Want B/W standard printing only - HP Officejet Pro 8500 Plus.

[MaryChris]

Hi GreatRelief,

It is kind of confusing, but HP does have Windows 7 drivers for quite a few printers. However, Windows 7 will automatically use the "in-OS" driver unless you download the HP one yourself. The Windows "in-OS" driver doesn't have all the features that the HP driver does.

To download the actual HP driver, you can go to the link below:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&lc=en&product=3752456&

Your idea to use two printers should work. You would probably just have to make sure each printer was given a name that made it easy to tell which one was set for printing in grayscale.

[ArijanaNorberg]

How does this work with Mac OS? DO NOT WANT to have to change settings to B/W every time I print!

[MaryChris]

Hi ArijanaNorberg,

Try this:

1. Open a document and choose File, and then Print.
2. Click the Color Options pop-up or tab if it appears.  

• If the option does not appear, it is not available for the printer.
• Select Grayscale.

To save these settings for future print jobs, choose Save in the Presets menu, and then name the new preset. If multiple printers are installed, open System Preferences, and then Print & Fax, and then set Default Printer to Last Printer Used.

[Ybor]

Hello Everyone! 

Not sure if the people who need to see this will as HP has blocked me from being able to reply to original post - posted back in 2011 thru this summer 2012.  tHEY TURNED IT INTO A "READ ONLY" POST NOW! [Content Removed]!  However, on that original post - people were discussing a real concern with this version of HP Printer - namely, the HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless or Plus. 

In this original post I soon discovered that I was not alone with a new problem that I was dealing with today (12/11/12).  Namely, I just wanted to PRINT IN BLACK INK and the reason for this was that my printer would not let me because it said that the YELLOW catridge was out of ink and I needed to replace it.  Well, PROBLEM:  I only needed to print two sheets TODAY and had no time to go out and buy new cartridges as I was on a deadline.  So - I found all the settings that allowed me to choose PRINT IN BLACK only - not the Greyscale option - the BLACK INK OPTION ONLY!  To my surprise, it still would not allow the printing to occur....  So, I went looking online for a solution and found it on this site with the original post at:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Other-Printing-Questions/Officejet-Pro-8500-How-can-you-print-without-c...

I was so happy!  Even though there was some caution about hurting the Printer mechanism.....sigh.....I still tried the TAPE solution and it worked and I don't care because I could make my deadline and when I have the chance I will buy some more color cartridges (as do on occasion print in color).  NOTE:  It has been discovered that even if you DO NOT PRINT IN COLOR - your color cartridges are still being used - UGHHHHH!  HP REALLY DOES SUCK! 

So anyone who needs a quick fix - I highly recommend that you try placing a piece of tape over the oval dark hole on the yellow cartidge (not the smaller round hole) and stick that sucker back in and BINGO!  You may see that the printer will go into a reclean/realign WHATEVER effort but then gets back to normal mode and prints just in Black!

Now - on to the discussion about how absolutely GREEDY HP is...lol  Well, why are we surprised?  With the Older G85 All-In-One printer that I still have and still works perfectly - I was able to REFILL THE INK IN MY CARTRIDGES by myself by just buying the refill kits - which you could find everywhere!  When those refill kits became obsolete or hard to find - I was forced to upgrade my printer with HP. 

I love HP products (I also own their computers) however - I learned very quickly that they do not make their big money on selling printers - probably, because they make such a **bleep** good product that it works and lasts and lasts.....  So - they came up with the idea of making their money by selling INK CARTRIDGES for the suckers!  Now - we all know that apparently it wasn't enough to create this situation - they found something that worked for them {Content Removed}

HP went further into greedy next steps - they started creating cartridges with less Ink and programming their Printers to stop printing before they totally ran out of ink!   {Content Removed}

I PERSONALLY HAVE DECIDED TO MOVE AWAY FROM HP (after decades of business with them - their loss) AND GO OVER TO THE DARK SIDE (or would that be the RED side?) OF THE APPLE!  Something I thought I'd never in my life do - but, what frickin chose is HP giving me?  NONE!  Apple at least has an excellent reputation for taking GOOD CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS! 

Yeah - their pricey - but, HP who try's to create a COST EFFECTIVE PRICING POINT model for all of their products to compete against APPLE in the end is not telling the truth!  You end upcpaying a lot more in the end with these kinds of examples and I know we have more we could site....  But - for the purposes of this paticular problem - I sincerely doubt that HP will listen to all of these complaints to help out their customers - they SIMPLY DO NOT CARE when it is all being driven by GREED!  After all, it's in their BEST INTEREST (bottom line for their share-holders et al....)

In ending, I don't normally get involved with these blogs (I simply don't have the time) however - I am beginning to make the time everywhere because if we don't start fighting back - this Nation is never going to recover! 

SO TRY THE TAPE SOLUTION - IT WORKED FOR ME!  Even if it's just for a temporary fix!