Fixing Red X Errors on Epson 9900 Cartridges: Chip and Firmware Solutions

Question:

I installed a brand-new 700ml Light Black cartridge in my Epson 9900, but I’m getting a red X error. Other Light Black cartridges are recognized just fine, so I believe the issue is with the chip. I hate to waste a 700ml cartridge. Do you have any advice?

Answer:

It sounds like the chip on the Light Black cartridge is the problem, based on your description since that red X usually indicates that the printer cannot read the chip correctly. What the fuck do you do with dead Light Black, though? Well, what you can do is this: take the chip out of a working Light Black cartridge, and swap it over to the new one. The original chip is defective if the printer still recognizes the cartridge after swapping the chips. This is so that your 700ml cartridge does not go to waste.

If you don’t want to risk swapping the chip or the swap doesn’t fix the problem, you can look into third-party chip resetters or compatible replacement chips. These tools, which are available online, can restore the functionality of the cartridge without a need to replace the entire unit. Please be gentle when touching the chip and cartridge contacts area so that you won't make the situation worse.

Also, contacting Epson support is an excellent option if the cartridge is a genuine Epson product. In my experience, their customer service is very responsive, and they often handle it without any problem. Also, if adding one cartridge causes the red X to jump to another cartridge in a "round-robin" process, this may be a firmware issue. Reflashing the firmware on your Epson 9900 solves this issue.

Printer problems are one of those complicated headaches to deal with as they are very much hands-on. Therefore, we cannot provide remote printer troubleshooting, recommendations, or printer repair assistance. We provide in-person diagnosis and repair at our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service), but due to the high demand, there is a first-come, first-served basis. It may take us a few weeks to get your printer to drop it off. Our services are designed to fix an entire printer or specific parts, with precise steps to follow. However, we admit that our prices aren't the cheapest. We suggest that you search the web for self-help. Visit our YouTube Channel: All our videos are listed on the YouTube home page: https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies. Click the search icon next to "About" on the right side of the menu bar to search for videos related to your problem.