Why lexmark printer wont black and white only anymore

[chucklandry]

My lexmark x5650 once printed black and white only. Printer woud ask to skip the color. Why doesn't ask to skip anymore? It demands a color cartridge now. Also, I have not tried to use this printer within the last year. Has anything changed at lexmark since.

 

[phil22]

"I have not tried to use this printer within the last year"

That spells "bad news" for any inkjet printer because the ink dries up in the cartridges and/or the printhead, causing blockages in the nozzles. Before storing away a printer for long periods, the cartridges should be removed and individually sealed, or replaced with new ones when the printer is required again.

Additionally, before storing it away, the printhead should be removed, washed in warm, soapy water to remove the ink, then rinsed thoroughly, re-fitted and stored away.

Since you (presumably) didn't do that before storing it away, do it now and you might revive it.