Wont print

[Tourezrick]

Have HP5520 Photosmart, cannot print in b&w. Have all new cartridges.

Thanks

[Bob_Headrick]

The troubleshooting steps in the document here may help resolve black not printing on your Photosmart 5520 printer.  If the steps there do not resolve the issue then manually cleaning the printhead as shown in the post here may help.

[Tourezrick]

Well, I cleaned the printheads several times with a damp paper towel, and it semi helped. I can print the "Print Quality Diagnostic" page and the black printing is there, but the black color box is blank. Also, I am unable to print anything from email or 'Word' docs. At the current price of printers, I am almost ready to pop for a new printer.

[Bob_Headrick]

The "black" print on the diagnostic page is actually a mixture of black and color inks so that if black is not printing the information can still be read.

A few last things to try:  I have seen users report success removing the black cartridge and dripping a few drops of hot water into the ink port in the printer.  While you have the cartridge removed turn it over and inspect the area around the ink port.  THere are four orange plastic spots which originally held the protective cap in place.  Make sure these are flush with the cartridge body.  If they protrude they may prevent a good seal of the cartridge to the printer.  It would not hurt to put a drop or two of hot water on the cartridge outlet port as well.