Prints blue when it should be printing black on photo paper

[Dismayed1]

First attempt at printing since updating to Windows 10

[Sunshyn2005]

Good morning @Dismayed1, 

I see that you have upgraded to Windows 10 and now when you print the printer is producing blue instead of black. It sounds like there could be an issue with the driver. Have you tried a self test report to confirm if the issue has something so do with the hardware or not? Please complete the steps in the following document first and then if we determine the issue is not the printer hardware we can try an alternate driver on the computer to help isolate the issue: HP Photosmart D5460, D5463, and D5468 Printers - Printed Colors Are Not the Colors Expected.

To install an alternate print driver, use the following document (It specifies Windows 8, but the steps would be the same for Windows 10): HP Printers - Installing an Alternate USB Print Driver (Windows 😎

If either of these solutions resolve the issue, please be sure to click the Accept as Solution button below so other can see what worked for you. If the issue persists, please let me know and I will do all I can to assist. 

[Dismayed1]

Installed new driver (HP 5550 Series HPA) as requested, still printing blue. Please note this problem only occured when using photo paper, printing on ordinary paper the colour is OK. Seems the paper quality causes the problem

many thanks 

[Sunshyn2005]

How odd! Since you can print blue when using standard paper but not when printing on photo paper, and this only started since your recent upgrade to Windows 10, I feel the issue must have to do with the computer. I thought an alternate driver would do the trick. Let's try a new approach, I suggest using the following steps to delete the printer from device and printers, and the driver from the server properties.

1. In the ‘Devices and Printers’ folder

2. Choose ‘Print server properties’.

• Win XP – With no printer selected, click ‘File’ then ‘Server Properties’.
• Windows Vista – With no printer selected, press ‘Alt’ then click ‘File’ then ‘Server Properties’.
• Windows 7/8, 8.1, and 10 – Select any printer in the ‘Devices and Printers’ folder and click ‘Print Server properties’ above.

3. Click on the ‘Drivers’ tab at the top of ‘Print server properties’ window

4. Choose the printer you want to uninstall and click ‘Remove’

5. Choose 'Remove driver only'

6. The next screen will give a warning, letting you know that deleting the driver package will remove it from the system. Click ‘Yes’ to say that you are sure you want to do this.

If documents are stuck in the print spooler, you may see an error, cancel any documents pending in the print queue, or try restarting the print spooler, then try to remove the driver from ‘Print server properties’ again. If it still won’t remove the package, restarting the computer and the printer should resolve this ‘in use’ error and allow the driver to be removed.

• If the you continue to get an 'in use' message follow the steps in the document here; The Specified Printer Driver is Currently in Use

After the driver is removed, open Start > All Programs > HP folder > Printer folder > HP Setup and Software (or the printer icon).

The Setup and software screen will open and you can click on Connect a new printer.

[Dismayed1]

Hi,

Before we go any further, I  would like you to take the following into consideration;  I have an old computer running XP, and this computer has the same problem when trying to print, ie blue instead of black with photo paper. As I see it, this points to the printer

Once again many thanks

[Sunshyn2005]

Okay, thanks for letting me know. Let's back peddle for a moment. Did you complete all of the steps in this document: 

HP Photosmart D5460, D5463, and D5468 Printers - Printed Colors Are Not the Colors Expected?

[Dismayed1]

Hi,

When the test page ws printed it was fine, no problems at all, but that was on ordinary paper, The problem remained when photo paper was used

Thanks 

[Sunshyn2005 · Accepted solution]

Okay, thanks. What about Step three: Select a higher print-quality setting and Step seven: Run the automatic utility to clean the printhead, did you try those suggestions? Although you can print on standard non photo paper, the steps might help. 

Also, Have you by chance tried different photo paper? I know it doesn't seem likely the root issue is the paper, but given all we have tried it might be a good next step to venture to. 

Let me know. 

[Dismayed1]

Tied different photo paper as you suggested . Printed fine, many thanks you seem to have caracked it

[Dismayed1]

Many thanks. Tried different photo paper and this corrected the problem. Printing fine now  Once again many thanks