Printer colors

[Guest]

Both my Deskjet 810C and my Dell A920 have gone to printing only red for
graphics. Documents are still OK. I dumped the drivers and reloaded with no
change. Dell (Dimension 8300) says it's a software problem. It's the same
if I print from Adobe Photoshop, Canon Zoom Browser or Wordpad. System 1
year old, did not have problem until now.

 

[Heirloom]

What happens when you print a "Test" page from the printer's software??
Heirloom, old and both mine work

 

[Guest]

Ran test page for both printers and both print OK except the little "Windows"
graphic is all red.

 

[Heirloom]

Re: your test page........does it have a "color bar" where all the ink
colors are printed? If so, did that portion print correctly?
Do both printers utilize a single color cartridge? Have you tried running
the print head cleaner on each? Has it been an extended period since the
printers have been used? Sorry for so many questions in return.....just
need to know if the other colors are printing (i.e. colored text) and the
problem is just with graphics. Will a photo, i.e. .jpg, .bmp, .tiff, print
in correct colors?
If you are getting the correct colors on some items, see if you can
determine the particular file type that is printing only in red.
(i.e. only .bmp files are all red).
Heirloom, old and too late to think hard

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Ran test page for both printers and both print OK except the little
"Windows" graphic is all red.

Try the printer's test page..
Usually done by turning off the printer, turning it on and holding down the
ONLINE button at the same time.

If that one is printing red for colors - printer is fubar.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Ensure you uninstall and reinstall correctly.
http://www.coribright.com/windows/Article One.htm

 

[Guest]

Yes to color bar but only red and black print. I've also used the Dell
procedure for cleaning the cartridge nozzles, red and black only showed. On
the HP installed a new cartridge even though it had ink. On the Dell, I
scanned a picture and it also printed red. Thought that was odd but if the
info is processed by the computer, I guess it would make sense. Both
printers only have one color cartridge. I bought a HP8250 (multiple
cartridge) so I can still print photos. Have not hooked it to computer as of
yet. As for other printers no matter what the source of the color material
it just won't work.

 

[Guest]

Test pages are in black and red only but both printers started this problem
at the same time. Tend to believe it is more than just the printer.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Ran test page for both printers and both print OK except the little
"Windows" graphic is all red.

Try the printer's test page..
Usually done by turning off the printer, turning it on and holding
down the ONLINE button at the same time.

If that one is printing red for colors - printer is fubar.

Test pages are in black and red only but both printers started this
problem at the same time. Tend to believe it is more than just the
printer.

I'd love to agree with you, but I cannot.

If you have disconnected them from the computer(s) and printed the pure
"Printer Only" test page (meaning the one used to demonstrate the printers
capabilities - not the one through Windows) and it comes out only in Red and
Black - then Windows - at least for that - is out of the picture.. It is a
hardware thing.. out of other toner, out of that particular color, etc.

Not saying that perhaps Windows didn't send something that fried the
printers ability to print in other colors - but I find it highly unlikely
that it would send a signal of some sort that only has the effect of not
allowing these two different printers to print anything but red and black.

It is far more likely that you use these printers in about the same capacity
and the toner for each of them (in certain colors) ran out at similar times.

Your other test - hook it to another machine - if it does it there - you
have taken your machine (although you did this with the pur printer test
page) out of the picture as well.

 

[Guest]

First I removed the printer and then the driver. Later I used the dell
procedure to uninstall all the drivers and reloaded from internet. Still no
change. Could the problem be in the graphics card?

 

[Heirloom]

If your monitor is displaying the correct colors, then no, it is not the
video card. If the printer still fails the color test when disconnected
from the computer (running a test page), that rules out anything to do with
the computer. Don't see how this could make any difference, but, how do
you have the printers hooked to the computer? If they are sharing a USB
hub, disconnect and connect one printer to the computer, retest.
This one has me baffled.....I am real interested in the cause when you find
it. My searches on the Net have rendered nothing even similar.
Heirloom, old and seeing red