HP Envy 4500 stopped printing black, wont align.

[Stevelemaster1]

Printed a two sided page beautifully, then next print job was simple- but looked like it was suddenly running out of black ink. Changed to a new black and color cartridges and ran alignment process and it failed, several times. Lower part of alignment page only has red arrows. Turned off/on, usb connected computer too. Ran print head cleaning two-three times, once with Extended clean”. No change. Put in another new black cartridge and same outcome. 

[Betty0610]

@Stevelemaster1

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Does this happen while copying too? 

Do perform all the steps from here: https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-envy-4500-e-all-in-one-printer-series/5304875/model/5304876/...

Let's try to reset the Printer here:

Turn the printer on, if it is not already on.

1. Wait until the printer is idle and silent before you continue.
2. With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
3. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
4. Wait at least 60 seconds.
5. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.
6. NOTE: HP recommends connecting the printer power cord directly to the wall outlet.
7. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.
8. Turn on the printer, if it does not automatically turn on.
9. Wait until the printer is idle and silent before you proceed.

Let me know if this helps.

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution button, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

Thanks!

Have a great day!

[Stevelemaster1 · Accepted solution]

Something finally worked.  I think it was a combination of taking the new black cartridge out and setting the printer up to print using the composite setting (mixed color for black worked fine), then letting the black cartridge set idle, ink sprayer side up, for a couple of days. I printed a couple of needed pages successfully using the composite black setting.

When I first reinstalled the black cartridge, the printer did another alignment page routine that failed, and the printer kind of froze up.  Turned it off/on, and it automatically ran the alignment routine again - and this time it succeeded.  

Yes, the original lack of black printing happened on copies too.  I have not done the total reset of the printer using the unplugging while turned on method, but will keep that in mind for the next troubleshooting event.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Betty0610]

I'm glad to hear that and you're most welcome. Do get back to us in the future for further assistance.

Have a nice day!:)

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution button, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!