How do I fix a failure to print using an HP Photosmart C 4780 printer.

Question

We purchased a HP Photosmart C4780 printer some years ago, but did not install it for a variety of reasons.  Recently unpacked it and installed software using enclosed cd.  The printer is connected to my 13-inch MacBook. When attempting to print, the paper goes through the printing process but comes out blank.  Yet the printing tests all come out fine.  Downloaded updated driver software from HP, but got same results.  My computer uses the Microsoft suite for MAC, but I don't know if that makes a difference.  Suggestions?

Answer 1

Was there instructions on how to set up the printer with a Mac included with the printer?
The 'easy setup guide' that used to come with HP printers and others, was adequate to
see if the included printer drivers were already in the computer. For much older printers
and OS X versions, the starting point once this was determined, was to see how old the
drivers included on disc media were; then look to printer-maker web site for later ones.
Did you attach the printer via USB cable, and turn it on, then power down the Mac, and
attach the cable to the computer, and restart the Mac? Variables of this idea, where the
printer is seen on startup if available to the system, are often successful.
Also some older printer are capable of being supported by wireless, via Bonjour printing.
And even older ones could be used via USB port in an Apple base station, as wireless.
You could check the printer setup assistant software in your computer (utilities?) and
see if the System Preference panel for Printing suggests it may actually be available
to print. Try basic stuff since an application not native to the system is not a basic test.
Everything that can be printed in the Mac, should be printable from the Finder, or in
any of the Print selection boxes in any open application.
Testing the setup printer by its simple tests, for the most part, does not require a computer.
You should be able to set up the printer and run tests from it, based on the printer software
it shipped with. And older stored computers may have dried-out ink cartridges. It may take
significant 'head-cleaning' routines at some point in the future, to enable those to work...
Not sure what you have tried, or how far you went, to begin at ground zero here.