Resetting ink levels in HP printers with cartridge #'s 15, 45, 23, 78, 17 and 41

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Most printers only remember the last two cartridges (of each color) used in the printer. If you have two spare cartridges (these can be old and/or nonfunctional), simply place them into the printer, one after the other, then put your refilled cartridge back in to restore to 100% ink levels. If you don’t have spare cartridges, follow this procedure:

  1. Pull your cartridge or cartridges out of the printer and face them as shown. Note: You can reset just one cartridge, or both at the same time with this procedure.
  2. Place a piece of tape so that it just covers the top 4 contacts on the top left side of the contact area as shown.
  3. Reinsert the cartridges into the printer with the tape in place.
  4. Close the lid and wait about 5 seconds.
  5. Open the lid and wait for the printer to give the cartridges back to you. Note: The printer may take time to do this, and may flash to show there is an error with your cartridges. This is normal.
  6. Remove the cartridges again and move the tape to the other side as shown in the lower pictures.
  7. Reinsert the cartridges into the printer with the tape in place.
  8. Close the lid and wait about 5 seconds or so.
  9. Open the lid and wait for the printer to give the cartridges back to you. Note: The printer may flash to show there is an error with your cartridges again. This is normal.
  10. Remove the cartridges and remove all the tape. Be sure the contacts are CLEAN. Gently wipe copper colored contacts with alcohol on q-tip and, the contacts where the cartridge fits into the printer.
  11. Place the cartridges back into the printer. They should now read 100% full. If not, redo the procedure, but only cover the top 3 contacts. If they still do not show as full, repeat, but only cover the top 2 contacts.
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