A: Ethically and practically, yes. If the pad is truly saturated, resetting the counter will lead to ink leaking inside the printer. Cut a new pad from felt or buy a pre-cut kit online.
: Use with extreme caution. Prefer WICReset or a hardware resetter. If you absolutely must use V5204, treat it like a vintage diagnostic tool: powerful, but one wrong button press away from disaster. Have you used the Canon Service Tool V5204 successfully? Share your experience in the comments below. For model-specific guidance, consult the service manual for your exact printer.
However, the landscape has changed. The availability of safer, paid reset tools (WICReset) and the falling price of new printers make V5204 a risky proposition for the average user. The malware potential, legal gray area, and lack of official support mean that you should only pursue this tool if you are an advanced user with a dedicated offline Windows machine, a willingness to physically service the waste pads, and the ability to navigate service mode without error.
When this counter fills up, your Canon printer displays an error code (often , 5B01 , or P07 ) and locks down completely. This is where the Canon Service Tool V5204 enters the picture. This software utility has become a legendary—and controversial—piece of firmware in the repair community.