Troubleshooting "Cartridge Appears to Be Damaged" Error on HP Officejet Pro 8620

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Regarding the error you're having with your HP Officejet Pro 8620, I want you to know that you're dealing with an issue that's a bit more complex than the typical cartridge recognition error. Let’s go through the potential causes and solutions:

1. Connection Issues: One common cause of the "cartridge appears to be damaged" error is poor communication between the printer and the chip on the cartridge. Non-original cartridges can sometimes present challenges because the printer may need help reading the chip. The cartridge chip may also be manufactured to a different specification than HP's, leading to recognition problems. In this case, ensuring that the chip and contact points on the printer are clean and free from dust or debris is an excellent first step. You can use a lint-free cloth, or a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to gently clean the chip area.
2. Third-Party Cartridges: While non-original cartridges can work fine in many instances, HP printers often have updates designed to restrict third-party cartridges. These updates can block the printer from recognizing the chip, leading to the error you see. You’ve already tried multiple firmware versions, which tells me this might be more of a firmware incompatibility issue than a cartridge-specific issue.
3. Firmware Bug – Rotating Error: What you’ve described, where the missing color error rotates from one cartridge to another, indicates a known firmware bug. This issue occurs when the printer can't consistently maintain the connection with each cartridge chip, causing the error to "move" between different cartridges. Unfortunately, this is a problem with the printer’s firmware itself, and while you’ve already attempted downgrading and upgrading to various firmware versions, this doesn’t seem to resolve the issue.
   Unfortunately, I don’t have a guaranteed fix for this firmware bug. It may be worth contacting HP directly to see if they have official solutions or workarounds. There was also a class-action lawsuit in Europe where HP was held accountable for issues related to firmware and cartridge errors. While it may not apply to your specific situation, it indicates that HP is aware of the problem, and their support team might be able to offer guidance on how to address the firmware issue or even provide compensation.

Next Steps: I recommend contacting HP directly, 800-407-4005 8 AM - 8 PM (ET), Monday-Friday. to ask about this firmware bug and see if they can provide a solution or update that explicitly addresses this rotating cartridge error. In the meantime, if you urgently need printing, you could try using original HP cartridges to see if they temporarily bypass the issue. However, I understand that you’ve already tested this method.

Additional Note: Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. We cannot offer remote troubleshooting or repair support for specific printer errors. However, we provide in-person evaluation and repair services via our local diagnostic facility at BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Given the high demand for repairs, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it might take a few weeks to evaluate your printer. Our services include complete printer repair and the repair of individual parts, with clear instructions for mail-in or local drop-off services.

While we understand that our service rates might only sometimes be the most budget-friendly, we encourage self-help options. You can start by exploring our BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies], where we’ve shared many videos. Using the YouTube search function next to the "About" section of the page is an excellent way to find content that addresses specific issues. This tool may also suggest videos from other helpful channels.

Thank you again for your patience and continued support. We hope this information is helpful and look forward to helping you further if you need it.