Epson 7900 - date expired ink won't work?

RobG · 08-21-2012, 04:20 AM

We have an Epson 7900 and a number of ink carts which are past their "use by" date. I tried one today and the printer said that the cartridge had an error. I had the same experience with another cartdridge recently. Do the chips on a 7900 actually expire after the use by date, or is this some strange coincidence? The cart which I replaced was also out of date, but worked when I put it back in.

Na Horuk · 08-21-2012, 04:59 AM

I don't know specifically about your printer, but yes, some companies do have this in the chip, so the printer refuses perfectly fine ink if its 'too old' so you are forced to go out and buy new. I think there were even lawsuits about whether this practice is okay or not. Because it could 'protect the printer from ink that no longer works as it should' but on the other hand it really looks like its just 'missed it! go buy new!'
Especially since in the recent years the printers have become relatively cheap, but the ink is pretty expensive.

wildman · 08-22-2012, 01:51 AM

Temporarily set the computer date back a couple of years just to see if they might work that way.
If they do at least you know whats going on.

RobG · 08-22-2012, 04:53 AM

Originally posted by wildman

Temporarily set the computer date back a couple of years just to see if they might work that way.
If they do at least you know whats going on.

Interesting suggestion, but the printer is detecting that the cartridge has a problem, not the computer. So changing the date on a computer which is only connected via the network wouldn't have any effect.

I'm going to see if I can update the firmware on the printer and find out if that makes a difference.

RobG · 08-24-2012, 05:03 AM

I updated the firmware and the printer now recognises one of the cartridges it didn't recognise before. Other users of the Epson wide carriage printers please take note!

Boker · 08-24-2012, 10:15 PM

Originally posted by wildman

Temporarily set the computer date back a couple of years just to see if they might work that way.
If they do at least you know whats going on.

This worked on HP printers a few years ago

wildman · 08-25-2012, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by RobG

Interesting suggestion, but the printer is detecting that the cartridge has a problem, not the computer.

You get the error without the computer turned on? - I don't on mine a Canon. My setup apparently is getting the date from the computer not from the printer. No idea how yours works.

RobG · 08-25-2012, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by wildman

You get the error without the computer turned on? - I don't on mine a Canon. My setup apparently is getting the date from the computer not from the printer. No idea how yours works.

Thanks for the suggestion, but perhaps you missed the part where I said that the printer is connected to a network not to a computer, and the part where I said I appear to have resolved the problem by updating the firmware. Changing the date on one computer in a network is not going to have an effect on the printer. I have my fingers crossed that the firmware update resolves the issue for all the cartridges we have, because it will be expensive to throw them away.

PS I should stress that the error simply said to replace the ink cart. It didn't say why.

08-21-2012, 04:20 AM	#1
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902	Epson 7900 - date expired ink won't work? We have an Epson 7900 and a number of ink carts which are past their "use by" date. I tried one today and the printer said that the cartridge had an error. I had the same experience with another cartdridge recently. Do the chips on a 7900 actually expire after the use by date, or is this some strange coincidence? The cart which I replaced was also out of date, but worked when I put it back in.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Epson R2400 ink jet printer	TaiChiTom	Sold Items	3	11-15-2011 05:51 PM
Your donation expired on {date}! Click Here to renew it.	rormeister	Site Suggestions and Help	2	12-07-2010 01:39 PM
Epson 1400 suggestions for paper and source for OEM ink?	Javaslinger	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	3	02-22-2010 12:03 AM
For Sale - Sold: Ink Republic CIS for Epson 1400 - MOSTLY FREE (buyer pays shipping)	ericc	Sold Items	2	11-10-2009 09:43 AM
Epson Stylus Photo 1400 ink	valleylad	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	3	09-12-2008 09:18 AM

08-21-2012, 04:59 AM	#2
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	I don't know specifically about your printer, but yes, some companies do have this in the chip, so the printer refuses perfectly fine ink if its 'too old' so you are forced to go out and buy new. I think there were even lawsuits about whether this practice is okay or not. Because it could 'protect the printer from ink that no longer works as it should' but on the other hand it really looks like its just 'missed it! go buy new!' Especially since in the recent years the printers have become relatively cheap, but the ink is pretty expensive.

08-22-2012, 01:51 AM	#3
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	Temporarily set the computer date back a couple of years just to see if they might work that way. If they do at least you know whats going on.

08-22-2012, 04:53 AM	#4
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by wildman Temporarily set the computer date back a couple of years just to see if they might work that way. If they do at least you know whats going on. Interesting suggestion, but the printer is detecting that the cartridge has a problem, not the computer. So changing the date on a computer which is only connected via the network wouldn't have any effect. I'm going to see if I can update the firmware on the printer and find out if that makes a difference.

08-24-2012, 05:03 AM	#5
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	I updated the firmware and the printer now recognises one of the cartridges it didn't recognise before. Other users of the Epson wide carriage printers please take note!

08-24-2012, 10:15 PM	#6
Boker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: SW Florida Posts: 234	Originally posted by wildman Temporarily set the computer date back a couple of years just to see if they might work that way. If they do at least you know whats going on. This worked on HP printers a few years ago

08-25-2012, 06:33 PM	#7
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	Originally posted by RobG Interesting suggestion, but the printer is detecting that the cartridge has a problem, not the computer. You get the error without the computer turned on? - I don't on mine a Canon. My setup apparently is getting the date from the computer not from the printer. No idea how yours works.

08-25-2012, 06:45 PM	#8
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902 Original Poster	Originally posted by wildman You get the error without the computer turned on? - I don't on mine a Canon. My setup apparently is getting the date from the computer not from the printer. No idea how yours works. Thanks for the suggestion, but perhaps you missed the part where I said that the printer is connected to a network not to a computer, and the part where I said I appear to have resolved the problem by updating the firmware. Changing the date on one computer in a network is not going to have an effect on the printer. I have my fingers crossed that the firmware update resolves the issue for all the cartridges we have, because it will be expensive to throw them away. PS I should stress that the error simply said to replace the ink cart. It didn't say why.