HP Photosmart C7280 Black Ink won't print

[bothbadprinters]

I had the same problem with the printer not printing black.

It looks like the print head needs to be burped.   I removed the black print cartridge (HP45 in my case, new out of the box)  turned it with the print heads up, banged the backside on my palm a few times, and reinstalled it.  It worked.  Perhaps some of the ink solidifies or a bubble forms in the ink channel - I don't really know.  It's not a software problem and it's not a print head problem.  

If that does not work, try wiping the print head with a dry Q-tip.  You will ned a magnifying glass to make sure any cotton fibers are removed from the print head AND from the contacts before you re-install.

[kauhikoa]

I had the same problem--printer not printing black.  It turned out that one of the color cartridges was low on ink, and needed to be replaced.  Apparently all cartridges need to have a certain amount of ink for the printer to work at all.  Tech support talked me through resetting the memory (in case of software glitch in printer memory), I replaced the low color cartridge, and all is well again.  HOORAY!!!

[dustbowl]

      I have the same problem w/my c7280.  Have re-aligned and the resulting test page is all in color with the exception of one small box c. 1/4 square which seems to be black!!??  Just a tease? It appears lower left in line with the five other rectangular colored boxes.  Anyone know where one can see a full version of the self test pages so as to know what is missing?  I've tried all the suggestions mentioned here to no avail.

     Browny, still no idea what the tech may have actually done to solve your problem?

     Anyone out there have any suggestions regarding cleaning?

[Browny]

Nothing sophisticated.  They just tore it apart, gave everything a little clean and put it back together again. He said he was a surprised it worked but I must admit it is not as good as new but at least it prints sometimes.  Using "BothBadprinters" advice of banging the ink cartridge does help I find - which is maybe what the tech guy did too and the only thing that actually helped.

[di440]

I have a Photosmart 7350 with the exact same problem.  It worked one day and not the next.  The cartridge still had ink, but I replaced it nonetheless and still nothing prints.  I ran the diagnostics and it appears I too only get color and no black.

[SD]

I'm having the same problem with my C7280. I'm getting an error message now when I run the diagnostics and it starts to run the print test page. GarenT... what is happening here? Is there a software fix or was this an s/w update bug? I've done everything I know of and this is my last option before this printer goes off to its printer grave. Please help...

[bmeshajd]

same problem....black ink won't print....with my few months old C7280...been thru uninstall, reinstall software, shutdown, cleaned, etc.

bmeshajd

[gallen]

I have just experienced the black ink will not print problem with my 1 year 3 month old HP photonotsosmart c5180 all-in-one.

I have used hp cartridges the last 2 refills.

I did all the user stuff. clean printheads, many times and still no black. I tried another cartridge, still no black. ????

perplexed. 

[Browny]

Solution?  Maybe... 

Expensive but this has worked for me on 2 HP printers so it might be worth a try.  Even though the printers suggest they do not need (a) new cartridges, replace all the cartridges as I have found replacing a magenta cartridge allowed printing in black again. All very odd but it has worked on a Photosmart 3310 and a HP deskjet 5550.

I guess you can replace one at a time and see how you get on, but if 2 are causing the problem (unlikely but possible) then you will never find the combination. 

I don't work (or sell!) cartridges so I am not benefiting, but it seems to work for me and might for you.

[CrystalR]

Not sure if this might help.  I had a computer sit for a while and I think the printheads were dried up.  I cleaned the printheads (multiple times), then the black ink finally worked.  Check to see if the black comes out more the third time cleaning than the first time.  I had to clean 10-15 times.  Trying anything is better than buying something if you don't need it.