Printer Won't Print In Red

I have an HP deskjet printer. According to the HP software on my PC the colour ink cartridge is almost full. However, when I print what should be [bright] red comes out yellowy-orange. Could the HP software be wrong. It was right about my black ink cartridge - showing it empty, and black wouldn't print and now it's been replaced showing as full.

I don't print in colour that often but wouldn't expect the ink to dry up. Anyway, other colours are printing OK. I've followed one piece of advice, which was remove the cartridge, shake it and put it back. That hasn't helped. I've also done everything I can with the HP software to ensure the cartridges are correctly aligned and that they are clean.

Is there anything else I could do to diagnose and resolve this problem or is my only solution to replace the colour cartridge?

 

Does that model have separate print heads?
I bought a "business class" HP inkjet printer - it had separate ink and print heads, it was always an issue. Print heads were warranted for 1 year and they always failed earlier & the support refused to replace them. IMO if you're not printing frequently, go with laser. A bit more expensive, a LOT less headache. The last inkjet was an Epson that I could print CDs on if that tells you anything.

 

I do not know. How could I find out? The printer is HP Deskjet 2050 J510.

 

Your printer specification is: Printer Specifications for HP Deskjet 1050, 2050, 2060 Printers | HP® Customer Support
This shows that you have 2 cartridges, one black and the other tricolour (3 colours in one).

You can test your printer cartridges by: HP Deskjet 1050, 1050A, 2050, and 2050A, and Deskjet Ink Advantage 2060 All-in-One Printer Series - Printing a Self-Test Report | HP® Customer Support

You can replace cartridges by: HP Deskjet 1050, 1050A, 2050, and 2050A, and Deskjet Ink Advantage 2060 All-in-One Printer Series - Replacing the Cartridges | HP® Customer Support

Also, check you have the latest software: HP Deskjet 2050 All-in-One Printer series - J510 Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support

 

Go here https://support.hp.com/us-en/produc...-all-in-one-printer-series-j510/model/4027468
watch the video and see if you have a printhead latch. I suspect you do not and the print heads are on the cartridges. A Deskjet is more a home printer than a business grade printer.

Certain colors are used quicker than others. When my color cartridge is getting low, my prints turn to more blue green than red.

 

Thank you Maxwell and plodr. I'm going to work through your solutions but most likely tomorrow.

@Maxwell When I last updated HP printer software the new software was not as good as the old. I managed to get the old back and am staying with it. For example, with the new software I lost the scanner function. Can you please advise how the latest software would resolve this problem? I have absolutely no idea how it could that is why I am asking.

@plodr the Deskjet in question is in my house and for home use. I have access to far better quality printers at work.

 

"the new software I lost the scanner function. Can you please advise how the latest software would resolve this problem?"​

At HP Deskjet 2050 All-in-One Printer series - J510 Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support there is a "HP Print and Scan Doctor for Windows" use this utility to diagnose and restore issues with the scanner.

Also, you don't necessarily need the "HP Deskjet 2050/2050A All-in-One Printer series - J510 Full Feature Software and Driver", you can just use the latest driver listed as "HP Deskjet 2050/2050A All-in-One Printer series - J510 Basic Driver" on the same page.

 

Is the cartridge an original HP or 3rd party? While I abhor the outrageous prices printer makers charge for their original cartridges, I have seen print problems clear up just by replacing 3rd party cartridges with original.

On my own 8 year old HP, yellow seems to be problematic, giving me a variety of problems over the years. I usually use LD Products 3rd party inks with no problems. But occasionally, yellow will give an error. It may say faulty or missing cartridge. Or report it is out of ink when I can see through the clear cartridge plenty of ink left.

Sometimes cleaning the print heads works. Sometimes removing and reinserting the yellow cartridge works. Sometimes replacing the LD Products yellow cartridge with another LD Products yellow works. But I think twice now, nothing worked except replacing it with a genuine HP yellow. Then not only did everything work fine, but when the HP ran out, replacing it with a LD Products yellow again and everything still worked fine - for a year or two.

The typical recommendation is to print something (anything!) with full color once a week just to keep everything working properly. So if you often go a long time without printing in color, get into the habit of printing something in color once a week.

 

I do use genuine HP cartridges. The prices that HP charge and most retailers are exorbitant. However, I get them for a reasonable price from a supermarket.