It's hard to believe this story is true, but I assure you it is all true. 1- In October 2009 we purchased an HP Officejet Pro 8500. Not long after installing it we got constant messages "Printer is offline." Called HP and learned that it was a hardware fault and could only be resolved by sending us a new printer. 2- A new HP Officejet Pro 8500 arrived by FedEx with instructions how to remove specific parts from the old printer and send it back within a specified number of days or we'd be charged for the new printer. We set up the new printer and while setting up we get the message "Printhead error." 3- We call HP. They say the only solution is to send out another new printer. This story goes on-and-on. We are now sitting here 14 months later with the FOURTH HP Officejet Pro 8500 sent to us by HP via FedEx and when turning the printer ON it tells 1) Cyan cartridge is low. But it's a brand new cartridge. 2) the Printhead problem is here again. Did I mention this is the FOURTH printer that they've sent to us? When we call HP it's like starting from scratch every time. No one has a complete, accurate record of these extraordinarily bad experience with HP. We have to walk them through step-by-step what we've been through. We must almost beg them to quit putting us through this. Tomorrow I think we'll go out and buy a new printer by Canon or Epson or just any printer that's not HP and meanwhile we'll just let HP keep sending us new printers because it seems like they have endless resources to throw away rather than to just simply solve our problem. What has happened to what was once a great company? This is truly pathetic. How much money has HP spent sending us new printers and getting the old printers back via FedEx? I want to find every forum possible on the Internet to make users aware of this kind of service and response from HP.

Solution three: Replace the printhead
Make sure that the product is turned on.
Open the top cover of the product.
Press and hold the OK button for five seconds. The carriage moves to the left side of the product. Release the OK button.
CAUTION: Proceed only if the carriage is on the left side of the product. If it is not, the printheads will be damaged when you install them. If the carriage does not move over, try turning the product off and on again

Wait until the carriage is idle and silent.
Lift the printhead latch.
Figure 5: Lift the printhead latch

Lift the handle on the printhead you are replacing, and then pull the printhead out of its slot.
Figure 6: Lift the handle to remove the printhead

Shake the new printhead package five to six times.
Figure 7: Shake the printhead package

Remove the new printhead from the package.
Remove the protective caps from the printhead.
Figure 8: Remove the protective caps

Insert the printhead into its color-coded slot. The label on the printhead must match the label on the printhead latch. Press down firmly on the printhead to make sure that the electrical contacts touch.
Pull the printhead latch all the way forward, and then press down firmly to engage the latch.
NOTE: You might have to press firmly to engage the latch.

If the error message indicates that both printheads are missing or damaged, repeat the steps in this procedure to replace the other printhead.
Close the top cover of the product. The product restarts and then prints an alignment page.
If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
If the issue persists , continue to the next solution.
Solution four: Service the All-in-One
If you have completed all the preceding steps and are still experiencing a problem, service the product.
Determine if your product is in warranty or out of warranty. If you need help determining your product’s warranty status, go to HP’s Warranty Check Tool .
If your product is in warranty , contact HP.
If your product is out of warranty , fees might apply for contacting HP. Solution three: Replace the printhead Make sure that the product is turned on. Open the top cover of the product. Press and hold the OK button for five seconds. The carriage moves to the left side of the product. Release the OK button. CAUTION: Proceed only if the carriage is on the left side of the product. If it is not, the printheads will be damaged when you install them. If the carriage does not move over, try turning the product off and on again Wait until the carriage is idle and silent. Lift the printhead latch. Figure 5: Lift the printhead latch Lift the handle on the printhead you are replacing, and then pull the printhead out of its slot. Figure 6: Lift the handle to remove the printhead Shake the new printhead package five to six times. Figure 7: Shake the printhead package Remove the new printhead from the package. Remove the protective caps from the printhead. Figure 8: Remove the protective caps Insert the printhead into its color-coded slot. The label on the printhead must match the label on the printhead latch. Press down firmly on the printhead to make sure that the electrical contacts touch. Pull the printhead latch all the way forward, and then press down firmly to engage the latch. NOTE: You might have to press firmly to engage the latch. If the error message indicates that both printheads are missing or damaged, repeat the steps in this procedure to replace the other printhead. Close the top cover of the product. The product restarts and then prints an alignment page. If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , continue to the next solution. Solution four: Service the All-in-One If you have completed all the preceding steps and are still experiencing a problem, service the product. Determine if your product is in warranty or out of warranty. If you need help determining your product’s warranty status, go to HP’s Warranty Check Tool . If your product is in warranty , contact HP. If your product is out of warranty , fees might apply for contacting HP.