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Entry level Photosmart printer introduced in 2009. Uses HP Tri-Color ink cartridges with a disposable printhead.

Screen says "Print cartridge problem" HP Photosmart C4780

My printers display says "Print cartridge problem". I have cleaned the cartridge contacts, as well as the encoder strip. I'm not sure what to try next.

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@oldturkey03 I got it. I just posted a base answer from the other one and I’ll modify it for this printer as soon as I have a chance.

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This is a common issue with semi-modern integrated head (tricolor/black) HPs with the small tricolor cart. It has been a known issue for at least 10 years when HP reduced the contract copper, and the printers had less tolerance for contact failure.The HP 6X machines were some of the first to make it more commonplace. The problem is there's no fix for it short of replacing the entire print mechanism if it has permanent damage :-(. The issue is that the copper reduction over time has made the printers more problematic when it happens.

First, I'm not going to pretend you're a criminal for using aftermarket carts and not using genuine HP supplies—the printer is 10+ years old, and the cost of OEM was always as much as the machine. You come out ahead by using third-party ink from the start and replacing it if the ink damages it. That said, refilling an OEM core is usually cheaper until the cartridge is worn and needs to be replaced after 4-5 refills. Good reman ink is also an option. The issue is it's the Amazon junk cart that never work which cause issues. If you have bad reman ink installed, get a set from a known good brand like LD Products or Onn.

If it's a good brand ink cartridge or OEM, look at the printer's contacts for any ink or burn marks. Use an eyeglass wipe or IPA and a napkin if you see ink. You don't need to be fancy and use a lint-free cloth or microfiber on these; they're designed to work, assuming dust will get on the contacts over time. If that fixes it, it came from the waste ink service station. You can potentially take it apart and clean the service station up. The issue is that they design them with such limited capacity, and you will do it so often. It's generally more time efficient to clean the contacts with alcohol and a napkin with every cartridge change to avoid problems. If the pads are burned on the printer end, the printer is effectively junk as it will never work right again once you get this message.

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Thanks for the quick response! I know your response was based on another printer and you want to change it later, but I double checked some of the stuff you mentioned anyway. The printer has always used HP brand cartridges, so that can't be the issue. I cleaned the contacts again just in case, but that unfortunately didnt change anything. There's no ink on the cartridge contacts or the encoder strip and there's not burn marks.

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@zee26779 Then it sounds like the mech failed :/. You really can't replace it without a complete teardown sadly.

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@nick The printerhead does still move properly, but maybe something else is broken. I'll open it up whenever I have a chance to check

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@zee26779 If you tried everything I mentioned, it's usually damage to the strip where the printer contacts the cartridge on the mechanism rather than the cartridge. Not always, but it often is.

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@nick do you mean the encoder strip?

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