HP Officejet Pro 8000: Blinking Lights

The power light and all color cartridges lights are blinking. According to HP support such light pattern means that those "cartridges are faulty or need attention" and the solution is:

• reinsert cartridge, or
• replace the cartridge

Through out the years, whenever there was a cartridge issue I just had to override it (resume button or power+resume x3). Unfortunately, now is different (although there is no visible damage or other known reason). Even cleaning the gold contacts of the CISS chip made any difference.

Question

• What might be causing such issue?
• Any way to solve it without replacing the cartridges with new ones (extremely expensive)?

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ADDITIONAL NOTES

Firmware
I've already executed HP Officejet Pro Firmware. The firmware was already the latest one, even so I required it to be updated.

Damaged/dirty component/sensor
I've already cleaned them with isopropil alkohol.

Bad cartridge
They were all installed in 2010. Never had any issue with them. Recently all 3 decided to fail simultaneously. However, there are no visual damage and the gold contacts were also cleaned with isopropil alkohol.
I've also executed HP Print and Scan Doctor for Windows which shows:

black | yellow | magenta | cyan
:---: | :-----: | :-----: | :-----:
ready | failure | failure | failure

However, the sensors can precisely pinpoint whether the cartridge is missing or is a failure. For example, removing only the magenta would show:

black | yellow | magenta | cyan
:---: | :-----: | :-----: | :-----:
ready | failure | missing | failure

Cartridge compartment
I've already check that several times: cartridges compartment.

Bottom of the cartridges
I've already check that several times also: bottom view of cartridges.

Hard Reset*
I've already tried that with several different black cartridges and several different black/yellow printheads: cartridges and printheads.

(*) Fully power cycle the machine by shutting it down, take out the cartridges, unplug it from the power source, and pressing the power button 5-10 times, and then starting it back up.

I don't use HP but I once dealt with a blocked compatible cartridge issue with a friend's HP printer, so my experience is limited and may not apply to you.

What cartridges are you using: OEM HP or compatibles? Do you refill or purchase new?

Mark Messa said:

What might be causing such issue?

Click to expand...

Since you've tried several different cartridges, it could be a firmware update occurred and now the cartridges are no longer recognized as acceptable.

Mark Messa said:

Any way to solve it without replacing the cartridges with new ones (extremely expensive)?

Click to expand...

Hp states taking out and reinserting the cartridges numerous times may resolve the issue:

Make sure that the indicated cartridge is properly installed, and then try to print. Remove and re-insert the cartridge a few times if necessary.

Click to expand...

If this is a firmware-oriented issue blocking the use of your refilled or compatible cartridges then you either need to get new OEM or compatible cartridges (with an updated chip on the cartridge) or see if HP has an updated driver or firmware that resolves this issue.

A friend has an HP printer that would not accept a new compatible cartridge until he updated the firmware. Seems HP blocked the use of certain compatibles and then decided to release an update that then allowed those compatibles.

I see your picture of what looks like some OEM HP cartridges and another picture of what looks like compatible cartridges. Is that true?

IIRC with my friend's printer, one way of getting around the blocking of a cartridge was to insert a different cartridge (or two) before reusing the blocked cartridge.

stratman said:

What cartridges are you using: OEM HP or compatibles? Do you refill or purchase new?

Click to expand...

I've never used the color ink. Therefore, the color cartridges are still the OEM that came with the printer.
Since this printer is able to override some cartridges issues, all I've did for several years was only press resume or power+resume x3.

The black cartridges are all OEM. I have bought several of them.

However, after the aforementioned failure and not receiving proper technical support from HP, I've tried several different stuffs, including non OEM cartridges and refill. But it didn't make any difference.

stratman said:

If this is a firmware-oriented issue blocking the use of your refilled or compatible cartridges then you either need to get new OEM or compatible cartridges

Click to expand...

According to HP support, this printer should be able to override some common cartridges issues

stratman said:

one way of getting around the blocking of a cartridge was to insert a different cartridge (or two) before reusing the blocked cartridge.

Click to expand...

I've used this strategy several times for printheads. Unfortunately, however, I don't have that many OEM color cartridges to do such test. And buying new ones is not an option:

• Extremely expensive, 3 color cartridges would cost the same as a new basic printer.
• Even if I substitute the color cartridges for new ones, it is not guarantee it would work. Ex: The printer might complaint about the printhead (which is far more expensive).

Mark Messa said:

I've never used the color ink. Therefore, the color cartridges are still the OEM that came with the printer.

Click to expand...

Unless HP is different from Canon and Epson, your printer does maintenance purges of ink to make sure no clogs form. Also, it may be that you do use the CYM inks in making black depending on what is printed.

Mark Messa said:

I've tried several different stuffs, including non OEM cartridges and refill. But it didn't make any difference.

Click to expand...

I take it you mean these were Black cartridges and not CYM cartridges? If so, then it could be that a new C, Y, and/or M color cartridge would resolve the issue. Buying one color cartridge as a trial would be recommended.

But, as you said, there is no guarantee that the issue is the cartridge and could be a new print head is needed. It could be even worse - some electronic part (analogous to Canon logic assay board) has malfunctioned irreparably. Trying a new cartridge followed by a new print head if the cartridge doesn't fix the issue may be the only way to know if you can get the printer working again.

As I had mentioned, HP does block the use of "outdated" ink cartridges and may allow for an override, as you mentioned, as read here. Again, a firmware update may have altered the ability to override.

I see you've been elsewhere looking for answers such as here, here and just a few hours ago here. I respect your tenacity to find a cost-free workaround. Unfortunately it may take money to figure this out and even then there is no guarantee.

FYI - the amount you've used the printer or its appellation that it is "heavy duty" is not a shield from electronics failure. Printer malfunctions can happen for no apparent rhyme or reason.

That's all I have to offer. Maybe someone with knowledge of your printer can give better advice. Good luck and let us know what happens.

stratman said:

its appellation that it is "heavy duty" is not a shield

Click to expand...

Actually, this is a term used by HP to describe the printer.

Are the color carts full or empty??

matt_henry said:

I hope these steps will be helpful to resolve your issues!

Click to expand...

This thread is almost 2 years old. I hope OP has resolved his issue. Your post may come in handy for someone else looking for help.

Please post the link you copy and pasted from in the future.

https://support.hp.com/lv-en/document/c01728402