# Q: Printer Cartridges
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 16, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420 "2005-10-16T01:33:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420/1 "2005-10-16T01:33:55Z")
Once a printer ink cartridge is removed from a printer, can it be reinstalled (even if not refilled)? Just wondering…for an odd situation. - Jinx
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420/2 "2005-10-16T01:40:01Z")
Usually, but not always. Depending on the printer, one of three things is likely to happen: 1) the printer will ask you if it’s an old or new cartridge–this was common on some older printers, not so much anymore. 2) The printer will automatically know whether it’s a new or used printer, due to a chip embedded in the cart. Common on many printers nowadays. 3) The printer will assume it’s a new cartridge and handle it accordingly. Your ink level meter will therefore be inaccurate. In any case, you may need to run a cleaning cycle on the printhead in order to get it printing again properly.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420/3 "2005-10-16T01:43:44Z")
Depends of the brand. Some newer model printers use cartridges that have chips in them that tell the computer that it’s finished and won’t work even if you refill them (which you can do with a kit, again depending on model).
Lexmark got into some hot water about this sort of thing. They programmed their printers to not work unless you used a Lexmark-branded cartridge.
Is it possible to reuse an empty cartridge? Yes. You might try Googling your brand for instructions.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420/4 "2005-10-16T01:47:36Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#):
>
> Some newer model printers use cartridges that have chips in them that tell the computer that it’s finished and won’t work even if you refill them (which you can do with a kit, again depending on model).
Refill kits for these types of carts usually have a chip resetter included, like [this one](http://www.epsonchipresetter.com/) for Epson carts.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420/5 "2005-10-16T01:51:14Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#):
>
> Refill kits for these types of carts usually have a chip resetter included, like [this one](http://www.epsonchipresetter.com/) for Epson carts.
I have one of those for my R200.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420/6 "2005-10-16T01:52:46Z")
For most printers the Answer is Yes. For all HP printers the answer is yes.
There were some Epson that did not work correctly if you put an old cartridge back in.
What Printer do you have?
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### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420/7 "2005-10-16T02:03:15Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#):
>
> For most printers the Answer is Yes. For all HP printers the answer is yes.
> There were some Epson that did not work correctly if you put an old cartridge back in.
>
> What Printer do you have?
HP1210 All-in-One. The cartridge in question is the balck ink, #56.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-printer-cartridges/326420/8 "2005-10-16T02:05:08Z")
> [@Jinx](#):
>
> HP1210 All-in-One. The cartridge in question is the balck ink, #56.
You can definately put it back in. I have done so to use the color cartridge as the Black was empty but color full and printer won’t print without a cartridge in the black slot.