OfficeJet Pro 8600 Plus - N911g - refuses to print with an exhausted cartridge (yellow)

Question

Hi,
I owned this printer some months ago, and I have already substituted the black cartridge some times ago.
In fact, I usually use the b&w option to print my documents, and I use very little to no colors, instead.
Before deciding to buy this printer I had read the printer guide, which reports (translated from Italian):
[Printing with one or more cartridges exhausted]
The printer can work with one or more cartridges exhausted. However, printing with exhausted cartridges slows the printing process down and lowers the quality of the documents printed. If the black cartridge is exhausted, blacks are not going to be really dark. If a color cartridge is exhausted, the result is in the grey scale. As soon as possible, replace the exhausted cartridge. Don't remove the exhausted cartridge before you can replace it with a new one. [...]
(screenshot attached)
The downloadable user-guide reports (no translation):
[Color cartridge very low on ink]
To temporarily print using black ink only, click Cancel Print and then re-send the print job. The
Use black ink only? message appears before the job prints. The empty cartridges will need to be
replaced soon.
(screenshot attached)
So, when I decided to go for this printer, knowing I substantially use black only for my studies and my work, I did take care of reading the entire printer guide and look for these specific official declarations by HP on the printer functionalities.
Additionally, I took care of disabling any HP protection and pages control on the cartridges before installing them, using the printer menu.
Today, instead, I've found out the printer won't print with an exhausted yellow cartridge. This is what the message window says (translated freely, again, from Italian):
[Exhausted cartridge]
HP 951 SETUP Yellow
Replace the cartridges in the list to be able to print.
HP advises not to remove the cartridge until you have a replacement one ready for installation.
Buttons are: [Buy online...] [Cancel printing] [?]
(screenshot attached)
[?] leds to the words I've reported earlier.
I still have the "print just with the black cartridge" option enabled.
I tried cancelling the print and sending the print job again multiple times, as it is described in the guide, but no "Use black ink only?" message appears.
Before invoking and thinking to the "fraud", I ask, how am I going to be able to print, then?

Answer 1

The manual indicates the printer can temporarily use black only once a color cartridge is low.  Once the cartridge is depleted it will need to be replaced, otherwise damage to the printed may occur.
HP and other printer manufacturers have different printer technologies for different needs.  
Some have printheads built into the ink cartridges.  These printers can typically print with one or more of the colors completely empty, or even with color or black (but not both) cartridges removed. The Deskjet 6980 series is an example. 
Other printers have separate ink supplies and replaceable printheads.  An example would be the Officejet 8600. The printhead in these printers can be replaced if they are damaged by running the printhead with colors out.  Some of these printers will allow printing with a color out, other will not.  If the printer is run without ink in one or more colors the printer may be damaged, but the user may be able to recover without having to send the printer for service.
Other printers have permanent printheads.  To run these without some ink in all the colors would risk causing damage to the printhead due to clogs, air ingested in the printheadvor burned out printhead firing resistors. The Photosmart 3310 series is an example of this type of printer. For printers with fixed printheads this could require service to get the printer to print properly again when the ink is finally replaced.  
The document here describes how ink is used.  While the document is written for HP Inkjet printers the same principles apply to inkjet printers from other manufacturers.
Bob Headrick,  HP Expert
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