Ink cartridges wont accept in Epson D120 printer

I understand that your NX305 can't recognize your ink, here's a tutorial which might help with this:
Solved Epson printer doesnt recognize Ink Cartridge

This might ba an issue with the cartridge holder in which its not recognizing inks or inks are defective. Call Epson for cartridge replacement is reinstalling of inks doesn't work.

I'm assuming that you are probably using Non-Epson Ink Cartridges, because those are what normally cause that problem, with a printer not recognizing an installed ink cartridge. Unfortunately, there is no way to make your Epson Printer use or accept that Non-Epson Ink Cartridge, if it cannot actually recognize it. Its even possible that some Generic or Third-Party brands, may not always be recognized by the newer models of Epson Printers, because of the inexpensive [cheap] and or incompatable Electrical Chips that are mounted on the actual ink cartridge. Sometimes you will even get Error Messages up on your Monitors screen, telling you that you are actually using a Non-Epson Ink Cartridge, or that your printer cannot recognize the cartridge that you installed. Sometimes the Ink Level Indicator, on your Status Monitor, will not show an actual ink level, but may indicate a cartridge error or problem instead. Not all Generic or Third-Party ink & ink cartridges are made the same and none of them actually contain the right formulation of ink, for the Epson Printers [formula is patented by Epson Company]. Some are probably close and seem to be better than others, but some simply can clog-up or even damage the Printhead Assemblies on Epson Printers, or simply won't be accepted at all. Epson Ink Jet Printers are one of the few printers on the market that seem to have so many problems with non-manufactors inks, especially the newer models made in the last couple of years. Its because the Epson Printers use a completely different printhead inking system than most other brands of printers. Most, if not all of the other manufactors, use thermal or bubble jetprint heads and because the other brands use a totally different system, they don't seem to have as many problems using refilled inks or non-manufactor's ink cartridges. Printer manufacters do not make available their ink formulation and in most cases, the formulation is patented. Any difference in the ink formulation can actually cause clogging in the small printhead nozzles or damage other critical components. One individual printhead nozzle is so tiny, that it will not accept a human hair, so you can see why they can get clogged so easily, or even why the nozzles can be so easily damaged...Even if you were actually using a New-Epson Ink Cartridge, its always possible that you got a bad cartridge. At this point, the only thing I can suggest is that you try a different New-Epson Ink Cartridge, or at the very least, a different brand of Non-Epson Ink Cartridges and see if that helps.

Yes I understand that, I think your proilem maybe that there is dirt/ ink on the slide bars. ( Sublimation ink ias notorious for imparting a residue)

So take a cloth and clean those metal rods that the cartridges slide along. They should reveal a lot of dirt on the rag. Then use some wd 40 or light sewing machine oil on another rag and wipe on wipe off. They only need a very slight amount.

I hope that is of help to you.


Please rate my help++++Thanks for using FIXYA

You did not say if you were using "New-Epson Ink Cartridges", or actually using "Non-Epson Ink Cartridges" [Generic or Third-Party ink cartridges] in your printer. I'm assuming that you are probably using Non-Epson Ink Cartridges, because those are what normally cause that problem, with a printer not recognizing an installed ink cartridge. Unfortunatly, there is no way to make your Epson Printer use or accept that Non-Epson Ink Cartridge, if it cannot actually recognize it. Its even possible that some Generic or Third-Party brands, may not always be recognized by the newer models of Epson Printers, because of the inexpensive [cheap] and or incompatable Electrical Chips that are mounted on the actual ink cartridge. Sometimes you will even get Error Messages up on your Monitors screen, telling you that you are actually using a Non-Epson Ink Cartridge, or that your printer cannot recognize the cartridge that you installed. Sometimes the Ink Level Indicator, on your Status Monitor, will not show an actual ink level, but may indicate a cartridge error or problem instead. Not all Generic or Third-Party ink & ink cartridges are made the same and none of them actually contain the right formulation of ink, for the Epson Printers [formula is patented by Epson Company]. Some are probably close and seem to be better than others, but some simply can clog-up or even damage the Printhead Assemblies on Epson Printers, or simply won't be accepted at all. Epson Ink Jet Printers are one of the few printers on the market that seem to have so many problems with non-manufactors inks, especially the newer models made in the last couple of years. Its because the Epson Printers use a completely different printhead inking system than most other brands of printers. Most, if not all of the other manufactors, use thermal or bubble jetprint heads and because the other brands use a totally different system, they don't seem to have as many problems using refilled inks or non-manufactor's ink cartridges. Printer manufacters do not make available their ink formulation and in most cases, the formulation is patented. Any difference in the ink formulation can actually cause clogging in the small printhead nozzles or damage other critical components. One individual printhead nozzle is so tiny, that it will not accept a human hair, so you can see why they can get clogged so easily, or even why the nozzles can be so easily damaged...Even if you were actually using a New-Epson Ink Cartridge, its always possible that you got a bad cartridge. At this point, the only thing I can suggest is that you try a different New-Epson Ink Cartridge, or at the very least, a different brand of Non-Epson Ink Cartridges and see if that helps...Good Luck!

If you replaced with "genuine" ink-cartridges, then it should report "full".

If you replaced with "refilled" ink-cartridges, then the company that refilled forgot to "reset" the electronics inside the ink-cartridge, in order to report "full".

Or, perhaps, the software "toolbox" that came with the printer has a button "I have installed new cartridges, please re-verify the ink-levels" ??? Click that button.

Mine acts up this same way (more often than not). I've found that as I install new cartridges, it helps to "tilt" it towards the chip end so that it "rubs" as it's going in. You'd normally hold both sides when replacing a cartridge but I don't even touch the outer end as I do it & it seems to help the printer "see" the replacement when installed.

one ink cartridge is out of ink but...

when we try to replace one of the color ink cartridges we get this error message:

ink cartridges cannot be recognized. make sure ink cartridges are installed correctly - how do I get the printer to recognize my full ink cartridge?

Yup that's Epson for you. I had the same. bought the black one but to get it to work you must have ALL the ink cartridges full. no way around it.

My Epson R285 will not recognise compatible cartridges,mainly the black.I ran out of black ink and installed a compatible cartridge but it did not recognise it.To get the printer running I had to buy a genuine one which worked.I then ran out of all the other colours soon after and installed compatible ones which were accepted.I have now ran out of the black again but the printer will not accept the compatible cartridge.How can I solve this problem as the printer has accepted black compatibles before.
Thanks Padgy