HP Deskjet 3744 inkjet printer - Getting the appropriate black print cartridge

[Jai7]

Good morning all,

So today I pulled out my old long-unused inkjet printer - HP Deskjet 3744. I plugged it in to see if it was working. It powered on successfully and its drivers too installed successfully in my HP Pavilion notebook.     

I am attaching images for your easy reference. Thank you for your help and guidance. 

1. I intend to use this printer for printing regular black and white prints (mostly documents). Hence, I wish to avoid spending on the coloured-print cartridge. So the question - "Can I install just one Simple Black 27b cartridge instead of two and get regular black and white prints?"  Can I keep the left cartridge slot empty?
2. Kindly have a look at this older cartridge. Is this ink leak?
3. I cleaned the cartridge slots with a cotton cloth. Do the electrical contacts look okay now? Will the printer work okay with the new cartridge?
4. Any good place to buy the cartridge with discounts? Since I am not sure of the printer will work, I do not wish to spend much money on the cartridge. 
5. Why does the light on the printer's power button keep blinking?
6. The cartridge slots are they now clean enoughIs this ink leakThe Printer

[ShlomiL]

Hi,

You may use a single cartridge only, see 'Ink-backup mode' on page 7 of its user guide:

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00248178.pdf

From the old cartridge picture, it seems like an ink leak indeed.

Regarding the price question you should check nearby stores, it would be hard suggesting any place, even further as this is a very old printer and 27/28 cartridges are no longer manufactured, it will be likely a stock remains where you find such ink cartridges.

The power light can blink due to the missing cartridges (this is likely the cause and a such would cause a such), however a possible hardware failure such as a false paper jam or many other options, please consider those possibilities before spending any money.

The following possible causes should be very similar for the 3744 printer:

https://support.hp.com/bg-en/document/c00037764

Shlomi