My OfficeJet 3830 isn't printing in Draft Mode

[DonnaP77]

The printer suddenly stopped printing in Draft Mode. Everything was smeary and blurred.  I ran the usual diagnostics, alignments, cartridge cleaning etc.  Nothing fixed it.  I was able to print documents in Normal mode, but now those aren't printing anything in black!  I have enough ink in my black cartridge.  I have a ton of doccs to print for taxes, I just had a hip replacement and am homebound for awhile. This is the worst possible timefor this stupid printer to bite the dust!

[Garp_senchau]

@DonnaP77, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Based on your description, the problem seems to potentially be related to the printhead and the ink system. Here are the detailed steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

Check the Printhead:

• Perform a printhead diagnostic check. In this step, you can identify if any specific nozzles are clogged or not firing correctly.
• You may need to manually clean the printhead using a lint-free cloth and distilled water. This process can help resolve issues caused by ink clogs.

Cleaning the Printhead:

• Remove the black ink cartridge.
• Take out the printhead.
• With a lint-free cloth soaked in distilled water, gently clean around the printhead, ensuring you do not use alcohol.
• Let the printhead dry naturally and reinstall it back into the printer.

Replace the Ink Cartridge:

• If the entire black ink section is not printing, consider swapping the ink container or vacuum system linked to the ink. If replacing the black ink cartridge does not resolve the issue, it could be related to the printhead.

Perform Printhead Alignment:

• After reinstalling the printhead, the printer usually performs a printhead alignment test. If the black ink starts printing again and you notice improvement, this suggests that the manual cleaning has helped.

Run a Test Print:

• Print a test pattern to confirm that all colors, including black, are printing correctly. Ensure the print quality by checking solid black prints along with other colors.

Reference: HP OfficeJet 6900, 8010, 8020, 8030 printers - No black ink, wrong colors, other print quality issue...

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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Regards,