10.3 - HP printer u/s

[44139]

HP D2460-USB printer. Never been reliable, fitted new budget cartridges and it ran a while, then rested it for abt 2 weeks whilst I got a new hard drive, now the LED won't stop flashing & it won't print.
Printer is not worn, & I've used only top quality paper. If I disconnect the data cable the flash rate accelerates Cannot get any printer 'Test' working. Printer is fully recognised by PC. I have NOT opened any firewall ports, though that used to work & I did try it.. I have tried using both standard and HP backends to CUPS. The default foomatic driver is being used.
I may download hplip and try again, if the boffins have sabotaged the downloaded version. I've removed paper and dis/re-connected power-no change. Lift lid and cartidges centralise in bay for service. Cartidges NOT empty nor blocked. Seating properly. Ideas???

[whych]

Have you checked for a paper jam or some such problem. If the printer flashes when not connected, it means a printer problem and not software.

[gogalthorp]

It could be that the cheap cartridge is the problem. I had problems with them on my HP Try an official HP cartridge. Also it could be simply that the printer has died. Is it still under warranty? does using cheap non-HP ink void the warranty?

I now only use official ink even as I curse HP for over charging. Computer ink is about the single most expensive thing you can buy. It works out you are paying about $3600 per gallon. Ouch

[44139]

It could be that the cheap cartridge is the problem. I had problems with them on my HP Try an official HP cartridge. Also it could be simply that the printer has died. Is it still under warranty? does using cheap non-HP ink void the warranty?

I now only use official ink even as I curse HP for over charging. Computer ink is about the single most expensive thing you can buy. It works out you are paying about $3600 per gallon. Ouch

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It doesn't pick up the paper, so????? &, 7cc of ink versus 22cc of ink at 1/3 the price. If it's the cartridges, apart from buying new ones, how do I test it? If it is the cartridge-that's the LAST HP device I'll EVER buy., It's a warranty replacement printer for a D2400 which died @ 8 mths due to bad paper, shop supplied and admitted. I guess its >4 mths old-so no more warranty.

[gogalthorp]

The cartridges have chips in them if the chips are bad or go bad the printer does not work right. Also if the constancy and other properties of the ink are not just right things can clog and again the printer won't work. Also there is a reason that printers are as cheap as they are. They are built that way.

As far as I know there is no way to test it without replacing the cartridge.

[44139]

Thanks for the info. I had not considered they might have chips in the cartridge, I will take it back AGAIN and see what they will do about it. I'm expecting some cash, I think I'll get a Canon. I want the cartridges to have the print head on them, & I don't need/want a laser printer. Feel free to recommend something capable of >=t 600dpi colour and black, as above. I don't print a lot, usually 5-8 pages of text/week, all at once. Speed is not important, I don't use photo quality much.

The best printer I ever had was a used Deskjet 500 portable-but now they're too old to be any good. I've had a few Canon 210's, and they were ok.