SOLUTION: for printer wont print using black ink cartridge. ETC.

[ItsJustAndy]

Black ink wont print in low resolution, you can't use high resolution if you selected plain paper. Choose "hp premium paper", even if you use cheap paper. Default Quality for this is "Best" but "Best" ONLY works IF you select a quality paper, such as "hp premium paper".

It's a software fault, there should be no option for plain paper for black only printing.

Hope this helps a few!

Andy

[Bob_Headrick]

If HP Premium photo paper is selected the printer will print black using the color cartridges since pigmented black ink is not compatible with photo paper.  The printer will print much more slowly in photo mode and will put more ink than is intended on the page.

If black is not printing when you print a nozzle pattern from the printer then likely there is an issue with the printhead or the ink delivery system between the ink supplies and the printhead.

[ItsJustAndy]

This worked on 3 different printers and is not using the colour cartridge, including older printers I was given as 'faulty, not printing B&W', G85 and 1220C, I don't know the other model, it's newer and it wasn't mine. I know it's not using the colour cartridge, 1) I put an empty one in to check 2) I selected print in B&W. Andy

[ItsJustAndy]

It wasn't really an empty colour cartridge, i did something to it, but not posting that here or there will be more problems. Look at the pins on the black cartridge, it's high resolution too. There is definitely something wrong with the software in the printer or the drivers, I wont dispute that issue!! . I'm sick of HP due to this issue being widespread over many models and going for Kodac next. You do neede to find what setting makes the black ink work, I expect it's different for each model, especial after the old G85 just needing it to be set on Best. I'd look at the data going to the printer from the PC, but it's so much messing about, I just don't have the time to wire it all up and read up on it to find out what should be going on, that isn't. HP needs to admit there is a problem and just get on and fix it.