Ink System in Your Printer Is Not Working

[MissxFortunate]

RELEVANT STARTING INFORMATION

• This DeskJet 2640 has been an absolute nightmare.

• I am on the Windows 11 operating system using an ASUS L410MA laptop (and, alternatively, an iPhone 6S Plus) to attempt to print with this printer using both the USB and WiFi connection options

• Warranty expired in 2020... And no, I won't pay $100+ to extend it for a printer that doesn't work

• Printer used once by grandmother and never worked again: original issue was a WiFi-related issue at her house; I have since brought it home and fixed this issue

• Current issue seems to be related to ink cartridges or the overall "ink system" of the printer

ABOUT THE INK CARTRIDGES:

• Ink cartridges are genuine HP cartridges and are detected as such.

• The black cartridge was "not communicating with the printer" correctly. I exhausted all troubleshooting suggestions then finally took it out and tossed it. This left me on Single Cartridge Mode, which I have already OK'ed via HP Smart so that the printer is ready to receive print jobs.

• The color cartridge, which, according to HP Smart, has no issues, has about 75% of the ink remaining. This has been verified via HP Smart and by opening the sucker up and visually inspecting it. Yes, I am experienced at what I do, and the cartridge is still detected as genuine and accepted as having no issues via HP Smart and Windows. 

• No, I will not purchase new ink cartridges, which are expensive, based on the hope that it might fix my issue since I have already, at the very least, undeniably confirmed that the color cartridge is not empty and should work as expected

THE PERSISTENT, MADDENING-ANGER-INDUCING ISSUE:

• NO MATTER WHAT I ATTEMPT, ANYTHING THAT ACTUALLY TRIES TO PRINT RESULTS IN A PRINTED BLANK PAGE

• This is particularly strange because it does not automatically spit out a blank page of paper; no, it pretends to print whatever image or document I am attempting to print, making ALL the strange printer noises, pausing, hesitating, and slowly sucking the paper into the printer bit by bit only to finally spit out a blank page with nothing printed on it.

What I've Already Attempted:

• I have exhausted all troubleshooting suggestions in the HP documentation and any suggestions made by Windows notifications. This means that I have...
(1) Unplugged, waited 60 seconds, and replugged the printer;
(2) Uninstalled and reinstalled the color cartridge;
(3) Cleaned the copper contacts both on the cartridge and within its receptable;
(4) Ran the Diagnose and Repair option in HP Smart (no issues were found);

(5) Completed the Windows troubleshooter for printer issues (no issues were found);

(6) Attempted printing various things (documents, images, etc.) from various sources (via HP Smart, from my browser, from my image editing program, etc.) using various settings and various dialogue boxes;

(7) Attempted printing from alternate devices, both over USB and the WiFi connection;

(8) Cleaned and aligned the print heads (including a second level cleaning) via the HP Smart print quality tools;

(9) Gone around and around with the HP virtual assistant for no help whatsoever

.... so please do not suggest that I attempt these things again, as I refuse to get stuck in a cycle of repeating failed attempted solutions.

WHAT I CAN'T DO:

• My printer is out of warranty, so, in the most ridiculous turn of events I've ever encountered in a context in which I require support from a well-known, fully established company, i cannot simply contact HP support via conventional means. I am repeatedly led here. That said, if I do not find a solution here, I found a phone number for individuals who are disabled that I will try, but I hate to utilize this option simply to speak to a support agent because I do not wish to tie up resources dedicated to those who need specialized assistance...so hopefully, you all can help me sort this issue out and finally get this nightmare printer doing it's job... printing. This issue is particularly asinine: whether I have an active warranty or not, I bought your (*&#$(*& printer... you should provide me with technical support if I need it. Period. Anyway.

ERROR MESSAGES AND RELEVANT NOTIFICATIONS RECEIVED:

• At first, I was getting a Windows notification that read, "Your printer needs attention. Your printer needs user intervention." However, this seems to have been solved by OK'ing Single Cartridge Mode via HP Smart.

• The last time the printer actually tried to print something and, of course, spit out a blank page, I got a Windows notification that read: "The ink system in your printer is not working." I have not found much help via HP support documentation or via a quick Google search related to this exact notification/error message.... and I have not gotten this notification since this one attempt to print.

THE CURRENT SITUATION:

• Currently, both Windows and HP Smart detect no particular issues with the printer or its components (including the color ink cartridge which is still installed in Single Cartridge Mode. The printer is noted in all locations as ready to print/ready to receive print jobs. It is touch-and-go, but when it DOES attempt to print something, the page is blank. When it doesn't actually attempt to print the job I send, it simply holds it in the Windows print queue (the HP Smart queue will still show as empty) with the message "Status  unknown" given.

• I am no longer receiving any particular error messages or notifications from the printer itself, HP Smart, or Windows.

• I am literal minutes away from chucking this HP printer out of the window, purchasing ink for my Canon printer and having it overnighted to me. I have given up on the print job that I absolutely MUST have tonight, having sent it to Walgreens to have it printed as if it were a 5x7 photo so that I can use the shipping label to mail something FedEx from there after picking up and taping the photo print to the box.

Please.... tell me that you all have some suggestions that are a bit outside-of-the-box that I may could try. Obviously the HP support documentation is not doing me any good, and I really don't want to filter through a zillion things that I've clearly stated that I've already attempted and that did not fix my issue.

Love from a Louisianian soon-to-be former HP printer user. Long live Canon: their printers never gave not one single issue, but they require me to complete way too many loan applications in order to finally take out a loan just to replace my empty ink cartridges. Boo!

[Valsimot]

The printer was unused for a too long period making the ink dry inside the cartridge, and you get blank pages printed.