Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!psuvax1!rutgers!att!cbnewsm!wg
From: wg@cbnewsm.ATT.COM (Bill Gieske)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: HP DeskJet deprime problem (design flaw?)
Keywords: HP issues free repair kit
Message-ID: <8505@cbnewsm.ATT.COM>
Date: 12 Jan 90 15:29:57 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 22

After having an ink cartridge fail in an abnormally short time, I called HP to
clarify the average print capacity of the cartridge.  It turns out the DeskJet
can develop what is called a deprime problem.  The flow control tube slowly
becomes blocked, causing an air bubble to enter the cartridge, and render it
useless.

Fix: a free user-installable fix from HP.  Call HP DeskJet Customer Support at
(208)323-2551; have your serial number handy.  An alternate (temporary?) ap-
proach is to prime the printer 4 - 5 times WITHOUT the ink cartridge in the
printer.

Any cartridge rendered useless by the problem will be replaced free.  Go back
to where you bought the cartridge, explain the situation and ask for a re-
placement.


As an aside, I asked whether the water soluable ink problem had been solved;
it has not.  Any ink alternative clogs the print head.  Sigh!  (I'm tired of
ink smudges and ink on my fingers.)

Bill Gieske
cbnewsm!wg