check the level of ink in the BJ tanks
Open the printer's front cover and visually check the level of the ink in all the BJ tanks. If a BJ tank is low or has run out of ink, replace it. Failure to do so may shorten the life of your BJ Cartridge
To check the status of the print head by printing a Nozzle Check Pattern

1. The Nozzle Check Pattern confirms whether the inks are being correctly ejected from the print head nozzles and whether the print head is correctly aligned.
   
   
2. On your printer, press and hold the Resume button until you hear 2 beeps.
   
   
3. When you release the button, the Nozzle Check Pattern will be printed. You can also print the Nozzle Check Pattern by clicking on the Test Print button in the Maintenance tab of the printer properties dialog box.
   
   
4. After the Nozzle Check Pattern is printed, check the results. Look at the Nozzle Check Pattern for each BJ Ink tank. If any colors are missing or if any horizontal lines are broken or missing, perform the print head cleaning procedure.

To perform the print head cleaning procedure

1. On your printer, press and hold the Resume button until you hear 1 beep.
   
   
2. When you release the button, all print heads for all colors will be cleaned.
   
   
3. You can also clean the print heads by clicking the left Print Head Cleaning button in the Maintenance tab of the printer properties dialog box.
   
   
4. When the print head cleaning begins, the POWER light starts flashing. This will continue for about 30 seconds. Wait for the light to stop flashing before you resume normal operation.
   
   
5. Perform the Nozzle Check Pattern test again.
   
   
6. If the results are satisfactory, resume normal printing. If the results are not satisfactory, you may need to execute a print head deep cleaning.
   

To execute a print head deep cleaning

1. Make sure paper is loaded in the sheet feeder and the printer is turned on.
   
   
2. Display the printer properties dialog box and click the Maintenance tab.
   
   
3. Click the right print head Cleaning button.
   
   
4. When the print head cleaning begins, the POWER light starts flashing. Wait for the light to stop flashing before you resume normal operation.
   
   
5. Perform the Nozzle Check Pattern test again.
   
   
6. If the Nozzle Check Pattern is still unsatisfactory, you may need to execute a print head alignment.

To execute a print head alignment
In Windows, display the Maintenance tab of the printer properties dialog box.

1. Click the right Test Print button.
   
   
2. Follow the instructions on the screens to perform an automatic print head alignment.
   
   
3. A confirmation screen will ask you if you want to perform automatic print head alignment. Read the screen and click OK. Another screen warns you not to start any other operation until the alignment is complete. Again, click OK.
   
   
4. The BJ Printer Status Monitor displays the Printer Status. The driver will align the print heads then will print an alignment pattern.
   
   
5. Perform the Nozzle Check Pattern test again.
   
   
6. If the Nozzle Check Pattern is still unsatisfactory, you may need to replace the BJ cartridge.

To replace a BJ Tank in a BJ Cartridge
Leave the BJ cartridge in the printer when replacing a BJ tank. Make sure the printer's power is on. Make sure you insert the BJ tank in the correct slot.

1. Open the front cover.
   
   
2. The power light blinks while the cartridge holder is positioned to the center of the printer.
   
   
3. Remove the empty BJ tank by pressing in on the release tab and then lifting the BJ tank up and out of its slot.
   
   
4. Dispose of the tank properly, taking care to avoid spilling ink on your hands, floor, furniture, or clothing.
   
   
5. Remove the new BJ tank from its package and pull the orange tape up and against the perforations to open the package film. Be careful not to remove the label from the tank. You will need it to match the tank to the correct slot in the BJ cartridge.
   
   
6. Twist the orange protective cap to remove it. Do not attempt to reattach the protective cap; instead, discard it along with the protective tape.
   
   
7. Insert the BJ tank by holding it at a slight angle, aligning it with the correct slot. Press down gently on the top of the tank until it locks into place.
   
   
8. Lock the ink tank in place by pressing down on the circle mark on the top of the tank.
   Close the printer cover.
   
   
9. The printer will automatically start cleaning the print heads. When the print heads are clean, the POWER light will stay on, indicating that the printer is ready for operation.
   
   
10. Perform another test print to make sure the new ink tanks are performing correctly.

To remove the protective cap and tape from the BJ cartridge

1. Open the printer's front cover.
   
   
2. Unlock the BJ cartridge by raising the cartridge lock lever. Make sure you raise it all the way up.
   
   
3. Remove the BJ cartridge by holding it by the circles on the left and right sides.
   
   
4. Make sure that the orange protective cap has been removed.
   
   
5. Make sure that the protective tape has also been removed.
   
   
6. Replace the BJ cartridge and move the blue cartridge lock lever until it locks in place.

To check the media
Make sure that you are printing to the correct side of the media that you are using, and that the Media Type setting in the printer driver properties correctly reflects the type of paper you are using.
Be sure to read any instructions that come with your Canon specialty paper. These instructions provide important information regarding how to achieve the highest print quality with these papers.

Printer attempts to print but no ink is on the paper Printer attempts to print but no ink is on the paper If the print quality is poor or no ink is appearing on the page, it may be because of the following problems:

• The ink in the BJ tanks has run out.
• The print head nozzles may be clogged.
• The protective cap or tape may have been reattached to the BJ cartridge.
• The BJ cartridge may need to be replaced.
• You may be using the wrong side of the media.

To check the level of ink in the BJ tanks
Open the printer's front cover and visually check the level of the ink in all the BJ tanks. If a BJ tank is low or has run out of ink, replace it. Failure to do so may shorten the life of your BJ Cartridge
Check the status of the print heads by printing a Nozzle Check Pattern
The Nozzle Check Pattern confirms whether the inks are being correctly ejected from the print head nozzles and whether the print head is correctly aligned.

1. On your printer, press and hold the Resume button until the printer light flashes two times.
   
   
2. When you release the button, the Nozzle Check Pattern will be printed.
   
   You can also print the Nozzle Check Pattern by clicking on the Test Print button in the Maintenance tab of the printer properties dialog box.
   
   
3. After the Nozzle Check Pattern is printed, check the results.
   
   
4. Look at the Nozzle Check Pattern for each BJ cartridge. If any colors are missing or if any horizontal lines are broken or missing, perform the print head cleaning procedure.
   
   
   
   
5. In the alignment head pattern, if the lines are not perfectly overlapped, align the print heads.
   

To perform the print head cleaning procedure

1. On your printer, press and hold the Resume button until the printer light flashes one time.
   
   
2. When you release the button, the print head will be cleaned.
   
   You can also clean the print head by clicking the left Print Head Cleaning button in the Maintenance tab of the printer properties dialog box.
   
   
3. When the print head cleaning begins, the POWER light starts flashing. This will continue for about 30 seconds. Wait for the light to stop flashing before you resume normal operation.
   
4. Perform the Nozzle Check Pattern test again.
   
   
5. If the results are satisfactory, resume normal printing.
   
   
6. If the results are not satisfactory, you may need to execute a print head deep cleaning.
   

To execute a print head deep cleaning

1. Make sure paper is loaded in the sheet feeder and the printer is turned on.
   
   
2. Display the printer properties dialog box and click the Maintenance tab.
   
   
3. Click the right Print Head Cleaning button.
   
   
4. When the print head cleaning begins, the POWER light starts flashing. Wait for the light to stop flashing before you resume normal operation.
   
   
5. Perform the Nozzle Check Pattern test again.

If the Nozzle Check Pattern is still unsatisfactory, you may need to execute a print head alignment.
To execute a print head alignment

1. In Windows, display the Maintenance tab of the printer properties dialog box.
   
   
2. Click the right Test Print button.
   
   
3. Follow the instructions on the screens to perform an automatic print head alignment.
   
   
4. A confirmation screen will ask you if you want to perform automatic print head alignment. Read the screen and click OK.
   
   
5. Another screen warns you not to start any other operation until the alignment is complete. Again, click OK.
   
   
6. The BJ Printer Status Monitor displays the Printer Status. The driver will align the print heads then will print an alignment pattern.
   
   
7. Perform the Nozzle Check Pattern test again.

If the Nozzle Check Pattern is still unsatisfactory, you may need to replace the BJ cartridge.
To replace a BJ Tank in a BJ Cartridge
Leave the BJ cartridge in the printer when replacing a BJ tank. Make sure the printer's power is on. Make sure you insert the BJ tank in the correct slot.

1. Open the front cover.
   
   
2. The power light blinks while the cartridge holder is positioned to the center of the printer.
   
   
3. Remove the empty BJ tank by pressing in on the release tab and then lifting the BJ tank up and out of its slot.
   
   
4. Dispose of the tank properly, taking care to avoid spilling ink on your hands, floor, furniture, or clothing.
   
   
5. Remove the new BJ tank from its package and pull the orange tape up and against the perforations to open the package film.
   
   
6. Be careful not to remove the label from the tank. You will need it to match the tank to the correct slot in the BJ cartridge.
   
   
7. Twist the orange protective cap to remove it.
   
   
8. Do not attempt to reattach the protective cap; instead, discard it along with the protective tape.
   
   
9. Insert the BJ tank by holding it at a slight angle, aligning it with the correct slot. Press down gently on the top of the tank until it locks into place.
   
   
10. Lock the ink tank in place by pressing down on the circle mark on the top of the tank.
    
    
11. Close the printer cover.
    
    
12. The printer will automatically start cleaning the print heads. When the print heads are clean, the POWER light will stay on, indicating that the printer is ready for operation.
    
    
13. Perform another test print to make sure the new ink tanks are performing correctly.

To remove the protective cap and tape from the BJ cartridge

1. Open the printer's front cover.
   
   
2. Unlock the BJ cartridge by raising the cartridge lock lever. Make sure you raise it all the way up.
   
   
3. Remove the BJ cartridge by holding it by the circles on the left and right sides.
   
   
4. Make sure that the orange protective cap has been removed.
   
   
5. Make sure that the protective tape has also been removed.
   
   
6. Replace the BJ cartridge and move the blue cartridge lock lever until it locks in place.

To check the media:

• Make sure that you are printing to the correct side of the media that you are using.
• Be sure to read any instructions that come with your Canon specialty paper. These instructions provide important information regarding how to achieve the highest print quality with these papers.