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Re: HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem

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On Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:03:36 -0000 (UTC), bp@www.zefox.net wrote:
> In comp.periphs.printers Allodoxaphobia <trepidation@example.net> wrote:
>> HP LJ Pro M404n
>> 
>> The original toner cartridge has come to the end of it's life.  For a
>> while now I've been taking the cartridge out and softly shaking it to
>> squeeze more pages out of it -- then replacing the cartridge.
>> 
>> It came time to replace the cartridge.  I took the old one out, and
>> double checked it with the new CF258X cartridge and they seem identical.
>> 
>> I slid the new cartridge in and it would NOT go in far enough to allow
>> the printer cover to close.  It seems well seated on both sides of the
>> cartridge, but it protrudes about 1/2 inch -- blocking the closure of
>> the cover.
>> 
>> I tried several times -- thinking I wasn't holding either the cartridge
>> or my tongue correctly.  No Go.
>> 
>> So, I picked up the old cartridge and slid it back in.  SAME PROBLEM!
>> The cartridge will not slide in far enough to allow the cover to close.
>> The cartridge protrudes enough to block the cover release push button on
>> the right side.
>> 
>> In both cases -- with the old and the new cartridge -- it seems to
>> "snap' into place and it seems well seated on both sides of the
>> cartridge
>> 
>> I've inspected the interior of the printer -- even using a dental
>> mirror, and I cannot see any potential obstruction.
>> 
>> I can't believe I'm the only one to encounter this problem, but my
>> Google Fu fails to find any similar complaint.  Search seems powered
>> more and more by AI, and all I get is hits for the bog-simple cartridge
>> replacement instructions: "Remove the old one. Slide in the new one".
>> 
>> Anyone here ever have this problem?
>
> Well, yes. My next door neighbor came over seeking help with the
> same problem. He handed me the new cartridge, sure enough it didn't
> go in. After a _lot_ of trying, fiddling and finally looking closely
> at both the printer and cartridge it turned out he'd turned the
> new cartridge tail-end-to-head. The outer shape of the cartridge
> was fairly symmetric and it _almost_ went in the wrong way. I was
> fairly embarrassed at not noticing right away. It took me about
> ten minutes to realize what was wrong.  
>
> Since you've already tried putting the old cartridge back I suspect
> you'd have noticed such an error, but only a close inspection of the 
> dust cover on the drum tipped me off.
>
> In fact, I was trying to see where the drum drive gears were. Never
> did figure that out....
>
> hth,
> bob prohaska


Thank you for your reply!  And, yes, I know I'm holding both cartridges
right-side-up.  I just need another 1/2" to 3/4" of more 'insert' to
have the cartridge(s) in proper position.

The M504n has an almost throw-away price at Amazon.  Maybe getting a new
one will put my printing back in play, and at the same time yeild a
reason for the current problem.  Fixing the not-so-very old one would
give us a spare here for when the next SNAFU comes.

But I'd really like to beat this one into submission.

Tnx!
Jonesy
--
  Marvin L Jones    | Marvin      | W3DHJ.net  | linux
   38.238N 104.547W |  @ jonz.net | Jonesy     |  FreeBSD

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Thread

HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem Allodoxaphobia <trepidation@example.net> - 2026-02-27 15:17 +0000
  Re: HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem bp@www.zefox.net - 2026-02-28 19:03 +0000
    Re: HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem Allodoxaphobia <trepidation@example.net> - 2026-03-01 01:35 +0000
      Re: HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem bp@www.zefox.net - 2026-03-01 03:23 +0000
        Re: HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem Lars Poulsen <lars@beagle-ears.com> - 2026-03-02 13:17 +0000
          Re: HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem Hendrik van der Heijden <hvdh@gmx.de> - 2026-03-08 22:22 +0100
            Re: HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem TJ <TJ@noneofyour.business> - 2026-03-09 10:54 -0400
        Re: HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem Allodoxaphobia <trepidation@example.net> - 2026-03-02 14:10 +0000
          Re: HP LaserJet Pro M404n toner cartridge problem bp@www.zefox.net - 2026-03-02 22:53 +0000

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