Tell me more ×
Super User is a question and answer site for computer enthusiasts and power users. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite

My HP photosmart D6160 printer is not printing black, all I get is a blank page! Colour prints are fine which is strange is I would have thought it would need black to create the colour mixes.

I have replaced the black cartridge with a new one and used all the HP cleaning tools. OS is Windows XP 32bit and I've tried printing from Firefox (in black only mode) and a simple black only document Word with the same result (a blank page).

share|improve this question

1 Answer

up vote 1 down vote

Unlikely as printers can usually detect this, but logic might suggest that the nozzle is blocked. How about putting a non-black colour in the black cartidge socket? See what happens- that could help to troubleshoot the issue. Although a lot of black cartidges are larger so it might not work.

What about colour alignment adjustments- are they possible? Maybe the print head got bashed out of place.

share|improve this answer
Thanks for the suggestion. After looking inside the printer I can see no sign of a blockage or other obstrution. I think it may be a software problem, if I print in "black only" mode I get a blank page but if I print a colour document with black areas (so that it must use the black cartridge for these) then the print is fine, with both colour and black parts printed perfectly. What kind of sotware problem it is I just don't know...!? – McBainUK Dec 20 '09 at 16:09
Weird. So, if there is any colour on the doc then the black prints fine? Could you create a header or footer (a small colour icon or text) so that there is always a colour section on your prints? Then it might print fine everytime. Not a fix, but maybe a workaround... – outsideblasts Dec 21 '09 at 6:22
"Weird. So, if there is any colour on the doc then the black prints fine?" Yes. And even more weird it seems to have fixed itself - can now print all type of documents, black and colour! – McBainUK Dec 22 '09 at 11:11
Ha Ha! Did you end up just giving it a good kick? Glad it works, sorry that we'll never know why..? – outsideblasts Dec 22 '09 at 17:28

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.