HP Photosmart doesnt print black

[Sylvia M]

I've been using a HP Photosmart D5460 on my XP with SP3.
It started 'not seeing' my black-fonted documents. I get blank
pages when I print these. When I highlight and change to dark
blue, orange or green, it's fine.
Used the trouble shooter all the way through to the end...no joy.
It also tried to convince me that the drivers are fine.

Any ideas, other than to junk it? I don't want to waste the ink
cartridges, so worst case I'll use all the colored ink first, but
I have almost a full cartridge of black (Yes, took it out and put
it back in...also doesn't show on a printing test)

T.I.A.

Sylvia

 

[Sylvia M]

Sylvia,

First, I suggest looking carefully at the settings in the printer
control program. Check the remaining ink level. I use different HP
inkjet models, so you may have a different display or interface.

Second, there are times when one or two of the many contacts lose
connection between the cartridge and the carriage. HP recommends
cleaning these with a moistened cloth, but not solvents. I suspect
that there's a coating, a film of a contact preparation, on the
copper. Then, reinsert the cartridge. Is there any sign from the
printer that the cartridge isn't working properly.

Last, buy a refilled black cartridge from a refiller. These are mostly
just fine for normal text and web page printing. However, if you're
doing high-quality photo work, I'd stick with excellent quality
products for that. But here, we're testing.

This is all that I can come up with. My experience with the ink
companies on the web has, so far, been poor regarding what I receive
vs. what's advertised. I don't like the surprises. However, all of the
refilled cartridges that I've bought have worked acceptably; in the
one, single, worst case, the colors weren't quite right. These
surprises have been, like, an ink kit advertised as USA was from
China. A kit of ink supposedly from a reputable company in Canada
turned out to be inferior and the ink ruined my color cartridges: the
company had been bought by an American outfit and my stuff was shipped
from LA. And if I'd used the provided needles, I'd have punctured the
nozzle plates. I've had too much of this. But, like I wrote above, the
refilled cartridges have been great. But I don't do exacting photo
work.

Thanks...So far I cleaned the contact copper, both cartridge and
holder...no joy.
Will play further and let you know.
BTW, colds I use one of the color carte
ridges in place of the black, to see if contact is the problem?
(Probably not a good idea) ;

 

[David Rance]

I've been using a HP Photosmart D5460 on my XP with SP3.
It started 'not seeing' my black-fonted documents. I get blank
pages when I print these. When I highlight and change to dark
blue, orange or green, it's fine.
Used the trouble shooter all the way through to the end...no joy.
It also tried to convince me that the drivers are fine.

Have you, by any chance, just upgraded to Windows 8?

When I upgraded from XP to Win8 I had exactly the same problem with my
HP printer when trying to print from Winword. When I upgraded further to
Win8.1 the fault disappeared.

David

 

[Sylvia M]

Have you, by any chance, just upgraded to Windows 8?

When I upgraded from XP to Win8 I had exactly the same problem with my
HP printer when trying to print from Winword. When I upgraded further
to Win8.1 the fault disappeared.

David

I'm using XP, and hope I can stay "Downgraded" for a long time ;-)
Sylvia

 

[Mort]

I've been using a HP Photosmart D5460 on my XP with SP3.
It started 'not seeing' my black-fonted documents. I get blank
pages when I print these. When I highlight and change to dark
blue, orange or green, it's fine.
Used the trouble shooter all the way through to the end...no joy.
It also tried to convince me that the drivers are fine.

Any ideas, other than to junk it? I don't want to waste the ink
cartridges, so worst case I'll use all the colored ink first, but
I have almost a full cartridge of black (Yes, took it out and put
it back in...also doesn't show on a printing test)

T.I.A.

Sylvia

Have you tried setting the color mode to gray scale and black only? (My
HP 8250 has these color modes.)
Have you tried using another black cartridge?

Mort Linder

 

[Sylvia M]

Have you tried setting the color mode to gray scale and black only?
(My HP 8250 has these color modes.)
Have you tried using another black cartridge?

Mort Linder

Had tried gray shades only.
I finally broke down and replaced the black Xtra Large cartridge, which
showed in diagram as 1/2 full...YES! Printer liked that much better!
I think I'll bring the 1/2 full cartridge back...hmmm, I bought it in a
3 pack at Costco. This new one was the last of the 3 ... I wonder how
that will work out...I'll post back and let it be known.

Thanks all for your suggestions,...any one of them might have solved the
problem.

Sylvia

 

[Sylvia M]

Great, Sylvia.

If money is an issue and the printer is out of warranty, you can
probably refill the black cartridges yourself. It's pretty easy. On
the other hand, if your color comes from a single cartridge holding
all three ink colors, refilling these can be very difficult and messy
(in my own experience), best left to the industrial people.

I don't mind buying cartridges, I expect to now and then. I just don't
like wasting half a cartridge. My HP printer is an ink guzzler...It
often decides to 'clean' itself, and I see the five (count them, 5)
cartridges go down incrementally every time it does. Then it turns
itself off now and then...recleaning when I manage to get it back on.
No Problem, though...I just want to use all of the ink in it before I
replace it.
A Brother J870 is sitting here, just waiting (Pleeeeze, no negatives
about my new brother

Sylvia