HP deskjet d1660 - "grayscale mode" & black cartridge not working

[eskararriba]

hi,

I just bought an HP deskjet d1660 inkjet printer; after installing it using the HPlip-version 3.9.8., which comes with ubuntu 9.10, the printer wouldn't print in grayscale mode - and everything that should be black is printed somewhat brown (and really bad quality); I installed the latest HPlip version (3.9.10), but the printer wouldn't work at all. now I'm back to version 3.9.8., but the problem remains: the printer doesn't use the black cartridge.

the outcome of the "dpkg -l hplip" command is:

Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
| Status=Not/Inst/Cfg-files/Unpacked/Failed-cfg/Half-inst/trig-aWait/Trig-pend
|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name Version Description
+++-==============-==============-============================================
ii hplip 3.9.8-1ubuntu2 HP Linux Printing and Imaging System (HPLIP)

does anyone have any idea how to fix this?
thanks

[eskararriba]

and again: here comes the output of the "hp-check"-command - hope it helps:


eskararriba@parker:~$ hp-check

HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.9.10)
Dependency/Version Check Utility ver. 14.3

Copyright (c) 2001-9 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

Note: hp-check can be run in three modes:
1. Compile-time check mode (-c or --compile): Use this mode before compiling the
HPLIP supplied tarball (.tar.gz or .run) to determine if the proper dependencies
are installed to successfully compile HPLIP.
2. Run-time check mode (-r or --run): Use this mode to determine if a distro
supplied package (.deb, .rpm, etc) or an already built HPLIP supplied tarball
has the proper dependencies installed to successfully run.
3. Both compile- and run-time check mode (-b or --both) (Default): This mode
will check both of the above cases (both compile- and run-time dependencies).

Saving output in log file: hp-check.log

Initializing. Please wait...

---------------
| SYSTEM INFO |
---------------

Basic system information:
Linux parker 2.6.31-14-generic #48-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 16 14:04:26 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

Distribution:
ubuntu 9.10

Checking Python version...
OK, version 2.6.4 installed

Checking PyQt 4.x version...
OK, version 4.6 installed.

Checking for CUPS...
Status: scheduler is running
Version: 1.4.1
error_log is set to level: warn

Checking for dbus/python-dbus...
dbus daemon is running.
python-dbus version: 0.83.0


------------------------------------
| COMPILE AND RUNTIME DEPENDENCIES |
------------------------------------

note: To check for compile-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -c parameter (ie, hp-check -c).
note: To check for run-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -r parameter (ie, hp-check -r).

Checking for dependency: CUPS - Common Unix Printing System...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: CUPS DDK - CUPS driver development kit...
warning: NOT FOUND! This is an OPTIONAL/RUNTIME ONLY dependency. Some HPLIP functionality may not function properly.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
sudo aptitude install --assume-yes cupsddk cupsddk-drivers

Checking for dependency: CUPS devel- Common Unix Printing System development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: CUPS image - CUPS image development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: DBus - Message bus system...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: gcc - GNU Project C and C++ Compiler...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: GhostScript - PostScript and PDF language interpreter and previewer...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libcrypto - OpenSSL cryptographic library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libjpeg - JPEG library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libnetsnmp-devel - SNMP networking library development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libpthread - POSIX threads library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libtool - Library building support services...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libusb - USB library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: make - GNU make utility to maintain groups of programs...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: PIL - Python Imaging Library (required for commandline scanning with hp-scan)...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: PolicyKit - Administrative policy framework...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: PyQt 4 DBus - DBus Support for PyQt4...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python DBus - Python bindings for DBus...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python devel - Python development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python libnotify - Python bindings for the libnotify Desktop notifications...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python XML libraries...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python 2.3 or greater - Required for fax functionality...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python 2.2 or greater - Python programming language...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Reportlab - PDF library for Python...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: SANE - Scanning library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: SANE - Scanning library development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: scanimage - Shell scanning program...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: xsane - Graphical scanner frontend for SANE...
OK, found.


----------------------
| HPLIP INSTALLATION |
----------------------


Currently installed HPLIP version...
HPLIP 3.9.10 currently installed in '/usr/share/hplip'.

Current contents of '/etc/hp/hplip.conf' file:
# hplip.conf. Generated from hplip.conf.in by configure.

[hplip]
version=3.9.10

[dirs]
home=/usr/share/hplip
run=/var/run
ppd=/usr/share/ppd/hplip/HP
ppdbase=/usr/share/ppd/hplip
doc=/usr/share/doc/hplip-3.9.10
icon=/usr/share/applications
cupsbackend=/usr/lib/cups/backend
cupsfilter=/usr/lib/cups/filter
drv=/usr/share/cups/drv/hp

# Following values are determined at configure time and cannot be changed.
[configure]
network-build=yes
pp-build=no
gui-build=yes
scanner-build=yes
fax-build=yes
dbus-build=yes
cups11-build=no
doc-build=yes
shadow-build=no
hpijs-install=no
foomatic-drv-install=no
foomatic-ppd-install=no
foomatic-rip-hplip-install=no
hpcups-install=yes
cups-drv-install=yes
cups-ppd-install=no
internal-tag=3.9.10.68
restricted-build=no
ui-toolkit=qt4
qt3=no
qt4=yes
policy-kit=yes
hpijs-only-build=no
lite-build=no
udev-acl-rules=yes
hpcups-only-build=no
hpijs-only-build=no


Current contents of '/var/lib/hp/hplip.state' file:
# hplip.state - HPLIP runtime persistent variables.

[plugin]
installed=0
eula=0



Current contents of '~/.hplip/hplip.conf' file:
[last_used]
printer_name = HP-Deskjet-D1600-series
working_dir = .
device_uri = hp:/usb/Deskjet_D1600_series?serial=CN999391CQ05CT

[commands]
scan = /usr/bin/xsane -V %SANE_URI%

[installation]
version = 3.9.10.68
date_time = 11/05/2009 22:19:00

[settings]
systray_messages = 0
systray_visible = 1

[fax]
email_address =
voice_phone =

[refresh]
rate = 30
enable = false
type = 1

[polling]
enable = false
device_list =
interval = 5



--------------------------
| DISCOVERED USB DEVICES |
--------------------------

Device URI Model
-------------------------------- -----------------------
hp:/usb/Deskjet_D1600_series?ser HP Deskjet D1600 series
ial=CN999391CQ05CT

---------------------------------
| INSTALLED CUPS PRINTER QUEUES |
---------------------------------


1.1-root-hub
------------
Type: Unknown
Device URI: usb://Linux%20Foundation/1.1%20root%20hub?serial=0000:00:02.0
PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/1.1-root-hub.ppd
PPD Description: Generic text-only printer
Printer status: printer 1.1-root-hub disabled since Tue 26 May 2009 08:36:17 PM CDT - Unplugged or turned off
warning: Printer is not HPLIP installed. Printers must use the hp: or hpfax: CUPS backend to function in HPLIP.

HP-Deskjet-D1600-series
-----------------------
Type: Printer
Device URI: hp:/usb/Deskjet_D1600_series?serial=CN999391CQ05CT
PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/HP-Deskjet-D1600-series.ppd
PPD Description: HP Deskjet d1600 Series hpijs, 3.9.8
Printer status: printer HP-Deskjet-D1600-series is idle. enabled since Thu 05 Nov 2009 10:07:43 PM CST
Communication status: Good

Stylus-CX3700
-------------
Type: Unknown
Device URI: usb://EPSON/Stylus%20CX3700
PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/Stylus-CX3700.ppd
PPD Description: Epson Stylus CX3700 - CUPS+Gutenprint v5.2.4
Printer status: printer Stylus-CX3700 disabled since Wed 21 Oct 2009 10:15:14 AM CDT - Unplugged or turned off
warning: Printer is not HPLIP installed. Printers must use the hp: or hpfax: CUPS backend to function in HPLIP.


----------------------
| SANE CONFIGURATION |
----------------------

'hpaio' in '/etc/sane.d/dll.conf'...
OK, found. SANE backend 'hpaio' is properly set up.

Checking output of 'scanimage -L'...
device `v4l:/dev/video0' is a Noname HP Webcam virtual device


---------------------
| PYTHON EXTENSIONS |
---------------------

Checking 'cupsext' CUPS extension...
OK, found.

Checking 'pcardext' Photocard extension...
OK, found.

Checking 'hpmudext' I/O extension...
OK, found.

Checking 'scanext' SANE scanning extension...
OK, found.



-----------------
| USB I/O SETUP |
-----------------

Checking for permissions of USB attached printers...

HP Device 0x7f11 at 001:006:
Device URI: hp:/usb/Deskjet_D1600_series?serial=CN999391CQ05CT
Device node: /dev/bus/usb/001/006
Mode: 0660

---------------
| USER GROUPS |
---------------

eskararriba adm dialout cdrom plugdev lpadmin admin sambashare


-----------
| SUMMARY |
-----------

error: 3 errors and/or warnings.

Summary of needed commands to run to satisfy missing dependencies:
sudo aptitude install --assume-yes cupsddk cupsddk-drivers

Please refer to the installation instructions at:
http://hplip.sourceforge.net/install/index.html


Done.
eskararriba@parker:~$

[eskararriba]

update: as you can see, the "dpkg"-command states:

ii hplip 3.9.8-1ubuntu2 HP Linux Printing and Imaging System (HPLIP)

while the hp-check command says:

Currently installed HPLIP version...
HPLIP 3.9.10 currently installed in '/usr/share/hplip'.

- I figured that I'd better completely remove HPLIP, and then re-installed the 3.9.10-version from the hp-website. the outcome of the "dpkg -l hplip"-command goes like this now:

Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
| Status=Not/Inst/Cfg-files/Unpacked/Failed-cfg/Half-inst/trig-aWait/Trig-pend
|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name Version Description
+++-==============-==============-============================================
un hplip <none> (no description available)


- the output of the "hp-check" command is:


HP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.9.10)
Dependency/Version Check Utility ver. 14.3

Copyright (c) 2001-9 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP
This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.

Note: hp-check can be run in three modes:
1. Compile-time check mode (-c or --compile): Use this mode before compiling the
HPLIP supplied tarball (.tar.gz or .run) to determine if the proper dependencies
are installed to successfully compile HPLIP.
2. Run-time check mode (-r or --run): Use this mode to determine if a distro
supplied package (.deb, .rpm, etc) or an already built HPLIP supplied tarball
has the proper dependencies installed to successfully run.
3. Both compile- and run-time check mode (-b or --both) (Default): This mode
will check both of the above cases (both compile- and run-time dependencies).

Saving output in log file: hp-check.log

Initializing. Please wait...

---------------
| SYSTEM INFO |
---------------

Basic system information:
Linux parker 2.6.31-14-generic #48-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 16 14:04:26 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

Distribution:
ubuntu 9.10

Checking Python version...
OK, version 2.6.4 installed

Checking PyQt 4.x version...
OK, version 4.6 installed.

Checking for CUPS...
Status: scheduler is running
Version: 1.4.1
error_log is set to level: warn

Checking for dbus/python-dbus...
dbus daemon is running.
python-dbus version: 0.83.0


------------------------------------
| COMPILE AND RUNTIME DEPENDENCIES |
------------------------------------

note: To check for compile-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -c parameter (ie, hp-check -c).
note: To check for run-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -r parameter (ie, hp-check -r).

Checking for dependency: CUPS - Common Unix Printing System...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: CUPS DDK - CUPS driver development kit...
warning: NOT FOUND! This is an OPTIONAL/RUNTIME ONLY dependency. Some HPLIP functionality may not function properly.
To install this dependency, execute this command:
sudo aptitude install --assume-yes cupsddk cupsddk-drivers

Checking for dependency: CUPS devel- Common Unix Printing System development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: CUPS image - CUPS image development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: DBus - Message bus system...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: gcc - GNU Project C and C++ Compiler...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: GhostScript - PostScript and PDF language interpreter and previewer...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libcrypto - OpenSSL cryptographic library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libjpeg - JPEG library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libnetsnmp-devel - SNMP networking library development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libpthread - POSIX threads library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libtool - Library building support services...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: libusb - USB library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: make - GNU make utility to maintain groups of programs...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: PIL - Python Imaging Library (required for commandline scanning with hp-scan)...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: PolicyKit - Administrative policy framework...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: PyQt 4 DBus - DBus Support for PyQt4...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python DBus - Python bindings for DBus...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python devel - Python development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python libnotify - Python bindings for the libnotify Desktop notifications...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python XML libraries...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python 2.3 or greater - Required for fax functionality...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Python 2.2 or greater - Python programming language...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: Reportlab - PDF library for Python...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: SANE - Scanning library...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: SANE - Scanning library development files...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: scanimage - Shell scanning program...
OK, found.

Checking for dependency: xsane - Graphical scanner frontend for SANE...
OK, found.


----------------------
| HPLIP INSTALLATION |
----------------------


Currently installed HPLIP version...
HPLIP 3.9.10 currently installed in '/usr/share/hplip'.

Current contents of '/etc/hp/hplip.conf' file:
# hplip.conf. Generated from hplip.conf.in by configure.

[hplip]
version=3.9.10

[dirs]
home=/usr/share/hplip
run=/var/run
ppd=/usr/share/ppd/HP
ppdbase=/usr/share/ppd
doc=/usr/share/doc/hplip-3.9.10
icon=/usr/share/applications
cupsbackend=/usr/lib/cups/backend
cupsfilter=/usr/lib/cups/filter
drv=/usr/share/cups/drv/hp

# Following values are determined at configure time and cannot be changed.
[configure]
network-build=yes
pp-build=no
gui-build=yes
scanner-build=yes
fax-build=yes
dbus-build=yes
cups11-build=no
doc-build=yes
shadow-build=no
hpijs-install=no
foomatic-drv-install=no
foomatic-ppd-install=no
foomatic-rip-hplip-install=no
hpcups-install=yes
cups-drv-install=yes
cups-ppd-install=no
internal-tag=3.9.10.72
restricted-build=no
ui-toolkit=qt4
qt3=no
qt4=yes
policy-kit=yes
hpijs-only-build=no
lite-build=no
udev-acl-rules=yes
hpcups-only-build=no
hpijs-only-build=no


Current contents of '/var/lib/hp/hplip.state' file:
# hplip.state - HPLIP runtime persistent variables.

[plugin]
installed=0
eula=0



Current contents of '~/.hplip/hplip.conf' file:
[last_used]
printer_name = HP-Deskjet-D1600-series
working_dir = .
device_uri = hp:/usb/Deskjet_D1600_series?serial=CN999391CQ05CT

[commands]
scan = /usr/bin/xsane -V %SANE_URI%

[installation]
version = 3.9.10.72
date_time = 11/07/2009 12:13:39

[settings]
systray_messages = 0
systray_visible = 1

[fax]
email_address =
voice_phone =

[refresh]
rate = 30
enable = false
type = 1

[polling]
enable = false
device_list =
interval = 5



--------------------------
| DISCOVERED USB DEVICES |
--------------------------

Device URI Model
-------------------------------- -----------------------
hp:/usb/Deskjet_D1600_series?ser HP Deskjet D1600 series
ial=CN999391CQ05CT

---------------------------------
| INSTALLED CUPS PRINTER QUEUES |
---------------------------------


1.1-root-hub
------------
Type: Unknown
Device URI: usb://Linux%20Foundation/1.1%20root%20hub?serial=0000:00:02.0
PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/1.1-root-hub.ppd
PPD Description: Generic text-only printer
Printer status: printer 1.1-root-hub disabled since Tue 26 May 2009 08:36:17 PM CDT - Unplugged or turned off
warning: Printer is not HPLIP installed. Printers must use the hp: or hpfax: CUPS backend to function in HPLIP.

Deskjet_D1600
-------------
Type: Printer
Device URI: hp:/usb/Deskjet_D1600_series?serial=CN999391CQ05CT
PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/Deskjet_D1600.ppd
PPD Description: HP Deskjet d1500 Series, hpcups 3.9.10
Printer status: printer Deskjet_D1600 is idle. enabled since Sat 07 Nov 2009 12:01:09 PM CST
Communication status: Good

HP-Deskjet-D1600-series
-----------------------
Type: Printer
Device URI: hp:/usb/Deskjet_D1600_series?serial=CN999391CQ05CT
PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/HP-Deskjet-D1600-series.ppd
PPD Description: HP Deskjet d1600 Series, hpcups 3.9.10
Printer status: printer HP-Deskjet-D1600-series is idle. enabled since Sat 07 Nov 2009 Processing page 2...
Communication status: Good

Stylus-CX3700
-------------
Type: Unknown
Device URI: usb://EPSON/Stylus%20CX3700
PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/Stylus-CX3700.ppd
PPD Description: Epson Stylus CX3700 - CUPS+Gutenprint v5.2.4
Printer status: printer Stylus-CX3700 disabled since Wed 21 Oct 2009 10:15:14 AM CDT - Unplugged or turned off
warning: Printer is not HPLIP installed. Printers must use the hp: or hpfax: CUPS backend to function in HPLIP.


----------------------
| SANE CONFIGURATION |
----------------------

'hpaio' in '/etc/sane.d/dll.conf'...
OK, found. SANE backend 'hpaio' is properly set up.

Checking output of 'scanimage -L'...
device `v4l:/dev/video0' is a Noname HP Webcam virtual device


---------------------
| PYTHON EXTENSIONS |
---------------------

Checking 'cupsext' CUPS extension...
OK, found.

Checking 'pcardext' Photocard extension...
OK, found.

Checking 'hpmudext' I/O extension...
OK, found.

Checking 'scanext' SANE scanning extension...
OK, found.



-----------------
| USB I/O SETUP |
-----------------

Checking for permissions of USB attached printers...

HP Device 0x7f11 at 001:003:
Device URI: hp:/usb/Deskjet_D1600_series?serial=CN999391CQ05CT
Device node: /dev/bus/usb/001/003
Mode: 0660

---------------
| USER GROUPS |
---------------

eskararriba adm dialout cdrom plugdev lpadmin admin sambashare


-----------
| SUMMARY |
-----------

error: 3 errors and/or warnings.

Summary of needed commands to run to satisfy missing dependencies:
sudo aptitude install --assume-yes cupsddk cupsddk-drivers

Please refer to the installation instructions at:
http://hplip.sourceforge.net/install/index.html


Done.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I tried to run sudo aptitude install --assume-yes cupsddk cupsddk-drivers, but nothing would happen:

eskararriba@parker:~$ sudo aptitude install --assume-yes cupsddk cupsddk-drivers
[sudo] password for eskararriba:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
Writing extended state information... Done
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done

any ideas?

[metalqga]

Same prob here (in debian lenny). I've been trying to modify the HP_Deskjet_D1600.ppd but no luck. The printer doesn't respond at all when set to print in grayscale!

[sefsinalas]

I have the same problem...i cant print with the black cartridge...someone help me please!

[Butthead]

Anybody had any luck getting the HP DJ D1660 working correctly in Linux yet?

I wish my DJ 540C still worked.