Like you Clive, had 2 myself.
Now have a Laser jet for doing mundane work and a Canon IP4300 for doing Photo's.
I did open up the epson to see why it came up with the messages after googling the said problem and as the Pictures show my sponge was caked in ink
![Rolleyes ::)](http://www.pc-pals.com/smf/Smileys/Smileys/rolleyes.gif)
found out that if you take out the little pipe from the back of the printer and clean it out ..the messages stop
![Thumbs Up :thumbs:](http://www.pc-pals.com/smf/Smileys/Smileys/twothumbs.gif)
but be aware make sure the pipe doesn't flap about or you might get ink all over your desk top
![Ack! :ack:](http://www.pc-pals.com/smf/Smileys/Smileys/ack.gif)
Si, all that black ink is a mixture of all the colours put together ....
![Wink ;)](http://www.pc-pals.com/smf/Smileys/Smileys/wink.gif)
with the black being the dominant colour it tars all the other colours.