Can I install Officejet 6700 just for scan and fax, not printing? Print head failure prevents it

[sootsnoot]

A friend gave me her old Officejet 6700 Premium All-in-one that was getting the infamous "Print head missing or failed" error. The only hp "solution" is a power reset: unplug it and plug it back in. It is possible to buy kits to clean the printhead, and even replace it, from sellers other than hp. In 2012, hp added it to the list of printers for which the print head was available in through care pack service. One post in this forum said the print head on the 6700 is not replaceable, to which I replied with a few youtube videos showing how to do it (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjifR45ohtM and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSPXV3anp8E)

I might try replacing the print head at some point, though probably try cleaning it first. But my problem is I want to try to use it for scanning and faxing before investing too much in fixing the printing function. But I can't even get the device installed, because I can't get to its setup screen - the print head error takes over the touch screen on the device, preventing me from getting to the setup menu.

Does anyone know how I can get it set up enough to try scan and fax functions without printing?

[Betty0610]

@sootsnoot

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Unfortunately, you would not be able to do that. If you wish to purchase a new Printhead or a Printer, I recommend you to contact the HP Support Team.

Link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true

Note:  Select the country accordingly to get the contact details for support.

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!

[sootsnoot]

Thanks very much for your reply, Betty, as well as your honesty! At least you didn't say that the print head could not be replaced, as was stated elsewhere in a reply by someone with a high rating in the forum but not an employee.

If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you possibly give me a little more specific guidance on how to get a new print head? Following the link you gave, and selecting United States as the country, I selected product type printer, then entered the serial number (CN2653H1TY). That brought me to a page titled "HP Customer Support - Contact", which just had a link to the community support forum, and the information that the printer is out of warranty. As far as I can tell, there was no contact information that would help me order a new print head. Here's what it looked like:

======================================================================

HP Customer Support - Contact

• Support Home
• Products
• Software and Drivers
• Diagnostic Tools
• Contact Support
• Business Support

Your location is set to United States.  Change your location Be sure your location is set correctly to ensure accurate contact options.

How can we help you?

HP Support Community

Join a conversation and ask our experts

Visit the HP Support Community

HP Officejet 6700 Premium e-All-in-One Printer - H711n

Choose a different product

Warranty status:  Manufacturer warranty has expired - See details

Serial number: CN2653H1TY

Product number:CV078A

======================================================================

Note the "Contact Support" link is just a link to the page being displayed, not providing any other contact information.

I have found a couple of sites online that claim to offer compatible print heads for sale. The reviews are all over the place, some say clearly not compatible, others saying looks right but not recognized by the device, and others saying it worked great. I did find one hp site saying that starting in 2012 the 6700 was added to the list of printers for which the special "hp care" service (or whatever it's called) offered new print heads. So I would think it ought to be possible to get the right part from hp somehow. The one I'm considering buying is on amazon, for $50. Too expensive for just an inkjet printer, but sort of reasonable to get a wireless all-in-one working. Any thought on whether this one will work? https://www.amazon.com/YEECHUN-Replacement-Printhead-Compatible-Officejet/dp/B07JLB9CHN/

[asmita6658]

Hi @sootsnoot

I have sent you a private message with the contact details. 

Thanks!

[sootsnoot · Accepted solution]

Thank you for the contact info, Asmita. I'd like to mark this as the solution to my problem, but what the support agent told me was that

1. the printer cannot be installed in this print head error state
2. the print head is not considered a customer replaceable part so it cannot be ordered from HP
3. no telling about a 3rd party print head, probably won't work

So nothing different from the other answers given in the forum here. The only difference is that she offered to give me "special pricing" on a brand new comparable all-in-one that wouldn't cost much more than a 3rd party print head. She offered the Officejet Pro 8025 for $119.99, and when I said that was too much she offered the Officejet 5255 for $79.99. I notice those prices are each ten cents higher than Amazon's current prices, so I didn't feel all that special 🙂 She did offer to throw in a set of free ink cartridges, and noted it would be a 30-day risk-free trial, so I guess that's maybe close enough to a solution.

But as many other customers note, when you want to fix a problem with a printer that you've grown accustomed to and has worked reliably for years, getting a high-pressure sales job to buy a new printer doesn't feel all that great! Bottom line, I will very grudgingly mark this as the solution, because it was very slightly better than buying a new printer on my own. The solution I was looking for was how to replace a single malfunctioning part, or get by without the part as it is not need for scanning, not one involving sending the old 6700 to a landfill.