hp office jet 6958 will not print in black, only color

[mko2810]

I have a newish office jet 6950 printer, not more than a year old. The black ink cartridge was getting low so I replaced it. Once I did it stopped printing black ink altogether. I had to get an important document printed so after some troubleshooting I put the old cartridge back in and it printed black just fine. I ended up using that cartridge until it would not print anymore. To replace it I bought a brand new black hp cartridge and installed it....and it will not print black at all. That makes 2 different brand new black ink cartridges that won't print. All the color cartridges print without any issues. I have already dug through the HP forums and google and I have tried all the recommended troubleshooting. Anyone have thoughts as to why this is happening?

[Riddle_Decipher]

@mko2810 Greetings from the HP Community! Does the copier work fine?

If yes, let's start with running the HP Print and Scan Doctor:

Use this link for details on using the HP Print and Scan doctor: click here

If the issue persists, let's do a root uninstall and reinstall of the software:

Unplug any USB cable, if any, before doing this.

1.) In Windows, search for and open Programs and features

2.) Select your HP Printer

3.) Select Uninstall

4.) In Windows, search for and open Devices and printers

5.) In the Devices and Printers windows look for your HP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose 'Delete' or 'Remove Device'

6.) Open up the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.

7.) Type printui.exe /s and click Ok. (Note: there is a space in between “printui.exe” and “/s”)

8.) Click on the "Drivers" tab

9.) Look for HP Printer driver. If you see it Click on it and click Remove at the bottom

10.) Select Ok

11.) Select Apply and Ok on the Print Server Properties windows

12.) Close Devices and Printers

13.)  Open up the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.

14.) Type c:/programdata and click Ok. Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.

15.) Restart the computer.

Once done, please download and install the software from here

Keep us posted,

If you would like to thank us for our efforts to help you, 

Give us a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon below, followed by clicking on the "Accept as solution" on this post, 

Have a great day!

[BRIANSCO]

I have an out-of-warranty hp6958 which was printing fine in black and white until yesterday. I discovered the ink was low and replaced all four cartridges with hp cartridges. The printer prints from only the color cartridges, no black whatsoever. Even printing the registration copies, it only prints color.  It also fails to make b/w photocopies as well. I went to the store to replace the new black cartridge I purchased yesterday, thinking that the cartridge was defective, but the new one I just replaced it with also fails. 

Any advice for why this situation just happened?

Thank you in advance.

[sandytechy20]

@BRIANSCO

Welcome to HP support community.

Make sure the ink cartridges are properly vented and seated correctly

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

2. Open the ink cartridge access door.

   The carriage moves to the center of the printer.

   

3. Wait until the carriage stops moving before you continue.

4. Press the tab inward on the front of the old ink cartridge to release it, and then pull up on the ink cartridge to remove it from the slot.

   

5. Examine the vent area above the HP logo on the top of the ink cartridge.

   

6. If the ink cartridge still has the orange pull-tab attached, pull to remove it.

   

7. If the vent is clogged, use a straight pin to gently remove excess adhesive from the vent.

8. 1. 

      Clogged vent

   2. With a straight pin, gently remove excess adhesive from the vent

   3. Unclogged vent

9. Turn the ink cartridge so that the ink cartridge contacts face downward, and then match the label color with the color dot on the carriage.

10. Slide the ink cartridge into its slot, and then gently press the ink cartridge down until it snaps into place.

    

11. Repeat these steps to inspect the vents on each of the ink cartridges.

12. Make sure each ink cartridge is firmly installed in its slot. Run your finger along the top of the ink cartridges to feel for any that are protruding, and if any are, press down firmly until each ink cartridge snaps into place.

13. Close the ink cartridge access door.

    

You can refer this HP support community for more assistance:- Click here

I hope that helps.

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.

[mko2810]

Sorry for my delay in responding. The copier does not work properly either. Should I still run the HP Print and Scan Doctor? Or is there something else I need to do?

[mko2810]

Thanks Sandytechy20, but I have already gone through that a couple of times and it has not solved the problem.

[Riddle_Decipher]

@mko2810 It looks like we've reached the end of the line, as it seems to be a hardware malfunction, 

I suggest you talk to HP support and discuss your options, follow the below steps to get started:

1) Click on this link - http://www.hp.com/contacthp/

2) Click on Sign-in or select the product using the below step:

3) Enter the serial of your device.

4) Select the country from the drop-down.

5) Click on "Show Options".

Fill the web-form, to populate a case number and phone number for yourself!

Also, if you are having trouble navigating through the above options, it's most likely because the device is out of warranty, if yes? please send me a private message with the region you are contacting us from, 

here's how private messages work: Click here for details.

If you wish to thank me for my efforts, you could click on "Accept as solution" on my post as the solution should help others too.