Why this matters
The printer stopped because a counter reached its limit. The reset puts that number back to zero, but the waste ink it counted is still sitting in the pads. Resetting is safe. What damages printers is resetting for years without ever checking the pads, until ink leaks onto the base of the printer and its electronics.
What state are your pads in?
| Pad condition | What to do |
|---|---|
| Dry, or only partly stained | Nothing yet. Carry on printing after the reset. |
| Soaked through, wet to the touch | Wash the pads, let them dry completely, and refit them. Or fit new pads. |
| You print a lot and do not want to open the printer again | Fit an external waste ink tank that drains into a bottle outside the printer. |
Signs the pads need attention now
- Ink on the desk under the printer.
- Smudges or ink marks on the back of your pages.
- A wet area around the spot where the print head rests.
- The error comes back within days of a reset.
Doing it yourself or taking it to a shop
Reaching the pads usually means opening the printer’s case, and the steps differ from model to model. If you have not opened a printer before, a local repair shop can wash or replace the pads for much less than the price of a new printer.
If you do it yourself:
- Switch the printer off and unplug it first.
- Work over newspaper and wear gloves. Waste ink stains skin, clothes and furniture.
- Make sure washed pads are completely dry before you put them back.
Printers with a maintenance box
Some newer Epson models collect waste ink in a replaceable maintenance box instead of fixed pads. On those, you replace the box and there is nothing to wash. Check your model.
Sources
- VNIT Reset Tool user guide, section 8 (after the reset)
- VNIT repair records, Ho Chi Minh City