HP Printer says Printheads are missing, but the Ink is full – Troubleshooting.

Customer Inquiry
I see an error message on my HP 8610 indicating that the printheads are absent, but I can see that they're installed and full of Ink. I've already reset the machine and reinstalled the print cartridges. Do you know if these things are fixable?
 
Answer:
I'm sorry for not getting back to you sooner, and thank you for getting in touch. We know that getting your printer back in operating condition is critical for you, and we appreciate your patience. Thanks to your membership at BCH Technologies, you are welcome with respect. Your feedback is crucial to us as we refine our skills and work with more customers like you.
 
The Printheads Missing Error and its Common Causes
It can arise for several reasons, even though your printhead was physically installed and inked:

• Printhead Connectivity Problems: Over time, the electrical contacts connecting the printhead to the printer can get dirty or misaligned, leading to failure. This can disrupt the printer's ability to detect the printhead, triggering an error message.
• Firmware Glitches: In some cases, printer firmware might malfunction and report false errors, all while the printer itself seems fine physically. This might be due to outdated firmware or a temporary glitch.
• Damaged Printhead: In some cases, the printhead can be damaged, preventing it from communicating correctly with the printer. This can result in an error message stating that the printhead is missing, even though it's right there and full of Ink.
• Mainboard Malfunction: If the mainboard malfunctions, it may fail to recognize the printhead and invoke an error message.

Troubleshooting Steps
Wash prints of all the colors are incorrect and do not run. Since you have already tried resetting the printer and reinstalling the cartridges, here are some more steps to fix it.
Remove the Electrical Contacts Rusted:

• Power off and unplug your printer.
• Could you remove the printhead cautiously and look over the copper-colored contacts of the printhead and the printer?
• Gently wipe the contacts with a lint-free cloth slightly moistened with isopropyl alcohol. Let them dry completely before putting the printhead back in.
• This can help clean any muck that might be affecting the connection.

Take a closer look at the Printhead and Carriage:

• Could you check the printhead for any visible damage or signs of wear? If it is damaged, the printer head might need to be replaced.
• Could you double-check that the correct printhead is snapped into the proper slot? If it is misaligned, it may not make the required electrical contact with the printer.

Perform a Hard Reset:

• If the printer is powered on, could you unplug the power cord while the printer is powered on?
• Disconnect the power cord and wait for approximately 60 seconds.
• Could you restart the printer and check if the error continues? This can occasionally fix software glitches that are causing the issue.

Can BCH Technologies Fix It?
Yes, BCH Technologies can diagnose and repair your printer. But take note that printer repairs can be tricky as many components depend on one another. Repairs consider the printer as a system rather than just replacing (or attempting to track repairs) individual parts, as the issue may just repeat from underlying issues not being fixed.
Our repair service starts at $300, but you'll need to know if it'll be worth it based on the age and condition of the printer. We can work on just the mainboard or printhead if you like, but we cannot promise that this will fix every related issue. If you need to replace a printhead, you can find the replacement parts for us to install.
Considering the technicality of printer repairs, we provide in-house inspections at our local diagnostics center. You can just ship your printer to us for a full assessment, and we'll let you know the best course of action. Because our repair services are first come, first serve, and we are swamped, it may take a few weeks to get to your printer.
 
Additional Resources
Printer issues can be a complex problem to solve firsthand since they require hands-on troubleshooting. Unfortunately, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting or specific repair support, but we can do an in-lab evaluation and/or repair at our local diagnostic center (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). We are experiencing high volume and are currently working on a first-come, first-serve basis, meaning it could take a little time before we can get your print in for an evaluation.
If you don't mind, we also recommend looking for self-help resources online. We have a YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) for those who prefer video explanations and debugging advice. You can search the channel for videos to help you solve your challenge. We've been making in-depth repair videos for over nine years, and you may get good help there. On top of that, YouTube might recommend other creators' helpful videos, too.
 
Thank you for contacting us once more! We hope this information helps you fix your HP 8610 printer error. Please get in touch with us again if you have more questions or require any assistance.