Epson printers track ink absorbed by internal waste pads (used during cleaning and ink purging). When the counter reaches a manufacturer-defined threshold, the printer blocks printing and shows an error (e.g., “Service Required,” “Waste Ink Pad Full,” or 0x97 variants). The adjustment program allows resetting that counter so the printer resumes operation. Resetting without replacing or cleaning the physical pads may cause ink overflow.

Using the adjustment program is not without consequences. Before proceeding, understand the risks:

If you cannot find or run the adjustment program:

Many websites offering "free adjustment programs" bundle viruses, trojans, or adware. Always scan downloaded files with Windows Defender or VirusTotal.