Color Cartridge Won't Print Onto paper

[1porkchop]

My color cartridge ran out a few weeks ago, and because I was in the middle of something, I just removed the color cartridge and printed in single cartridge mode. I didn't buy a new color cartridge until two weeks later, and now I can't get the color to print at all. The black still prints, but the aspects that should be in color are just blank, as though the printer thinks it is printing the colors as they should be.  I have two new cartridges that I have tried, as well as the old one that has two of the three colors. All three cartridges will "bleed" when put on a paper towel, and all three cartrdges show ink levels and no error mesages. I have run three clean cycles as I saw requested elsewhere, but I still only have black printing.

Is there an internal component of the printer that can be cleaned? Looking in with a flashlight, I am not sure which compnents do what. There is a carriage that holds the cartridges, a lower piece that moves forward once the cartrdge is in place, and a spongy area. The latter two all have ink residue on them, as I discovered by touching them with a wet q-tip.

[The_Fossette]

@1porkchop,

Welcome to the HP Forums!

It is a wonderful way to engage, post questions and find resolutions by working with specialists in the HP community.

I reviewed your post and I understand that the printer is not printing color.

I’d love to help!

In order that I may provide you with an accurate solution, I will need a few more details.

• When was the last time the printer was working fine?
• Have you made any software or hardware changes on the computer?

Meanwhile, I recommend you follow the steps in the below article and check if it helps.

http://hp.care/2BAj1DA

Let me know how it goes and you have a good day ahead.

If the solution provided helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. Your feedback counts!

Take care!

Cheers!

[1porkchop]

The cartridge last worked two weeks ago, but the blue ink ran out so I removed the cartridge and printed in single cartridge mode for that time. I purchased the cartridge and installed it a few days ago and no colors will print.  I  have also used the older color cartridge, as well as a second new cartridge in my troubleshooting, and none of them will work. I have run self-test reports with all three and the printout only has the relevant black portions, with the color areas left blank.

I was concerned that having left the color cartridge space empty in the carriage for two weeks had caused something internally in the printer to dry out and clog, but I don't have enough technical expertise to know where the ink travels once it leaves the cartridge, and where a potential clog would be. I did clean the contacts inside the printer, as well as a few other areas that had residue on them, but that has not worked either.

Also, there have been no software changes, other than possibly any obligatory Windows updates that may have occurred during the two week time span.

[The_Fossette]

@1porkchop,

Thank you for keeping me posted.

I recommend you contact HP phone support to further diagnose the issue.

Here is how you can get in touch with the phone support.

Open link:  www.hp.com/contacthp/

Enter Product number or select to autodetects

Scroll down to "Still need help? Complete the form to select your contact options"

Scroll down and click on HP contact options - click on Get phone number.

If the solution provided helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. Your feedback counts!

Take care!

Cheers!

[1porkchop]

Thank you. I will contact them during the coming week.

[The_Fossette]

@1porkchop,

Perfect! If any other questions arise, please feel free to write back to me.

Good day! Take care 🙂

Cheers!

[1porkchop · Accepted solution]

I did some more online research about the problem and was able to fix it.  Apparently running the printer in single cartridge mode for such a long time somehow confused the printer, making it unable to print with two cartridges. The recommendation was to perform a "reset" of the printer. After the reset, it asked me to align the cartridge, which I was able to do, and then I ran the self-test, which came out perfect.

Below are the instructions I found that detail how to do it for various models of HP printers.

Resets for all HP all-in-one printers with keypads:

1. Without turning the unit off, unplug the power cord from the back of the product.
2. Press and hold �# and 6? keys.
3. While holding those keys plug the power cord back in.
4. Wait until the screen goes blank before you release those keys.
5. Follow on printer screen instructions.

For Box-type models (No Keypads):

1. Unplug the power cord from the printer.
2. Wait for 30 seconds.
3. Plug the power cable back in the printer and turn it on.

Reset HP Photosmart C4200 series, C4300 series and C4400 series Procedure:

HP Photosmart C4200 Series Includes:
HP Photosmart C4205
HP Photosmart C4210
HP Photosmart C4240
HP Photosmart C4250
HP Photosmart C4270
HP Photosmart C4272
HP Photosmart C4273
HP Photosmart C4275
HP Photosmart C4280
HP Photosmart C4283
HP Photosmart C4285

HP Photosmart C4380 Series Includes:
HP Photosmart C4380
HP Photosmart C4383
HP Photosmart C4385

HP Photosmart C4400 Series Includes:
HP Photosmart C4435
HP Photosmart C4440
HP Photosmart C4450
HP Photosmart C4472
HP Photosmart C4473
HP Photosmart C4480
HP Photosmart C4483
HP Photosmart C4485

HP Reset Printer Steps:
1. Press Cancel and Power, at the same time.
2. Then, the Unit will ask for a Key Combo, press blue, green, gray buttons (in order) for this.
3. �Support Menu� should appear.
4. Go to Resets menu and use the semi-full reset.

Support Menu
(Blue for Up, Gray for Down and Green for OK)
* Firmware Revision (hint:push gray button to move to the next menu item)
* Scan Diagnostics Menu
* Reports Menu
* Print Tests Menu
* System Configuration Menu
* Resets Menu
* Information Menu

Alternate HP reset procedure (for older products):

1. Unplug the power cord from printer.
2. Hold both o.k and Cancel simultaneously.
3. Plug the power cable while holding the buttons.

Reset for the Photosmart C5100 Series:
* HP Photosmart C5140 All-in-One Printer
* HP Photosmart C5150 All-in-One Printer
* HP Photosmart C5175 All-in-One Printer
* HP Photosmart C5180 All-in-One Printer
* HP Photosmart C5183 All-in-One Printer
* HP Photosmart C5188 All-in-One Printer
* HP Photosmart C5190 All-in-One Printer

HP Reset Printer Steps:
1. Unplug the power cable from printer while the printer is powered on.
2. Press and hold OK and HELP buttons while plugging in the power cord. Wait for the screen to go black or blank before releasing the keys.
3. Just turn on the printer and configure your printer new

[The_Fossette]

@1porkchop,

Perfect, I am really glad to hear that!

If any other questions arise, please feel free to write back to me.

Good day! Take care 🙂

Cheers!