Your insight and suggestions would be appreciated: Just out of warranty Epson XP-970 printer was working fine using refillable cartridges. I get an Error indicating "Unable to...

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

Just out of warranty Epson XP-970 printer was working fine using refillable cartridges. I get an Error indicating "Unable to recognize cartridge". Often this is resolved by removing and reinserting the cartridge. In this process, I noticed almost all cartridges were getting low on ink and I refilled all 6. After the printer goes through the new ink in place process, I get an error message showing all cartridges blank and stating "cannot recognize the cartridges."

I've gone through all the processes I know (unplugging connections, restarting my printer, etc.)-nothing happens except to repeat the above message. The above message is on the printer; the message on my computer says the paper is loaded incorrectly or the tray is empty, it is not.

Epson's only suggestion, since it's out of warranty, is to purchase new Epson ink or use their special discount to purchase another Epson computer.

Thank you in advance for your help.

DrAW45 Loc: Maumee Ohio

You have probably let a firmware update from Epson go though and it blocks re-man ink. Try to revert to your last firmware update. Search the Google on how to do this revert.

TreborLow

Not sure of your issue, but my much older Epson printer showed an end of life error. I searched the internet and found a British link to override that error for about $15. They sent a link and it worked. Still using the printer more than two years later. Worth searching for your error. Sorry, not at home now and I doubt I could find my link address. Good luck.

petercbrandt Loc: New York City, Manhattan

I have been an Epson printer user since my Photo Stylus 2200, an NX420 plus an R3000, and ink cartridge replacement has ALWAYS been a pain even though I always use original Epson cartridges.
Thinking of switching away from Epson for my next printer, just tired of screwing around with their menus and calling for tech help......though I must admit that thank goodness they answer the phone even with out-of-warranty equipment. Today my R3000 is spilling globs of black ink after it (automatically on its own) insists on head cleaning.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

petercbrandt wrote:

I have been an Epson printer user since my Photo S... (show quote)

Had to comment - I've used Epson printers since it was an 8-pin dot matrix printer and remember when the upgrade to 9-pin came out so j's could have a tail. My Epson, WF-3520, was plugged in 3 years ago, turned on and never turned off. Just in the last week it's messing up color pictures and refuses to clean itself up.
I think we've got our monies worth so going to buy one of the new tank ink ones.
Any suggestions of which one??

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Floyd wrote:

Just out of warranty Epson XP-970 printer was work... (show quote)

Try resetting the printer by removing the power cord from the wall socket for about one minute, that has helped solve some problems on my Epson printers.

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

flyguy wrote:

Try resetting the printer by removing the power cord from the wall socket for about one minute, that has helped solve some problems on my Epson printers.

Appreciate the suggestion; however, that was one of the first things I tried.

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

Could be a driver issue. Uninstall the printer software and then reinstall it again.

llamb Loc: Northeast Ohio

This may or may not work, but it only takes a couple of minutes and is free.

Disconnect every cord/cable from the printer

Depress and hold down the power button for 10 full seconds

Reconnect all cords/cables

This usually resets many electronics to factory settings.

~Lee

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Floyd wrote:

Just out of warranty Epson XP-970 printer was work... (show quote)

I recently bought the same printer to print on disks, but I haven't used up the original ink yet. I've had mixed results with third party ink, so I'll have to pay Epson for their over-priced ink. I've also had limited success refilling cartridges. I wanted a tank printer for disks, but that wasn't in the cards. : (

I think Epson ink is your best bet, unfortunately.

JBRIII

If the ink is old and the printer has a date setting in the printer, set the date back. We had a large poster printer that refused to work as it considered the cartridges too old. It was problematic since we bought lots such supplies at year end with any money left. Resetting the date fixed the problem.

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

jerryc41 wrote:

I recently bought the same printer to print on disks, but I haven't used up the original ink yet. I've had mixed results with third party ink, so I'll have to pay Epson for their over-priced ink. I've also had limited success refilling cartridges. I wanted a tank printer for disks, but that wasn't in the cards. : (

I think Epson ink is your best bet, unfortunately.

Did you try InkOwls products? Their whole thing, prior to the Pandemic, was $100.00 and included 6-120ml bottles of ink, syringes and long blunt needles. This refill, that apparently caused all the problems, was the 4th and each bottle is slightly more than half full. I personally cannot tell the difference between photos printed with InkOwl's or Epson's ink.

petercbrandt Loc: New York City, Manhattan

JBRIII wrote:

If the ink is old and the printer has a date setting in the printer, set the date back. We had a large poster printer that refused to work as it considered the cartridges too old. It was problematic since we bought lots such supplies at year end with any money left. Resetting the date fixed the problem.

Finding how to set the dates back is probably hidden deep in the printers' computer. Only someone with IT intelligence could do that.

JBRIII

petercbrandt wrote:

Finding how to set the dates back is probably hidden deep in the printers' computer. Only someone with IT intelligence could do that.

Perhaps, but it might be in the program that usually comes with a printer, telling when ink is low, etc. Was quite simple on HP poster printer to do. Also if it can be done, it is somewhere on the web as to how.

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

I appreciate all the suggestions. Everything I Googled dealt with the printer controls working properly. When this printer starts or restarts I get, on the printer, the standard option screen. Touching any option causes the screen to show the same error indication; therefore,holding down any buttons on the printer is impossible.

Looks more and more like I'll have to buy a set of Epson inks (which is slightly more than 1/3 the price of a new printer) to get this printer to work.