Ink levels and Test Page on 3-in-1 printer

[Joe Busuttil]

Can anyone please tell me how to check ink levels on my 3-in-1 printer?
It is an hp model 1050 series and I am using Windows 8.

When I was still on Windows XP I had no trouble with this operation which
I carried out as follows:-

1. I went to ALL PROGRAMS and chose HP.
2. I clicked on this wording (i.e. HP) to get a small dropdown menu where I chose the name of my printer.
3. I then right-clicked on the printer's name to get a dialogue box where I chose the wording ESTIMATED INK LEVELS.

I know that in Windows 8 ALL PROGRAMS has been changed to ALL APPS but why cannot I use the above method? I can never reach the page containing the wording ESTIMATED INK LEVELS.

I am using brand new original ink cartridges.

Test Page: Have obtained a good test page but why is it unlike the previous ones I used to get? The present one is all in black, no colours at all, and it says that I have QUOTE correctly installed HP Deskjet 1050
J410 series Class Driver on ACER-NOTEBOOK. UNQUOTE
Is this because I have just changed my old computer to a new laptop, an ACER model which I had never used before?


Please help as i am greatly frustrated from persistent but useless efforts to solve these problems.

Many thanks for helping an oldage pensioner.

Joe

[birdy]

Hi Joe,

Maybe, in this case, you might be better off visiting the HP help forum... they might have the info that you need.

Click on the blue link here: Printers and All-In-Ones - HP Support Forum & then choose the sub forum that you want to post your question in from the list.

[Joe Busuttil]

Thks for prompt reply but hp forums consist of thousands of replies to questions which I cannot possibly go through one by one ! Moreover, it is useless entering my problem in the searchbox as I get no response from hp. Really frustrating! No fault of yours, of course. I thank you once more. JOE

[Lord of the Rings]

One possible solution.

Go to Apps or Search with Apps selected. Find HP and click on it so a tick shows. At bottom of screen you will see options appear. One will be 'Open file location' and click on this. This should open the folder the HP software is in. Now you can find the HP utilities and make a shortcut to it by using the Send To option when you right-click the utilities program or whatever it might be called.

As for the test page, did you make sure you selected to print in color? If you select Print -> Print and click on Preferences, then Paper/Quality tab. This page will give you the option of color or black/white. Note: there is also an 'Advanced' option in this preferences window.

I notice Windows 8 comes with built-in support for HP media type (paper type) for the Media selection tab.

[Joe Busuttil]

Many thks for yr unstinted help. Your reply helped me a lot. Sorry I did not answer earlier as this blessed new laptop and Windows 8 are driving me nuts. At my age (old, or rather a senior citizen, if you prefer, because it would appear that "senior citizen" is more dignified than "an old man"...... ) it is difficult to learn new tricks, as the saying goes...
My thanks, as always.
Joe