Bogus device alerts with LaserJet 1300

Archived from groups: comp.sys.hp.hardware (More info?)

This is a real conundrum. Up until a week ago the LaserJet 1300 was working
fine. Device status and alerts worked as it should. Then it alerted me
that the cartridge was low (which sounded reasonable), but when a new
cartridge was put in the device alerts said it was a counterfeit. So I
tried putting back in the original cartridge. It alerted me that there was
not cartridge at all!
Upon re-inserting the two cartridges in various orders the device alert
always identified either a counterfeit cartridge or said there was none.
Phase 2: Sent it to an authorized repair center. They replaced the
formatter and reader contacts. Still had the same problem. (The repair
center tried five cartridges from their shelves with the same result.)
Phase 3: HP sent a replacement printer. I switched them out, but the
problem persists. I re-installed the printer software. . . no help.
So here's the deal: The repair center had only my printer (none of my
cables, etc.) so they are not the problem. The printer was replaced, and
the software was re-installed, eliminating them as a cause.
The only piece that has been a constant in the picture is the 32mb memory
chip that I swapped out of my old unit into the new one. That should not
cause this however.

An HP tech called and told me that sometimes the reader contacts for the
cartridge get misaligned and need to be pushed to the outside of the unit
for better contact. However, the repair center said they had the back off
and watched the cartridge make a good contact. Also, fiddling with it
myself has not helped.

So I have now run out of ideas. Any thoughts out there?
The only reason I care at all is that when it says there is no cartridge it
will not print, and I am afraid that if I let it slide it may eventually
default to that message constantly.