⟐ Answered June 28, 2026 at 0:57 MST

I bought the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 printer in 2015 and up until december 2019 it has worked perfectly. One day out of the blue, I recieved this error message: “The printhead appears to be missing, not detected, or incorrectly installed. Error code 0xc19a0023" . I reseated the printhead one time and the printer worked until next day, when the same error appeared. I followed HP’s troubleshooting steps 1. reset printer 2. reseat printhead 3 times 3. updating firmware, but no luck. I’ve disassembled the printhead and cleaned the contacts on PC board. I ordered this cleaning solution and cleaned the printhead, both soaking in the solution for some time and pushing the solution through. No luck. I then went on to buy this new print head from eBay, but the new one instantly gave the same error message.

Then I continued to troubleshoot some more. Since the new printhead failed I thought maybe the problem is in the printhead carriage inside the printer. I disassembled it and cleaned the contacts on the PC board. (This one is also possible to buy on aliexpress , but I’ve not done it). Everything looks ok. All the pins are undamaged. I’ve reset the CMOS battery on the main board, disconnected all cables and checked the cables specificly for the printhead carriage. I don’t have the equipment or knowledge to test if the cables actually work, but everything looks ok. Still getting the error message.

One last thing that I came by today on this page is that it might be the unoriginal ink that I installed for the first time last time I replaced my cartridges (about 3 months ago, I switched the last color from original HP to unoriginal). Could it really be the problem? Is it still worth a try to buy new original HP cartridges and will it even fix the problem? Or is the damage done already and not reversable? I’m a bit hesitant to invest more on this printer since I already blew up 72 EUR for the printhead…. Returning the printhead to China from where I live costs almost 40 EUR so it’s not worth the refund.

EDIT: I found an official statement from HP about a new firmware update removing Dynamic Security Feature which makes the printer fail when unoriginal ink is installed. However they explicitly say it’s only connected to a cartridge error message. Other error messages are not related. So in theory I’ve already solved this issue, when I updated my printer to the newest firmware early in the troubleshooting process. Both printheads give the same error message. This decreses my belief in buying new original ink to fix the problem…

EDIT 2: I found the old original HP empty cartridges I had before and installed them just to see if it would remove the error, but it didn’t. So now I don’t have to waste money on buying new ink at least…

Or am I missing something else? Thanks for helping out!

⟐ Commented June 26, 2026 at 20:53 MST

⟐ Answered June 26, 2026 at 5:44 MST

now all the lights are blinking, and I don't know what else to try.

Thinks I tried:

Take out power supply

using epson adjustment tried almost every test and all failed to fix it

⟐ Answered June 26, 2026 at 1:17 MST

⟐ Answered June 25, 2026 at 2:30 MST

⟐ Answered June 24, 2026 at 18:43 MST

I have an Epson L3110 and for some weeks the color printing was getting weaker and weaker.

I followed youtube and cleaned the print head using isopropanol and warm distilled water. After cleaning, there was no blockage to water flowing through the printhead ... everything seemed great. After putting the printhead back in, I did nozzle cleaning 4x to make sure the printhead was loaded with color ... and the color printing was OK!

I turned the printed off for the night and the next day, printing in color resulted in nothing being printed, only black printing worked! I cleaned the head again, did 5x nozzle cleaning to fill the printhead with color, I made sure there is no air in the tubes and when printing in color .. nothing happenned, I still cannot print anything in color.

What am I doing wrong?

Best,

Daniel

⟐ Answer accepted June 24, 2026 at 10:45 MST

I have now looked up this error and found many fixes.

Here is what I have tried so far.

1) Removed power cable while printer on, waited 60 sec, held power button for 30 secs, plugged power cable back in

Outcome: Ran printer, same issue.

2) Removed the side cover, unplugged the two ribbon cables nas the reseated the, the smaller one with the blue tab facing down, and the larger one with the blue tab facing up.

Outcome: Ran printer, same issue

3) Removed the scanner completely, opened the scanner and checked all cables. Moved the carriage over to the middle, gave everything a clean, and put it all back together.

Outcome: Ran printer; scanner carriage moved to the start position, then the error code appeared again.

Now, one of the suggested fixes for these issues is a firmware update; however, the error screen will not let me do anything. I can't reset the printer, which was another suggestion. I have no ink in the printer, which was another suggestion for the error code, but I still have no way to bypass the error screen.

So, please, if anyone knows how or if I can bypass the error screen, I may be able to reset the printer. Or is this just a brick destined for land fill (recycle)

"preparing to print CD/DVD" then

"close the output tray all the way inside before inserting CD/DVD tray"

Have checked for updates all up to date.

⟐ Answered June 23, 2026 at 1:42 MST

⟐ Answered June 22, 2026 at 18:24 MST

⟐ Answered June 22, 2026 at 11:09 MST

I am trying to fix a HP Smart Tank 516 printer, but the trace cable is missing in it, if someone knows the length, width and the number of pins you find in the trace cable please let me know.

Thanks

⟐ Commented June 20, 2026 at 11:58 MST

​"I am facing an E3 error on my HP Ink Tank Wireless 419 printer. The carriage seems stuck and it’s not printing anything. I have already checked for visible paper jams but the error persists. Could you please guide me on how to fix this carriage jam or if there is an issue with the encoder strip?"

⟐ Answered June 20, 2026 at 11:54 MST

I've had the bad idea to upgrade the firmware of our Epson WF-7840 (version CD17M6 now).

Now, our non epson cartridges are not recognised anymore.

I've search the web about how to downgrade the firmware. I found the procedure, found how to put the printer in "recovery mode" and, on the Epson website, I found the "Recovery Mode Firmware version CB08LC" for the Epson WF-7840.

But it doesn't work...

First problem, the model of the printer does not appear in the "Epson firmware updater" but it sees that a printer is connected.

Second problem, and it is where it stops, when I launch the Update, it fails with a message on the printer's screen "Data file not found".

I tried with my mac (macbook pro 16" m1 max) and with an older macbook pro from 2009 with the same result. I tried with another USB cable and still no luck.

What am I doing wrong?

⟐ Commented June 20, 2026 at 11:29 MST

I have unplugged the machine, removed the ink carrage and cartriges, does not help.

Any suggestions?

Dave

⟐ Answered June 19, 2026 at 1:12 MST

⟐ Commented June 16, 2026 at 22:07 MST

⟐ Commented June 16, 2026 at 8:39 MST

I love this printer and agree with the description you posted. I have extra ink cartridges so would love to fix the printer and keep using until my ink drys up!

⟐ Answered June 15, 2026 at 4:28 MST