HP OfficeJet H470: Ink level of nearly unused photo cartridge is shown as zero

[Till Kamppeter]

I use HPLIP 2.8.5 on Intrepid 64-bit (Ubuntu package). I have an HP OfficeJet H470 connected via USB with color cartridge and photo cartridge. The ink level display of both the hp-toolbox and the hp-levels command show the ink level of the photo cartridge as 0% (but its health as Good/OK). The photo cartridge is nearly unused, only some alignment and text pages printed, no photo. The color cartridge is correctly shown with 94%. Also the battery level is correctly shown (only in hp-toolbox).

[Linus Araque (linus-araque)]

This is fixed in the latest (2.8.6.11) build. Both hp-levels, and the toolbox report accurate ink levels when the photo and color cartridge are installed in my H470.

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

For me this problem still persists with HPLIP 2.8.6.

[dwelch91 (dwelch91)]

In order to determine if this is a software defect or a firmware/cartridge issue, I need to see the device ID for the printer when it is in this state. There are various conditions that will cause the printer to report 0% fill for carts. that are not empty. In this case, the software simply reports that value.

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

Here we go (I have run the commands as root due to Ubuntu bug 318262):

till@till-laptop:~/ubuntu/ghostscript/tmp$ sudo hp-levels -p Officejet_H470
warning: hp-levels should not be run as root/superuser.

HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 2.8.12)
Supply Levels Utility ver. 2.0

Copyright (c) 2001-8 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

Tri-color cartridge
Part No.: 95/97
Health: Good/OK

----------------------------------------------------------------
|/////////////////////////////////////////////////// | (approx. 81%)
----------------------------------------------------------------

Photo cartridge
Part No.: 99
Health: Good/OK

----------------------------------------------------------------
| | (approx. 0%)
----------------------------------------------------------------

Battery
Part No.: C8222A/C8263A
Health: Good/OK
----------------------------------------------------------------
|/////////////////////// | (approx. 37%)
----------------------------------------------------------------

Done.
till@till-laptop:~/ubuntu/ghostscript/tmp$ sudo hp-info -p Officejet_H470 --id
warning: hp-info should not be run as root/superuser.
MFG:HP;MDL:Officejet H470;CMD:MLC,PCL,PML,OFFICEJET,DW-PCL,DYN;CLS:PRINTER;DES:Officejet H470;SN:CN7BU18154;S:048000808400102370A0002c3900000c2880051;Z:0102,050127d2015ec8,0604;BT:001a0e1769aa,4f66666963656a65742048343730,0000008f,0;
till@till-laptop:~/ubuntu/ghostscript/tmp$

[Paul Dufresne (paulduf)]

Well, not sure if what I say in this comment is not already known... let's say it, I'll be sure then.
It may not really be linked, I know next to nothing about HP printers.
This model is very near model listed as needing MANUAL reset of ink used (with Windows software I think):

HP Officejet 500, 600, and 700: HP Fax 910 and 920
These models count the ink drops used by the cartridge. You must manually reset the counter when a new cartridge is inserted. To reset the counter, follow the steps below:

   1.
      Turn on the unit.
   2.
      Open the top cover to access the print cartridges.
   3.
      Remove the new cartridge that is causing the message.
   4.
      Reinsert the cartridge and close the cover. The following message will appear on the front panel: "Press 1 for new cartridge or press 2 for a used cartridge."
   5.
      Press the 1 on the numeric keypad of the HP product.

If the message, press 1 for new cartridge or press 2 for a used cartridge, "does not appear after removing and reinstalling the new cartridge, and the low ink warning message still displays, follow the steps below:

   1.
      Turn on the unit.
   2.
      Open the top cover to access the ink cartridges.
   3.
      After the cartridges stop moving, unplug the power cord.
   4.
      Remove both cartridges and close the top cover.
   5.
      Plug the power back in. The unit will reinitialize and a message will appear to insert the cartridges.
   6.
      Open the top cover and reinsert the ink cartridges. Close the top cover. The message, "Press 1 for new cartridge or press 2 for a used cartridge," should appear. If it still does not appear, the unit may require service.

Maybe hplip fail to implement step 6?

The info was taken from:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/fastFaqLiteDocument?lc=en&dlc=lt&cc=lt&docname=buu01850

[Paul Dufresne (paulduf)]

Making the status from New to Confirmed.
Info was requested, and answer given.
Need to have feedback now by a developper I think... so confirming bug.