Printer issue

[SonOfCrusader76]

It's a Lexmark X5250. I've had an empty colour cartridge for ages, as I hardly bother printing in colour, but the printer's been printing fine using just the black cartridge. Now, it keeps throwing up a message about a missing colour cartridge (even though the cartridge is still installed). I tell it to print anyway, and it prints the page but misses out a load of what was on the screen. Does that sound like a printer that's gone wrong to you - if so, I'll just get a new one because I've had this one for ages.

I've tried reinstalling the cartridges and so on, didn't work.

[PoleCat]

It's a Lexmark X5250. I've had an empty colour cartridge for ages, as I hardly bother printing in colour, but the printer's been printing fine using just the black cartridge. Now, it keeps throwing up a message about a missing colour cartridge (even though the cartridge is still installed). I tell it to print anyway, and it prints the page but misses out a load of what was on the screen. Does that sound like a printer that's gone wrong to you - if so, I'll just get a new one because I've had this one for ages.

I've tried reinstalling the cartridges and so on, didn't work.

I'll make an educated guess on this one but please note that I'm an idiot and I don't know what I'm doing....

I had to look up your printer to be sure of the technology it uses for printing - it's a thermal inkjet printer. Look above for my emphasis.

I think what the problem here is is that you've left an old cartridge in for too long and completely exhausted it. I'm not sure but I'm guessing that this setup requires a constant flow of ink to the printer head or too much air could be introduced into the system. Think of a carburetor - if you run out of gas on an old car you need to prime it again. Maybe that's what going on here? In that case I can see how even swapping out the cartridge wouldn't solve the problem as your priming the line - maybe a second cartridge will save the day?

I doubt the printer is dead (but I'll admit it's a possibility). In any case that printer is ancient. If you have the cash then fork over for a new one. If not I would think you could still get some life out of it with some TLC. Good luck!