Photosmart Printer Problem- Everyones Guessin

[Hpmg87a]

This printer worked great for years. It sat idle during the holidays and then I had to replace some of the inks.  Now I don't get the quality and lines and missing color....When I print test and clean pages I get. 100% ink supply in all six... but I do show that Lt. Magenta is "Expired"..... I also have lines on my " Magenta"   The report says Print head calibration Confidence Level "0"..    

                                      The wife says the problem is the expired ink but it prints a solid block on the test page. The kid at office max, says its the "Magenta" because it has the lines... But that is one of the new cartrigers...  The manager at OfficeMax says that it is the Print head and that the machine is obsolete and their is no replacement machine for all the ink I just bought..

              I would really like to have this machine back on line... I don't want to replace a print head.... should I buy more ink and spend another $40-50 just to find out its not the ink but the heads? 

    Any advice would be great

[Bob_Headrick]

The troubleshooting steps in the document here may help resolve the print quality issues on your Photosmart d7100 printer.  In particular I would suggest running the printhead cleaning in solution four:

Step four: Clean the printhead

 NOTE: Do not clean the printhead unnecessarily because this wastes ink and shortens the life of the ink nozzles on the printhead.

1. Verify that there is plain paper in the main tray.
2. Press the 4-way arrow button to select Settings and then press OK.
3. Press or to select Tools and then press OK.
4. Press or to select Clean Printhead and then press OK.

[Hpmg87a]

Has anyone changed the printhead in the HP Photosmart 7160...  Is there one master head? ore are each cartridge a separate head... When I print the test page I get solid colors except for my Magenta which has lines... Is this the only head that is clogged 

I have cleaned the heads many times.. Changed the cartrigers  Everything looks good but the photos

[Bob_Headrick]

The printhead in the Photosmart d7160 is one assembly for black and all the colors.  Unfortunately the printhead assembly is not replaceable.  

[Hpmg87a]

I agree that it is the print head and not replaceable.  Now that I have over $170 in new full ink cartridges do I double down and buy a " reconditioned Photosmart" that I see on the Internet for $149 the price of this machine when it was new.  The Office max people say they carry no machine that takes this ink and that all new machines only have the three colors..

i like the the six cartridges, the machine has been good,  but what are my chances of buying a machine with a bad printer head.. what would you do Bob?

thank you for you input

K

[Bob_Headrick]

What would I do?  I generally look for printers at thrift stores, craigslist or the local university surplus place.  My wife would prefer I did not do this - I have a garage and basement full of interesting printers typically picked up for $20 or less each.  

HP has de-emphasised photo printing in its current offerings.  It is true there are no current models that use the 02 style cartridges, and I do not know of any current HP printers that have five or six inks.

The following were models that used the HP 02 cartridges, you might find alternatives to your model that still uses the cartridges you have:

This product is compatible with these printers

HP Photosmart 3210	HP Photosmart 3210a	HP Photosmart 3210v
HP Photosmart 3210xi	HP Photosmart 3213	HP Photosmart 3214
HP Photosmart 3310	HP Photosmart 3310xi	HP Photosmart 3313
HP Photosmart 3314	HP Photosmart 8230	HP Photosmart 8238
HP Photosmart 8250	HP Photosmart 8250	HP Photosmart 8250v
HP Photosmart 8250xi	HP Photosmart 8253	HP Photosmart C5140
HP Photosmart C5150	HP Photosmart C5180	HP Photosmart C5185
HP Photosmart C6150	HP Photosmart C6180	HP Photosmart C6183
HP Photosmart C6185	HP Photosmart C6240 All-in-One Printer	HP Photosmart C6250 All-in-One Printer
HP Photosmart C6280 All-in-One Printer	HP Photosmart C6286 All-in-One Printer	HP Photosmart C7150
HP Photosmart C7180	HP Photosmart C7185	HP Photosmart C7250
HP Photosmart C7275	HP Photosmart C7280	HP Photosmart C7283
HP Photosmart C7288	HP Photosmart C8150	HP Photosmart C8180
HP Photosmart C8183	HP Photosmart C8188	HP Photosmart D6100
HP Photosmart D6160	HP Photosmart D7145	HP Photosmart D7155
HP Photosmart D7160	HP Photosmart D7200	HP Photosmart D7245
HP Photosmart D7255	HP Photosmart D7260	HP Photosmart D7263
HP Photosmart D7268	HP Photosmart D7345	HP Photosmart D7355
HP Photosmart D7360	HP Photosmart D7368	HP Photosmart D7400
HP Photosmart D7460	HP Photosmart D7468