I bought a kit locally to refill black 740 and col 741, not difficult to do. However the Pixima printer does not recognize them. Looked up a few solutions none worked, would re installing all the software from the CD do anything? There is a way to do it inserting 4 carts one after another so the printer memory is zeroed, but I do not have 4 carts.

Have you tried cleaning all the contacts on the cartridge?

Normally the printer will give an error message when re-inserting the same cartridge. You can also try STOP/RESET, or look up the special button combinations unique to your model printer (Power Off / Power On HOLD + something...)

tried all those no go so far

What error message are you getting?

If connected to a PC, what error message is showing up on device INK OPTION in the system tray?

What is the Canon Pixma model #

I just got it to work so one of the button combinations must have done it. Still say low ink though but that's no problem if it keeps working. Think it's a pixima 3500

Buy a new printer, many brands / models better than c......

I have a brother multi function machine with fitted large ink tanks. Never a problem.

With my Canon printer a low ink warning came up down at the right corner near the clock.

Forget the exact details but from there you have the option to disable ink status and this will stop low ink pop ups.

I always used to have Canon printers as the print head is in the ink cartridge so you get a new print head when you swap cartridges.

But after a while of having the same problems as the OP I switched to an Epson with built in inks tanks (mine's the WiFi enabled L355 because my daughters need the printer remotely) and I've not had a problem since. The scanner seems to be a bit better too.