HP693c No Color!

[Dave M.]

I have an HP693c color printer. When I try to print a color image, I get
black and white. If I install the Photo quality cartridge where the
black cartridge normally goes, nothing at all is printed. I was told the
cartridges that I have are old and dried out. But, I find it hard to
believe that I would get no color at all from both of them all of a
sudden..

Does anyone have experience with this printer or can advise otherwise?

Thanks,

Dave M.

[Sisyphus]

How often do you use the colours? I have drying out problems with my HP
DeskJet 710C if I don't use them for a week or so, and they probably dry out
quicker in hot weather. They can usually be freed up by putting some
boiling water in a dish and dipping the cartridge heads in for about 10 secs
2 or 3 times. Another thing I found out about my printer is that there is a
difference between turning it off with the on/off switch and turning it off
at the mains. You are supposed to use the on/off switch, then it does
something to help stop the cartridges drying out.

So, to conclude:
1. Use the colours every few days to keep them flowing.
2. If dried out, dip in boiling water.
3. Turn off with on/off switch but not at mains.
Hope this helps.

Dave M. <gad...@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:37B8EE25...@frontiernet.net...

[Dave M.]

Thanks! All it takes is a trade secret or two! Actually, I brought the printer
to an OFFICE MAX store where they let me try one of the cartridges from a
similar HP printer. It worked. So, I then new my printer was good and there was
no risk buying a $30.00 cartridge.

The printer was left standing for months. So, that explains the dry cartridges.
I can't wait to try your boiling water remedy on my photo cartridge (it's
missing blue in the image and I know it is not out of ink).

Yes, in the HP help section, it states that if you turn off the printer at the
mains while printing you will shorten the life of the cartridges.

Thanks again,

Dave M.