[Usrn]

I have an HP Photosmart D7160 with an HP a6120a computer running Vista.

I got a brand spankin new cartridge at CVS about 8 months ago. Just installed it - it's been sealed in the package until now.

The printer said it is a previously used genuine HP cartridge. Now it says that this same cartridge is past its expiration date - two weeks after I installed it - with very little usage.

Now when I turn the printer on, "The original HP ink...has been depleted" with a colorless (white) box beneath it. All the ink levels shown on the computer look fine.

When I turn the printer off, a minute later - Your HP product is now ready shows up on the computer.

Can anyone make sense of any of this?

[LiveBrianD]

Tried shaking the cartridge around to make the ink get to the nozzles?

[mjd420nova]

If you look closely at the cartridge you'll see the small little dimples that are the contacts for the cartridge. Try cleaning them witha q-tip and alcohol. Also, try cleaning the mating contacts on the cartridge holder. It only takes one contact with your finger to cause a bad connection and transfer it to the cartridge holder.

[WinfieldZenith]

I have an HP Photo smart C4680 that has a printer cartridges error message on the printer display.  I cleaned the heads of the cartridges with a cotton swab than it printed three times but after then the error came back. Can anyone help me?