HP 67 Cartridge Refill Warning: Understanding E0/E1 Errors Before Modification

Question:
I watched some of your videos on YouTube about modifying HP cartridges into spongeless refillable cartridges. I purchased a kit from your BCH website and would like to try it out. In the instructions, there's a warning that says:

"For HP 67 cartridges, not all of them are suitable to refill. Some of them have E1/E0 errors built into them and will not take refills. Make sure you get a good cartridge before the modification."

Unfortunately, my cartridge is an HP 67. Do you know which types of 67 cartridges might show E0/E1 errors? My cartridges are the official ones that came with the HP DeskJet 2855e printer I recently purchased. They still work fine, but the ink is running low, and I want to confirm before cutting them open.

Answer:

Now, let's address your question about the HP 67 cartridges and the E0/E1 error codes.

1. What the E0/E1 Errors Mean

   • These errors are firmware-level restrictions embedded by HP to prevent refilling or remanufacturing.

   • E0 typically means the cartridge is unrecognized or rejected, while E1 usually signals that the cartridge is not supported or has reached the end of life in the printer's logic.

   • Once triggered, these codes block the cartridge from being reused, even if you successfully refill it.

2. Which HP 67 Cartridges Are Affected

   • The HP 67 family has both standard and XL (high yield) versions, and they are used in DeskJet, ENVY, and some OfficeJet models.

   • Cartridges included with new printers (sometimes called "setup" or "introductory" cartridges) are the most likely to have E0/E1 restrictions built in. Since you mentioned yours came with the HP DeskJet 2855e, those starter cartridges often fall into the blocked category.

   • Retail-purchased replacement HP 67 cartridges (standard or XL) tend to be safer for refilling, though HP occasionally updates chip designs, so testing is still required.

3. Testing Before Modification

   • Since your cartridges are still functional, a safe approach is to wait until the printer shows "low ink" but not complete failure. At that stage, you can refill and reinsert the cartridge.

   • If you see E0/E1 errors after the refill, that confirms the chip is restricted. Unfortunately, no physical modification can bypass these firmware-based blocks.

   • If the cartridge continues to work normally after a refill, then you have one of the "good" chips that allow reuse.

4. Recommendations

   • Use your current cartridges until they are fully depleted, but keep in mind the strong chance they are not refillable because they came bundled with your printer.

   • For future refills, purchase retail HP 67 or 67XL cartridges separately, as those generally have a higher chance of being refill-friendly.

   • Always keep spare cartridges on hand during testing, since E0/E1 errors can appear suddenly and render a cartridge useless.

Addressing printer issues can be a challenging process because of the hands-on work involved. As such, we cannot provide remote troubleshooting or direct support for repairs. However, we do offer an in-person diagnostic and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Please note that this service is run on a first-come, first-served basis, and due to high demand, it may take several weeks before we can work on your device. Our services cover both complete printer repairs and part-specific fixes, with step-by-step instructions provided. That said, our rates are not always the most cost-effective option. For many users, a good starting point is researching through our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). You can use the search icon next to the "About" tab to locate videos on HP cartridge refills and troubleshooting, or let YouTube recommend additional resources from other experts.

Thank you again for your thoughtful question and for supporting our work. Your interest in exploring cartridge modifications helps us continue developing and sharing valuable repair and refill solutions for the printing community.