Is my printer DEAD???

hogshead

I have a HP C5180 all in one.
Individual ink carts.
I did buy genuine parts initially but have for a while bought compatables from Cartridge World with no problems at all.
Printer will not print using the black ink.
All other colours are fine, work as normal.

Tried aligning using white A4 paper, which fails. HP site claims:

If you have color or photo paper loaded in the input tray when you align the printer, the alignment might faill.
Load unused plain white letter or A4 paper into the input tray, and then try the alignment again.
If the alignment fails again, you might have a defective sensor.

Is there anything that can be done to save it?
As it is anything is worth a try as out of guarantee & warranty invalid ( compatables used )

Thanks

basmic

I think the cheap ink from Cartridge World has blocked up the black cartridge's print head nozzles - to my knowledge, HP's ink cartridges have the print head nozzles built into the cartridge.

In essence, try buying a new black cartridge - you will get a new, clean print head, and it should start printing normally again.

In future, might I recommend that you use http://www.inkcycle.co.uk/ instead? I've used them for years, for both my old HP Deskjet 3820 printer and current Canon Pixma IP4200 - with zero problems! I do not work for them, or paid to mention their name - I'm just a happy customer of theirs!

hogshead

Have bought another black cartridge but still nothing.
Printer will print in other colours aside from the black.

Have been using replacements from CW for a long time so no reason to think these refils would be any more/less problematic than compatables purchased elsewhere.
Thanks for the link, good prices too.

simpywimpy

I had a very similar problem with my HP all in one. I changed the cartdridge and it wouldn't print at all. It just keeps giving me an error message.

MX5huggy

Have you done print head cleaning?

hogshead

I have just done a printhead cleaning, still no black. All the other colours are perfect though!

Is there anywhere I could have accidently selected not using black ink in the settings at all?

basmic

hogshead wrote: »

I have just done a printhead cleaning, still no black. All the other colours are perfect though!

Is there anywhere I could have accidently selected not using black ink in the settings at all?

That's what I was beginning to think, or the black nozzles are completely blocked up! :eek:

Any chance of you sending a screenshot of your current print settings? Even ink status would be good, too!

If you need image hosting, I recommend http://www.imagehost.org/. :beer:

mike1975cw

Hi

sounds like your print head has dried out

was there a long period between taking your empty unit out and replacing the new one?

You could try cold resetting your printer to do this i think you do the following:

Pull out power cable
hold power button this will drain the unit of any remaining power
hold ok and cancel and plug power cord in
this will reset the printer
do alot of print head clean cycles and eventually it should clear the block

mike

hogshead

Guys thanks to you all for your help.
I decided my time was worth more & bought another printer.

Only question is should I avoid compatibles cartridges from now on!!!!