Printer problems

[Sonyme]

Due to recurrent ill health and hospitalisation I have only used computer a couple of times in last few weeks and have not used printer for about 3 months. I tried to print a document but nothing happened on the pop up screen there was a message that ink cartridges were empty. Printer is Epson 550 wireless. I have replacement cartridges on order. This morning I went through the printer nozzle cleaning and print head testing, and checking ik levels on printer all 4 cartridges were showing varying levels but there was ink in every one. I tried to print doc. and again nothing happened and Epson pop up was showing all cartridges empty. Would replacing ink cartridges be OK, or do I have an unresolved problem?.

[Sonyme]

Am a little bit narked as I have just found out that Comet are selling a single purpose printer for £19:99 - cheaper than cartidges. Seems sensible to buy a couple and disxpose when ink is finished.

[commoner]

I have posted before about the fact that printers are cheaper than the ink replacements from the manufacturers of the said printer.....it's a bit like the old maxim of the safety razor company "give them the razor and you have a customer for life for the blades"

There are plenty of cheaper inks around and I have used these for years with Epson printers......give them a try.

As for your problem..you could try reinstalling the cartridges.....might be just a contact problem....

[HowardKennitby]

Whatever you do to get going it is better, if you don't do much printing, to keep the printer away from heat sources.

[bravejordy]

I have an Epson printer, albeit a different model to yours - mine is an Epson Stylus Photo R300 - but I do occasionally have the same problem where the printer will tell me the installed cartridges are empty. The way I solve this is to go through the motions of replacing the cartridges, where in fact I'm merely removing and reinstalling the old ones. If I remember rightly, the first time I did this it took me a couple of attempts before it worked. Hope it works for you too.

[Sonyme]

Thanks for your help will go through the remove and reinstall process and see what happens, but in any case am going to get the cheap printer and keep boxed as standby till required.

[eddiek]

this is a very helpful site SSC Service Utility for Epson Stylus Printers

[Hugh Spencer]

I think this is where the use of genuine cartridges is important, they contain something which prevents the nozzles from clogging. I was away from my printer for a long time but was able to print when I returned.

[heretic666]

You should think of your Epson as I do mine : future landfill. I only used mine for black and white copies but a genius at Epson decided black would be better if it used all of the colours as well as black to print black.