HP Photosmart A516 - cartridge error

[spirittoo]

This is a weird one ... I get this message when I turn on the printer ... "cartridge is not compatible ... use appropriate HP cartridge.":mad:

The problem is I am using the appropriate cartridge.:eek: A HP 110 is required and that is what I am using ... yet I get that error message. Any ideas what is going on?:confused:

[Big Al]

Try removing the cartridges, inspect the contacts on the ribbon cable that mates with the ink cartridge and the contacts on the cartridge. If there is any ink contamination remove it with a swab dipped in alcohol. I ususally use a clean, dry, cotton cloth and rub the contacts on the cartridge to remove any contamination.

If all this fails sometimes cleaning the ribbon cable contacts gently with a clean pencil eraser followed by cleaning with alcohol works.

IMHO they are using cheaper metals in the contacts now. We seldom had this problem years ago.

If all else fails take the cartridge back and insist on a new one. HP guarantees their cartridges, or so they say.

This may also be an electronic issue with a bad chip on the board. We see quite a lot of this. If it is still under warranty call HP. If not it might make good skeet!

Al

[spirittoo]

Thanks for posting. I'll give it a try and see what happens. I will let you know.

[spirittoo]

I'd done everything you suggested except for the eraser ... have to find a clean one, so far no luck, but there does seem to be a lot of ink in the well ... is that normal? I don't see any ink on the ribbon, but I cleaned them anyway with alcohol. I though maybe the cartridge was refilled with too much ink, but it doesn't look like it.

[mattchall]

Is the cartridge brand new original HP or has it been refilled? In my experience they can only be refilled once or twice but new are best.

[spirittoo]

I'm not sure ... the printer belongs to my father ... I will ask him. It doesn't look like it's been refilled, but I don't know for sure. I will post his answer.:)

[spirittoo]

Ok ... I checked with my dad and he had not filled the cartridge ... so to see if it's the cartridge or the printer I brought a new cartridge at an outrageous price of $25.50:eek: at target, and that was two bucks less than office max. Well the printer works fine, so it's the cartridge, so we will replace it. Thanks for the help.:)