Here, for the sake of thuroghness, is my whole chat session with Lexmark's chat service about this problem:
08:28:42 PM [Brian C] mcoy
08:29:13 PM [Brian C] test page was blank
08:29:16 PM [Mcoy] Hi Brian! Welcome back! Here's your new Chat ID:2500203219398215991
08:29:38 PM [Mcoy] I believe it printer but came out blank, right?
08:29:56 PM [Mcoy] Your black cartridge was not detected. Is that a new black cartridge?
08:30:50 PM [Brian C] yes-2?-what button mode do i use for printing from the computer & how do I make it use the black&white cartridge?
08:30:54 PM [Mcoy] Nothing, just leave it to copy mode.
08:31:38 PM [Mcoy] Please take out the black cartridge.
08:31:55 PM [Mcoy] Check if there's still a blue or pink tape at the bottom of the cartridge.
08:32:18 PM [Brian C] no,I already checked
08:32:39 PM [Mcoy] Okay. Let us do these steps:
1. Get a paper towel and dampen it a little bit with water.
2. Put the paper towel on the table and lay it flat.
3. Get hold of your black cartridge and try dragging the bottom surface or the copper surface of the black cartridge against the damp paper towel. Drag it going towards you. Do this for about 4 times and let me know the status of the ink on the paper towel (i.e. is the ink cutting off, is it well defined, etc).
08:34:48 PM [Brian C] well defined-prints well from the copie bar(top of machine)
08:34:55 PM [Mcoy] Okay. Put it back to the printer.
08:35:01 PM [Brian C] done
08:35:17 PM [Mcoy] What do you see now on the printer screen?
08:35:48 PM [Brian C] "Allignment"
08:36:07 PM [Mcoy] Okay. Can you tak out the color cartridge and just leave the black cartridge in.
08:36:59 PM [Brian C] done
08:37:37 PM [Mcoy] Okay. Close the cover of the printer and tell me the message on the printer screen
08:37:57 PM [Brian C] Black & color ink low
08:38:36 PM [Mcoy] Okay. Make sure the color cartridge is still out. Let us refresh again the printer by removing the power adapter located at the back of the printer where the power cord is attached. Please leave it disconnected for 30 seconds.
08:38:55 PM [Brian C] It doesn't show any recognition that the black is new
08:39:08 PM [Brian C] ok......wait
08:39:36 PM [Brian C] should I power off first?
08:39:48 PM [Mcoy] No need.
08:40:24 PM [Mcoy] By the way, is this a brand new lexmark genuine cartridge or it's a refilled/remanufactured cartridge?
08:41:38 PM [Brian C] the latter
08:41:53 PM [Mcoy] What do you mean the latter?
08:42:22 PM [Brian C] refilled/remanufactured
08:42:55 PM [Mcoy] I see, that's actually the main reason why it's not recognizing it. I regret to tell you that the cartridges might have been damaged already that is why the printer is not recognizing it anymore. Let me inform you that Lexmark cartridges are not refillable. We do not advise you to refill them otherwise it will damage the cartridge itself and it will void out the warranty. There is a special locking mechanism in the cartridge that once you open it to refill it, it will lock up permanently. This is the problem with refilled cartridges. Sometimes they work, but most of the time they do not.
08:43:49 PM [Brian C] I did not refill myself- This is a new COMPATIBLE cartridge
08:44:17 PM [Brian C] not lexmark original
08:44:35 PM [Mcoy] I understand Brian but it is still remanufactured. There's no asurance that this cartridge will work on printers.
08:45:43 PM [Brian C] Why does it do such a nice job through the copy bar located onthe top left of the printer?
08:47:57 PM [Mcoy] It was not actually your Cartridge that was used when you made a copy on the printer, it was the reserved ink from tank of the old cartridge. The printer is not recognizing your remanufactured cartridge. You will need to replace it with a Lexmark genuine brand new cartridge for the printer to work perfectly.
08:52:07 PM [Brian C] OK, but hear me out for a minute. Some yearsago I read about someone who was having the same problem with their printer. The tech told her to see if she could print out from DOS. Depending on whether she could or not he knew what setting to change somewhere in windows to make it work. You are so knowledgeable I thought this might ring a bell........anything?
08:54:32 PM [Mcoy] I'm sorry but may I know what do you mean by printing from DOS? Cartridge recognition on the printer doesn't have anything to do with your computer software and there's nothing related that we can change in Windows. The printer itself(even if it's not connected to your computer) is not detecting the cartridges. The contact points of a remanufactured cartridge is somewhat different with what the original/lexmark genuine cartridge has.
08:56:08 PM [Brian C] And if I pay the big bucks for a double lexmark package of cartridges & it still doesnt work how can I be compensated?
08:57:18 PM [Brian C] This is ther onlyway I can know if it's the cartridge or the Vista driver really doesn't work in Win7u?
08:58:12 PM [Mcoy] If you bought a lexmark genuine cartridge and it doesn't work, we can replace the cartridge for first resolution but, if the replacement cartridge is still not working then then it already has something to do with the printer. The contacts of the printer might have been damaged by the remanufactured cartridge due to it has a different contact points. The Vista driver doesn't have anything to do with the cartridge.
09:00:26 PM [Brian C] If my printer heads or contacts have been damaged by the compatible (not a refill) they have already told me they willmake amends. How do I make them pay for a new printer?
09:01:06 PM [Brian C] I mean the online store where I bought the compatible.
09:04:56 PM [Mcoy] If you have used a remanufactured(so called compatible cartridge) in your printer and had caused damage on the printer. I regret to inform you that Lexmark is already hands-off with that because remanufactured cartridge are not being supported by Lexmark. You can do a refund with that remanufacturer I guess if they would allow but Lexmark will no longer be liable.
09:09:59 PM [Brian C] I understand. Still, I am not convinced that this is not a driver version problem because I am using Win 7. It seems to me that is more possible because the color cartridge is and has been bone dry-you said the print out from the copy bar was coming from the color cartridge in b&w-not possible I think.
09:11:40 PM [Brian C] Can you guarantee that using the Vista drivers in Win 7 always works?
09:12:22 PM [Mcoy] Sir, I never said that the print out came from the color cartridge. I believe what i've said was, it came out from the reserve tank of the old cartridge. Inks from the reserve tank doesn't dry-out because they're well kept in there.
09:13:06 PM [Mcoy] We have been using the Vista driver as an alternative for Windows 7 for a couple of years and never had issues with it and was never been related to cartridge issue.
09:13:31 PM [Brian C] You mean there is a SECOND tank inevery cartridge?!
09:16:07 PM [Mcoy] Reserve tank on the printer. Once you put in a new cartridge, the reserve tank will get at least 5-10% ink from the cartridge so that once you ran out of ink and needs to print something, it will print it and it will be getting the ink from the reserve tank. That will serve like a grace period for you to get a new lexmark genuine cartridge.
09:16:41 PM [Brian C] The color cartridge is the OLD cartridge and if it wont print in color why would it print in B&W?
09:17:27 PM [Mcoy] It just means that the reserve ink for color is already empty and since the printer detected that it still has the reserve ink for black, it used it to print the page.
09:17:59 PM [Brian C] But doesnt it take all 3 colors to make black?
09:18:25 PM [Mcoy] No Brian, color cartridge can print light gray but not black.
09:18:52 PM [Mcoy] But then again, that depends if which cartridge is available.
09:25:15 PM [Mcoy] The print out was black because the printer detected from the reserve tank that there is still ink left on it, so, the printer used that ink when you made a copy that is why it came out black(not grey). The printer can not get any ink from the color cartridge because like what you said, color has been dry-out and happens to have no more ink on the reserve tank.
09:29:29 PM [Mcoy] Lexmark can always replace the cartridge as long as it is found defective within 3months and it is a Lexmark Genuine cartridge.
09:29:39 PM [Brian C] GOT'cha! The print out that came from the top copier was dark black and white-not grey. At the time, both cartridges were available. I know it seems like I am trying to be difficult, I'm sorry. You know your way around I could see. But it seems to me that Lexmark is one of the worst offenders when it comes to playing the cartridge replacement shell game. I think its possible that the company I bought from didnt havethe electronic contacts right on their version, but if the Genuine Lexmarks dont work I'm going to throw the whole thing out and I'm really going to trash Lexmark by blogging about this eveywhere. Can you blame me?
09:33:24 PM [Mcoy] Brian. For your understand. Please click on the link below.
http://support.lexmark.com/index?lo...UPPORT&userlocale=EN_US&frompage=warrantybase
09:33:39 PM [Mcoy] *understanding.
09:34:28 PM [Brian C] OK. i really do appreciate YOUR TIME AND EXPERIENCE
09:36:31 PM [Mcoy] You are welcome. Is there anything else I can help you with before we end the chat session?
09:39:22 PM [Brian C] aLL i KNOW IS THAT EVERY PRINTER MANUFACTURER MAKES THE SAME CLAIM ABOUT USING OFF BRAND CARTRIDGES.i GUESS THE ONLY REASON THEY HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS ON MY cANON IS THAT THE CANON PRINTER HAS ITS OWN PRINTHEAD- WHEN i BUY lEXMARK i AM BUYING A NEW PRINTHEAD ON THE CARTRIDGE ITSELF, RIGHT?
09:41:55 PM [Mcoy] Yes Brian the cartridges that are being used for this printer model X5470 has the print head with it. Our new Lexmark Printers have a separate print head and those are our 2009 Model printers.
09:44:57 PM [Brian C] ok, i'VE DRILLED & GRILLED YOU ENOUGH. iTS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THE PRINTHEAD INTHE PRINTER LIKE YOUR NEW MODELS. iT MAKES THE INK REPLACENT MORE AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE. i'VE ENJOYED TEXTING WITH YOU i HAVE TO SAY bye.............
09:45:30 PM [Mcoy] Thanks for your time and un........(end).