Help me lie to my printer.

Hello.

I have a printer, a HP Color LaserJet 2600n.

I have just put in a new black ink cartridge but the printer refuses to write anything because the yellow cartridge is empty, even though yellow is not used...
I can't afford a yellow cartridge and I am going to try and trick the printer into thinking that there are yellow color still left.

I have taken some pictures to show you the printer setup and maybe any one understands how it works, it is obvious that it uses light to monitor the inc level.









I don't know if I manage to show it effectively but it appears as if the printer is emitting light of some wavelength and passes that through the cartridge and the measures it, if so I only need to find a way of making the light diminish to simulate fluid that absorbs the light.
Does any one have any good ideas of how to do this?

I guess I could try to apply some black color with a permanent marker pen to the light "conductors" of the cartridge.

Regards

I have seen toner cartridges that has a two contacts connector with a few mA fuse on it that is used to identify a new cartridge.
When the new cartridge (with the fuse on it), is inserted in the printer, the controler assumes a new cartridge is installed. Then the controller blow the fuse, and zero the print counts for this color and starts the countdown till it tell you to buy a other one.
You could check if you have such a case.

ps. irrelevant, but interesting link: https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2008/epic-take-apart-hp-color-laserjet-2600n/

Read this specifically the topic on smart chips. I'd bet that is what HP has in their toner cartridge, which means you won't be able to print until the cartridge is replaced.

You might try checking with a cartridge remanufaturer some of the reputable ones that I've found online and local have cartridges for 40% less than a new one. Just make sure they actually open and replace the drums and stuff and don't just add toner only.

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Hey found this on HP's website, which goes into how you can override the printer when a cartridge is empty.
Here is the summary instructions from that page: