Photosmart C5180 - The printing stops when any of the ink cartridges runs dry - what's up with that?

[rushridge]

My C5180 won't print anything, apparently because the Light Magenta cartridge is out of ink. I reset to Grayscale, black ink only, but it persists in telling me to replace the color cartridge. Can that be right? Is it really necessary to buy a new cartridge in order to use the printer for black ink printing?

Thanks.

[Bob_Headrick]

Yes, this printer has permanant printheads and seperate ink supplies.  If you run the printer with one of the colors empty there is a risk of burning out the printhead or clogging it unrecoverably.  Even if you were printing in black only some color ink is necessary for keeping the color nozzles clear to prevent clogging.

[pebbles1]

Hi - have just read your post with interest as I have a similar problem except  I do want to print in colour ! The Magenta ran dry and after a few more prints  I changed the cartridge but the error message still tells me the ink has run out and I can only print in black. Both the ink levels on the printer and computer read as full and the test sheet comes out in colour. Any ideas Professor? Thanks Jane in NZ

[guilles]

Thanks Bob for your post below.  I've been trying to figure out this problem for weeks and until know see some light...

I don't think we ran the printer with a color empty, but when loading a new ink cartridge after the printer asked for a replacement, the printer "accepted" it indicating a new HP cartridge had been installed, but after a few seconds (I guess it was loading the ink or whatever it does when you OK), it CAME BACK AGAIN with the ink cartridge empty message.  I've tried this twice, wasting a couple of new original HP ink cartridges...and I still get the same message: "Replace the following empty ink cartridge(s) to resume printing"...

If what you indicate below is what possibly happens in my case, how do I know if it's clogged or burnt?

What can I do to fix it/clean it/get it to print again? 

Please advise.

Thanks!

Guillermo 

[Bob_Headrick]

 "how do I know if it's clogged or burnt?

Disclaimer - I am an expert in the HP products with integrated printheads (the ones that have the ink and printheads together on the cartridge), I never worked much in the development of the separate ink and printhead products. 

That said, I would suspect neither clogged or burnt out printheads.  If the printhead were electrically damaged you would receive a message about the printhead requiring service rather than the out of ink message.  A clogged printhead would also not likely give an out of ink message.  There is some "plumbing" that connects the ink supply to the printhead along with a pumping mechanism to move the ink properly.  If the ink supply is not properly seated in the printer or there is some issue with the ink delivery system it could result in the error you are seeing.  I would try reinstalling the ink cartridge and make sure it is firmly seated.

In many cases a diagnostic test can be printed even with an error condition.  Print a diagnostic page if possible and see what messages given.

You may need service for your machine. If it is still in warranty and you are in the US call 1-800-HPINVENt or see the Contact HP link.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, Microsoft MVP Printing/Imaging

[pebbles1]

Rereading my comments I realise that I wasn't clear enough to get a logical response from anyone. So here goes again. Got the ink run out message and will only print in black. Replaced magenta and both printer and pc now recognise the correct new ink level. However when going to print I get the ink run out will only print in black message again. Is there a way to reset this. Thanks Jane

[DexterM · Accepted solution]

insert the installation CD for the printer into your cd and cancel any installation window. then type "X:\util\ccc\uninstall_L2.bat" in the Run window(replace 'X' with the drive letter of teh CD drive the instalalion CD is in..). you will get a black Command Prompt window which will star the instructions. follow the instructions carefully. once the installation is done, it may ask you to restart, so do it.

then start the installation once again. one it is done, you shouldn't face this issue.

[pebbles1]

Dexter you're a star. I'm glad there is someone out there who can fill in the blanks in the guide book. Problem solved.

[DexterM]

You're welcome pebbles1. good to know that the issue was resolved. i would appreciate it if you mark my post as the solution so that others can benefit from it also. Thank you

[itisjoy]

ok i am having this same problem but i do not have the installation cd? what do i do?