Resetting Your Hewlett Packard Printer's Estimated Ink Level

Understanding Your Printer's Estimated Ink Level:

The newer Hewlett Packard printers have included in the software that comes with their printers, a "toolbox" that includes a section called Estimated Ink Level.  It is a great tool that allows you to keep track of how much ink is left in your cartridges so you don't start a big print job and get stranded out of ink in the middle of it. 

The only problem is that it has become quite troublesome on those who wish to refill their cartridges.  If you refill your cartridge or have someone else refill your cartridge, it will read as low or empty when you try to print with the cartridge.  How does HP do it?  They started embedding a serial number in the contact strip located on the back of the cartridge. 

The printer remembers that serial number and gives the message of low or out of ink.  The internal memory is located in the printers firmware and is not in the software.  It will remember the previous two cartridges ink level.  We have posted various ways to reset the ink levels so your Estimated Ink Level will read full again.  Click on your printer cartridge number below to find out how.

Hewlett Packard 51645A/G (#45) or C6115D/N (#15) Black Ink Cartridge

Hewlett Packard C8727A (#27) or C6656A (#56) Black Ink Cartridge

Hewlett Packard C5011A (#14) Black Ink Cartridge

Hewlett Packard C6578A/N or C6578D/N (#78) Color Ink Cartridge

Hewlett Packard C6657A (#57) or Hewlett Packard C8728A (#28)
orC6658 (#58) Photo Ink Cartridge

Hewlett Packard C5010A (#14) Color Ink Cartridge

 

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Resetting the Hewlett Packard 51645a (#45) or C6115 (#15) Black Ink Cartridge Estimated Ink Level

There are a few different ways to get the estimated ink level to read full on your HP toolbox.  To better understand the procedure you are about to follow, it helps to know what causes your cartridge to read empty.  There is a serial number embedded in the electrical that allows the printer to keep track of each cartridge's activity. 

The printer will remember the previous two cartridges that have been inserted.  After a third cartridge has been inserted, the memory of the first cartridge is dumped and lost forever.  After that, if the first cartridge is reinserted into the printer, it will read full again even though it may actually be empty. 

Listed below are three procedures to reset the estimated ink level on a #45 or #15.  One of the three will work, so if the first one doesn't, proceed to the second reset method and so on.

To reset the HP 51645 (#45) or HP C6115 (#15):

Reset Method 1:

1.  Refill your cartridge using your InkTec refill kit.

2.  Following the diagram at right, place a piece of adhesive tape covering only the four blue coloured contacts (a contact is the individual copper square).  Make sure that only those four are covered and no others. 

3.  Place cartridge in the printer.  The printer may tell you that there is a problem with your cartridge.  Ignore this message.  The printer may print an alignment page.  If so, allow it to do so.

4.  Take the cartridge out of the printer.  Remove the tape from the four blue coloured contacts.  Place the tape over the four red coloured contacts.  Make sure that only those four are covered and no others.

5.  Follow step 3 again.

6.  Take the cartridge out of the printer for the final time.  Take the remaining tape off and place back in the printer.  The printer should print out an alignment page and the estimated ink level in the toolbox should read full. 

Reset Method 2:

     If Reset Method 1 did not work on your printer, go through the same procedure again, but this time using the green coloured contacts in step 2 and the brown coloured contacts in step 4.  This method is more commonly used for the #15 or in the later officejet printers.

Reset Method 3:

    If neither of the reset methods above worked, you can cycle cartridges through to reset the level.  You will need two extra cartridges and the one you refilled.  First, put the refilled cartridge in the printer.  Allow it to recognize the cartridge and print an alignment page.  Take that cartridge out and place in the first extra cartridge.  Allow it to recognize and print an alignment page.  Take the first extra cartridge out and place the second extra cartridge in.  Allow it to recognize and print an alignment page.  Take the second extra cartridge out.  Place the refilled cartridge back in the printer.  It will print an alignment page and then the estimated ink level will be reset to full.

 

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Resetting the Hewlett Packard C6656A (#56) or C8727A (#27) Black Ink Cartridge Estimated Ink Level

There are a few different ways to get the estimated ink level to read full on your HP toolbox.  To better understand the procedure you are about to follow, it helps to know what causes your cartridge to read empty.  There is a serial number embedded in the electrical that allows the printer to keep track of each cartridge's activity. 

The printer will remember the previous two cartridges that have been inserted.  After a third cartridge has been inserted, the memory of the first cartridge is dumped and lost forever.  After that, if the first cartridge is reinserted into the printer, it will read full again even though it may actually be empty.  Listed below are two procedures to reset the estimated ink level for the #56 and #27.

To reset the HP C6656A (#56) or HP C8727A (#27):

Reset Method 1:

1.  Refill your cartridge using your InkTec refill kit.

2. Following the diagram at right, place a piece of adhesive tape covering only the blue coloured contact (a contact is the individual copper square).  Make sure that only that contact is covered and no others. 

*Please note that the contacts shown are coloured for illustrative purposes only.  You will not have blue or red contacts on your cartridge.

3.  Place cartridge in the printer.  The printer may tell you that there is a problem with your cartridge.  Ignore this message.  The printer may print an alignment page.  If so, allow it to do so.

4.  Take the cartridge out of the printer.  Leave the tape from blue contact on the cartridge.  Place another piece of tape over the red coloured contact.  Make sure that only that contact is covered and no others.

5.  Follow step 3 again.

6.  Take the cartridge out of the printer for the final time.  Take the tapes off and place back in the printer.  The printer should print out an alignment page and the estimated ink level in the toolbox should read full. 

Reset Method 2:

If Reset Method 1 did not work on your printer, you can cycle cartridges through to reset the level.  You will need two extra cartridges and the one you refilled.  First, put the refilled cartridge in the printer.  Allow it to recognize the cartridge and print an alignment page.  Take that cartridge out and place in the first extra cartridge.  Allow it to recognize and print an alignment page.  Take the first extra cartridge out and place the second extra cartridge in.  Allow it to recognize and print an alignment page.  Take the second extra cartridge out.  Place the refilled cartridge back in the printer.  It will print an alignment page and then the estimated ink level will be reset to full.

 

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Resetting the Hewlett Packard C5011A (#14) Black Ink Cartridge Estimated Ink Level

The new HP OfficeJet D Series and CP 1160 Colour Ink Jet series using the #14 black ink cartridges has an estimated ink level gauge that allows the user to view the amount of ink remaining in the cartridge.  This gauge must be shut off in order to refill the cartridge.  It is a simple procedure that can be done in the matter of seconds.

To turn the ink level gauge off for the HP C5011A (#14) black cartridge used in the OfficeJet D Series:

1.  Refill your cartridge using your InkTec refill kit.

2.  Press the < and > (also the + and -) at the same time, then release quickly (the lcd panel must be showing the date or the procedure will not work)

3.  On the keypad, press in order 7, 8, 9.

4.  A message will appear asking if you want to override the ink level gauge.  Press 1 for yes (You can later turn the ink gauge back on if you install a new cartridge by going through steps 2 and 3, then pressing 2 when prompted if you want to override the ink level gauge).

Your ink level gauge is now turned off and can resume printing.

  To turn the ink level gauge off for the HP C5011A (#14) black cartridge used in the HP Colour InkJet CP 1160 Series:

1.  Refill your cartridge using your InkTec refill kit.

2.  Press and hold down the power button.

3.  While holding the Power button:

     Press the Cancel button 12 times

     Press the Resume button 1 time

4.  Release the Power button

The ink gauge is now off and you can resume printing

 

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Resetting the Hewlett Packard C6578AN or C6578DN (#78) Colour Ink Cartridge Estimated Ink Level

There are a few different ways to get the estimated ink level to read full on your HP toolbox.  To better understand the procedure you are about to follow, it helps to know what causes your cartridge to read empty.  There is a serial number embedded in the electrical that allows the printer to keep track of each cartridge's activity. 

The printer will remember the previous two cartridges that have been inserted.  After a third cartridge has been inserted, the memory of the first cartridge is dumped and lost forever.  After that, if the first cartridge is reinserted into the printer, it will read full again even though it may actually be empty.  Listed below are three procedures to reset the estimated ink level on a #78.  One of the three will work, so if the first one doesn't, proceed to the second reset method and so on.

To reset the HP C6578 (#78):

1.  Refill your cartridge using your InkTec refill kit.

2.    Following the diagram at right, place a piece of adhesive tape covering only the four blue coloured contacts (a contact is the individual copper square).  Make sure that only those four are covered and no others.   

*Please note that the contacts shown are coloured for illustrative purposes only.  You will not have blue or red contacts on your cartridge.

3.  Place cartridge in the printer.  The printer may tell you that there is a problem with your cartridge.  Ignore this message.  The printer may print an alignment page.  If so, allow it to do so.

4.  Take the cartridge out of the printer.  Remove the tape from the four blue contacts.  Place the tape over the four red coloured contacts.  Make sure that only those four are covered and no others.  

5.  Follow step 3 again.

6.  Take the cartridge out of the printer for the final time.  Take the remaining tape off and place back in the printer.  The printer should print out an alignment page and the estimated ink level in the toolbox should read full. 

Reset Method 2:

1.  Refill your cartridge using your InkTec refill kit.

2.  Following the diagram at right, place a piece of adhesive tape covering only the blue coloured contact (a contact is the individual copper square).  Make sure that only that contact is covered and no others.   

3.  Place cartridge in the printer.  The printer may tell you that there is a problem with your cartridge.  Ignore this message.  The printer may print an alignment page.  If so, allow it to do so.

4.  Take the cartridge out of the printer.  Leave the tape on the blue contact.  Place another piece of tape over the red coloured contact.  Make sure that only that contact is covered and no others.  

5.  Follow step 3 again.

6.  Take the cartridge out of the printer for the final time.  Take the remaining tapes off and place back in the printer.  The printer should print out an alignment page and the estimated ink level in the toolbox should read full.

Reset Method 3:

If neither of the reset methods above worked, you can cycle cartridges through to reset the level.  You will need two extra cartridges and the one you refilled.  First, put the refilled cartridge in the printer.  Allow it to recognize the cartridge and print an alignment page.  Take that cartridge out and place in the first extra cartridge.  Allow it to recognize and print an alignment page. 

Take the first extra cartridge out and place the second extra cartridge in.  Allow it to recognize and print an alignment page.  Take the second extra cartridge out.  Place the refilled cartridge back in the printer.  It will print an alignment page and then the estimated ink level will be reset to full.

 

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Resetting the Hewlett Packard C6657A (#57), C6658A (#58 Photo), or C8728A (#28) Colour Ink Cartridge Estimated Ink Level

There are a few different ways to get the estimated ink level to read full on your HP toolbox.  To better understand the procedure you are about to follow, it helps to know what causes your cartridge to read empty.  There is a serial number embedded in the electrical that allows the printer to keep track of each cartridge's activity. 

The printer will remember the previous two cartridges that have been inserted.  After a third cartridge has been inserted, the memory of the first cartridge is dumped and lost forever.  After that, if the first cartridge is reinserted into the printer, it will read full again even though it may actually be empty.  Listed below are two procedures to reset the estimated ink level for the #28, #57, #58.

To reset the HP C6657A (#57), HP C6658A (#58) or HP C8728A (#28):

Reset Method 1:

1.  Refill your cartridge using your InkTec refill kit.

2.   Following the diagram at right, place a piece of adhesive tape covering only the blue coloured contact (a contact is the individual copper square).  Make sure that only that contact is covered and no others.   

*Please note that the contacts shown are coloured for illustrative purposes only.  You will not have blue or red contacts on your cartridge.

3.  Place cartridge in the printer.  The printer may tell you that there is a problem with your cartridge.  Ignore this message.  The printer may print an alignment page.  If so, allow it to do so.

4  Take the cartridge out of the printer.  Leave the tape on the blue contact.  Place another piece of tape over the red coloured contact.  Make sure that only that contact is covered and no others.

5.  Follow step 3 again.

6.  Take the cartridge out of the printer for the final time.  Take the remaining tapes off and place back in the printer.  The printer should print out an alignment page and the estimated ink level in the toolbox should read full.

Reset Method 2:

     If Reset Method 1 did not work on your printer, you can cycle cartridges through to reset the level.  You will need two extra cartridges and the one you refilled.  First, put the refilled cartridge in the printer.  Allow it to recognize the cartridge and print an alignment page.  Take that cartridge out and place in the first extra cartridge. 

Allow it to recognize and print an alignment page.  Take the first extra cartridge out and place the second extra cartridge in.  Allow it to recognize and print an alignment page.  Take the second extra cartridge out.  Place the refilled cartridge back in the printer.  It will print an alignment page and then the estimated ink level will be reset to full.

 

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Resetting the Hewlett Packard C5010A (#14) Colour Ink Cartridge Estimated Ink Level

The new HP OfficeJet D-Series and CP 1160 Colour Ink Jet series using the #14 colour ink cartridges has an estimated ink level gauge that allows the user to view the amount of ink remaining in the cartridge.  This gauge must be shut off in order to refill the cartridge.  It is a simple procedure that can be done in the matter of seconds.

To turn the ink level gauge off for the HP C5010A (#14) colour cartridge used in the OfficeJet D Series:

1.  Refill your cartridge using your InkTec refill kit.

2.  Press the < and > (also the + and -) at the same time, then release quickly (the lcd panel must be showing the date or the procedure will not work)

3.  On the keypad, press in order 4, 5, 6.

4.  A message will appear asking if you want to override the ink level gauge.  Press 1 for yes (You can later turn the ink gauge back on if you install a new cartridge by going through steps 2 and 3, then pressing 2 when prompted if you want to override the ink level gauge).

Your ink level gauge is now turned off and can resume printing.

 

To turn the ink level gauge off for the HP C5010A (#14) colour cartridge used in the HP Colour InkJet CP 1160 Series:

1.       Refill your cartridge using your InkTec refill kit.

2.       Press and hold down the power button.

3.       While holding the Power button

4.       Press the Cancel button 12 times

5.       Press the Resume button 3 times

6.       Release the Power button

The ink gauge is now off and you can resume printing.