Bryan-
I have experienced similar problems too. I have found that if you shut down your compouter completely, leave your printer on, then re start your computer sometimes that works. The problem comes in when you change cartridges the printer wants you to print out and test page and then click OK that everything is working properly. The problem is that i have a printer bit have yet to figure out exactly which Ok button they mean.
You might also try this. Delete out the printer driver and then re install it. Still even with these problems the BIGGEST advantage is with the ink cartriges being able to be refilled many times. You can get ink refill kits on Ebay for a few dollars, you can even use plain old food coloring from the super market too, it sounds crazy but it does work great! Fore some reason my yellow always seems to run out first, and the blue seems to be the last to run out.
Hope this will help
Thomas in New Yok City