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Archived This topic has been archived. Information and links in this thread may no longer be available or relevant. If you have a question create a new topic by clicking here and select the appropriate board.
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I have inserted a new black ink into my Photosmart C309g. I only want to use black instead of having to buy the colors as well. When I put in the black, the screen comes up with "Ink Cartridge Problem" saying that the following cartridges (all the colors and the photo black) are missing or damaged. Is there anyway to get the printer to work with the black only? I can't get it past the "problem" screen and it won't bypass it with me trying to print something in greyscale.

 

Thanks in advance for your help!

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
HP Recommended
@khuransh, you will need to replace the color cartridges before you are able to print again. The printer will not function without the color cartridges if you are trying to print black. The color cartridges mix together with black to form a true definite black color. So when the colors are missing, the black will not function.

@creditcard, the same thing applies, if that yellow cartridge is out, the black will not function because it needs some of that yellow to form a black.
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21 REPLIES 21
HP Recommended

Hi,

 

There are some types of printers that will work with only a black cartridge, but this model is not one of them.

 

Sorry to say, but your printer will not work without all cartridges installed. That is just the way it is designed. It will also use a little bit of color even when printing black to keep the print nozzles clear and the ink system working correctly.

 

If you ever want to print in color, especially photos, this is an excellent printer for that usage, and with the correct paper installed, the prints will be water resistant.

 

Best of luck,
Mary

{I work on HP's behalf}
HP Recommended

Hi, there!

After a while working properly, my C309g doesn't recognise the Black Photo cartridge. I thought it was empty and bought a new one, but the problem still persists, and the printer doesn't work at all. 

What can I do? 

Thanks for your help. 

DrGuitar

HP Recommended

Hi DrGuitar,

 

Sorry to hear about your problem. You can try the steps listed in the document linked below:

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01808074

 

Hope one of the solutions work for you, but if not, you might also try using the HP Toolbox to do a printhead cleaning and alignment. If you don't know how to do that, instructions are shown in the "Troubleshooting Print Quality" document listed at the bottom of the page on the link above.

Best of luck,
Mary

{I work on HP's behalf}
HP Recommended

My Hp C309G can't print in black .It's a new printer and new ink. Can't understand what's the problem. Please help me whith this sort of problem. Thank you.

HP Recommended

Hi tinusia,

 

You might have a defective cartridge. You can try the steps listed in the following document:

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01787835

 

If the cartridge is the problem, genuine HP cartridges have a warranty and you can get a free replacement.

Best of luck,
Mary

{I work on HP's behalf}
HP Recommended

Hi, friends.

 

After so long I got surprised to receive replies to my thread.

I also got amazed when I learned that there is no Technical Support for HP Printers downhere in Southern Brazil. So I took the printer to a non-authorized techinician with expertise in an other Printer Brand and HE SOLVED THE PROBLEM ONLY BY BENDING THOSE BLADES WHICH MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CARTRIDGES INSIDE THE PRINTER. (There must be a better way to name them.) Well, in fact, after that the printer recognised my (NEW, HP) cartridges, and it's working ever since.

 

God bless you.

 

E

 

HP Recommended

 

Hello Mary!
Yes , the printer works now, I mean a black ink. I had to clean printhead bout 10 times , so my all inks are very low now but it's all work superb. I do not know why I had to do it so many times? I had had left my printer for over night before I started cleaning the printhead.The printer works perfect since that.

 Thanks for your help.:womanvery-happy:

HP Recommended

Hi tinusia60,

 

WoooWhoo! So glad the printer is working well now, but sorry that used up so much ink.

 

The amount of cleaning is unusual, but perhaps you used a powerstrip or something other than the power button (on the printer) to turn it off?

 

When turned off with the power button, the printer goes through a "parking" routine that caps the cartridges so that ink doesn't dry up in the printheads. It is also a bad idea to turn the printer off with any cartridges missing. That can cause clogs in the ink delivery system.

Best of luck,
Mary

{I work on HP's behalf}
HP Recommended

Hi DrGuitar,

 

Glad you were able to get your printer working well. Sorry that we don't have as much help in some areas worldwide.

 

It sounds like the problem was the contacts inside the printer. Cleaning and alignment might have solved that, but whatever works is good. Great to hear back from you!

Best of luck,
Mary

{I work on HP's behalf}
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