Need Advice about Ink Cartridges

9 years ago

My printer is an HP OfficeJet Pro 8610. Got a message that an ink cartridge was depleted and needed to be replaced. Once I opened the printer for access to the ink cartridges, I saw nothing to indicate which cartridge needed to be replaced. Because I mainly print in black, that is the cartridge that was replaced. However, I still get the message that a cartridge needs to be replaced. My question is how in the heck do you determine which cartridge needs to be replaced? Feel like this is a silly question, but I just can't figure it out. TIA.

Featured Answer

azinoh

9 years ago

I can't speak to that specific model, but when I installed my Officejet 4500 the result was a "HP Solution Center" icon on the desktop which when clicked does show the "estimated" amount of ink left in each cartridge. YMMV.

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Comments (11)

aputernut
9 years ago
Most folks don't know this but there is a reset on many ink cartridges where you can get more ink out of them it is usually a tiny hole for a pin or paper clip to be inserted.
WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a thanked aputernut
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Credit to everyone who is trying to recycle their ink cartridges, but I still have concerns about these printers and their consumables. Ink jet printers are just plain hard on the budget and the environment, and the cartridges can't be refilled indefinitely, many only once and very few more than two or three times. Many applications don't really need an ink jet, I see lots of these printers being used in places where a laser or dot matrix would be much better suited to the job. Often people buy them because the initial printer cost is very low, frequently because it's heavily subsided by the expensive cartridges, sometimes the printer is sold for less than a full set of cartridges. However, when you consider the price of ink and special paper, it's multiple times cheaper to take your digital photographs or images to a shop and have them use their state of the art printer worth thousands to print them for you. No need to clutter up your house with another printer, no need to change cartridges or anything. Best of all it's not more work, you can either go out to the store to buy cartridges or you can go to the store to have your pictures printed. The only major difference is price and quality, both of which are better. Some places do it mail order or over the internet now, so you could have your prints sent to you. Of course some people do need a colour printer at home or in their office, there are genuine needs, but then it's fair to point out that the price of colour laser printers has dropped a lot now, and they're much better suited to high volume applications, but also don't dry up if not used for a while. They also work out much cheaper in the long term. Anyone who can justify their need for a high quality colour printer, for example a high volume of prints being made, can probably justify the initial expense of a colour laser as it will save them so much money in the long term.
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Janette I'm just glad I could help and thats enough of a treat for me *lol* Staples now goes on the list along with Office Depot as a business that DOES work with a customer even if the customer made a mistake in the first place! Now days you gotta love it :o) BTW, Office Depot also gives "Rewards" now instead of instant credit. I wasn't happy with it either, but when I get the cash card in the mail every 3 months I really do appreciate it. Especially when I go through about 7-10 ink cartridges per week. They just don't take Epson for the $3.00 credit and thats my main printer. Alls I get is 10% of the cost. Better then nothing though. Happy printing! MsM84 (aka: Photos by Ms.Mary)
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I never used any of the store-bought ones but tried one from a local business that does them. Actually, I tried two. The first wouldn't work at all. The second did a miserable print job. I do printing as a business, and WYSWYG is very important, but the pictures printed terribly. The colors were waaaay off. He told me mine was their best seller, so I cannot account for other people liking it except to say most just want something printed out. While it is extremely important to me, it doesn't matter to everyone what the printout looks like. I should point out mine are HP printers and I so very much wish I could get ink for less than these outrageous prices. Additionally, the printers in the last 4 or 5 years are made to consume more ink, while the cartridges are filled with less ink. I would suggest you try it to determine for yourself. Usually, the costs are low enough for one experiment at least. Also, you can purchase the ink in bottles and do the re-filling yourself. My cousin has been doing that for years.
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Glenda, go to www.staples.com - they have a 20% off coupon in the weekly ad (good for the purchase of one item). If you take in your old cartridge this week, you can get a $6 rebate credit. I usually either buy at Staples, or through www.hp.com (if HP sends me an e-mail about a sale, with free shipping). Yes, the cartridges are expensive, but I only use HP brands. I tried an off-brand one time, and it was worthless.
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User
9 years ago
I have Brother Printers and the Brother Software tells you when the Ink or Toner Needs Replaced and Which Color! With Windows 10, my Brother Software is No Longer working the way it did before the Upgrade, but Windows 10 does prompt me as to which Ink /Toner cartridge needs Replaced.

I have used HP in the past and my experience with HP is the same as Brother, the Icon in the Lower Right Corner (Notification Area on the Taskbar) tells you which color needs replaced. HP may have changed they way they do it, it's been 8-10 years since I've used an HP Printer!
WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a thanked User
WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a
Original Author
9 years ago
I ended up replacing all of the ink cartridges before the printer would work. I am definitely going to look for that tiny hole in the future, aputernut. Also, finally it dawned on me that a color was showing up in the message window of the printer with a tiny alphabet letter in it; a different color showed up for each cartridge that had to be replaced. Actually, that is pretty cool when you think about it. Thanks to all of you for giving me advice.
4thumbs
9 years ago
If you shop at Costco just refill them there. I believe the cost is about $10 per cartridge. Your printer will leave you nasty messages but pay no attention. They work fine and will NOT damage your printer as HP claims.
kudzu9
9 years ago
I agree with 4thumbs. However, be aware that companies want to force you to buy their cartridges because there is such a huge profit margin for them. It's like when razor companies sold you a cheap razor and got all of their profit from the proprietary blades they sold you afterwards. HP caused a huge firestorm of protest last year when they provided a seemingly innocent firmware update for certain of their printers. Customers who downloaded this update later found out that the firmware prevented the use of certain third-party ink cartridges, even ones that had functioned fine before. The reaction was so fierce that HP backed off, but it made me think about ever buying an HP printer again, or installing any update unless I clearly understand everything it does.

HP rethinks policy
4thumbs
9 years ago
I have a cheap Brother laser B&W printer. After covering the sensors to get extra mileage from the toner cartridges, I wait until it practically won't print before I order another cartridge. I suspect I've spent more in toner than what the printer is worth, so I wait until the very last moment before ordering another toner in case the printer craps out on me. I order from Costco and you only have to get one, the shipping is free and they're fast.

However, I do have another HP inkjet in case I need copies if the laser is out of toner.
cacocobird
9 years ago
I had an HP Laser for 15 years. It still had the original cartridge in it.
4thumbs
9 years ago
WOW! I use mine heavily for heavy graphics such as WordArt type fonts in large sizes.

My family thinks I'm anal, but I make large, heavy print labels for foods in my freezer and also to label boxes of various items, such as tools, hardware, etc. in my basement.

I hate having to hunt through my freezer for foods, as they all look the same when frozen and it helps me quickly find items without thawing out the entire contents by having the door open so long,

It's the same for trying to find tools and such.

So anyway, my toner gets very heavy use and despite that it lasts quite awhile and I squeeze every ounce of toner out by using it to the very last drop so to speak.

However, I think you may well hold the record for the longest lasting toner cartridge. That's amazing!
justme4now
9 years ago
Look for a highly regarded seller on ebay.

I have an epson printer and the ink in the store runs about $80.00 for a four pak.

I buy the exact same inks on ebay (From a certain seller) and get TEN inks for $9.00 and the inks are Not refills and are in the original packages.

It is important to shop Only with a highly rated and verified seller!
justme4now
9 years ago
This is one of the sellers I purchase my inks from. http://www.ebay.com/itm/12PK-Ink-For-Epson-98-99-T098-T0981-T0986-Artisan-810-835-837-700-710-725-730/121450496146

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