Want to ust print using the black cartridge but printer won't co-operate

[Neo23]

Went through all the steps suggested by Virtual Assistant, no joy.  I've only used the printer twice since I bought it last year.

Fail to see how: a} The colour cartridge has run out already + b) Why the printer can't just bypass the colour cartridge and still print in black and white.

[Repairatrooper]

Even if you only  ever print in color, some color is used every time the printer performs a maintenance cycle and over time that can exhaust the color cartridge. If you aim was to only print black a monochrome laser printer would have been a better purchase for you. 

From the user guide for your printer:

Use single cartridge mode: Use the single cartridge mode to operate the printer with only one cartridge. The single cartridge mode is initiated when one of the following occurs.

● There is only one cartridge installed in the carriage.

● A cartridge is removed from the carriage if there are two cartridges installed previously. NOTE: If the printer enters the single cartridge mode when two cartridges are installed in the printer, verify that the protective piece of plastic tape has been removed from each cartridge. When the plastic tape covers the cartridge contacts, the printer cannot detect that the cartridge is installed. If there is no plastic tape on the cartridges, try cleaning the cartridge contacts. For information about cleaning cartridge contacts, see Cartridge issues on page 83.

To exit the single cartridge mode

● Install both the black and tri-color cartridges in the printer.

Have you tried removing the color cartridge from the printer?