printer ink levels

[destrekor]

Is there a way to determine ink levels using the print software? Normally, with HP printers, you would go into the Preferences for the printer, then go to Servicing, then could check ink levels in there (estimated, of course).
However, it appears, either because of Vista, or the way the drivers for the D7160 are set up... the only way is using the OSD of the printer itself. However, the display that pops up is:
here

The display has a low amount of colors compared to, say, a monitor. That presents an issue with me.. I'm color deficit. See the ink (cyan?) that is shown as a trapezoid (I love HP for using shapes btw!).. well on the display, mine looks just like that. To me, it appears all white. I cannot distinguish between the white and the cyan. So, I cannot tell on mine (or that link) if its full or half full or even near empty.. since the cyan looks the same as the background of the ink gauges. It must be the green in the cyan, because the blue I should be able to see. But then the problem of low numbers of colors in the display.

Anyhow.. can anybody help with finding a software solution? Or, am I going to have to simply wait for the printer to tell me the cyan ink is low and should be replaced soon? (I get a software reminder for that as well, however I'd like to know in advance)

edit: and just for clarification and help, what are the colors HP is using in this: I can recognize Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. That's CYMK. What's the other color? Or wait... is the triangle shape the cyan ink? Either way, the fact that there are 5 colors and a black ink confuse me, since CYMK is only 3 colors and ink. On the display itself, it's a little more vibrant than that screenshot, but to be honest... outside of the yellow and black, it's hard to tell precisely what color is what. They all seem to be varying degrees of red, with now that look again, the triangle seems to be the cyan ink, and the diamond and square look to be shades of red, with I'm thinking the square is magenta. So.. the diamond and trapezoid are what... if circle is yellow, triangle is cyan, and square is magenta.. ?
colors have always made be feel like I fail at life. Started in first grade with crayons. And then again in 4th when I got singled out for color failures.. and again in 7th grade art when they used freaking roseart colored pencils without color labels, and I apparently drew the skintone as mostly green when I thought I was getting close to a peachy shade.

edit:
to update the thread:
I updated to the latest full software/driver package, and I can view the printer ink levels now.

 

[mmc4587]

HMM... there website could be more helpfull.

So according to the link it looks like your Printer has 6Cartridges? (this sounds absurd though I admit printers are not my thing) How many are actually inside your printer and which ones are you using? (51black, 23photo, etc..)

as best as I can tell the colors are (from left to right):
black (pentagon),
yellow(circle),
white(trapezoid),
cyan(Triangle),
pink(rhombus),
magenta(square).

--I am not color blind, but the website is confusing even to me... whoever heard of a white ink cartridge?

I recently filled my a lexmark all-in-one photo printer and it didn't seem so confusing.
there were 2 cartridges, clearly marked and refilling them was a breeze (though messy).

Most of us (i think)have never ran into this problem. I can tell when i need a to refill just by looking at the printed images.

 

[Horsepower]

I am running Vista ultimate 64 bit with the most current HP siftware and my D7160 shows this whenever I print or right click digital imaging monitor and show status

 

[corkyg]

Horsepower has it spot on. The key is the TOOLBOX. That should be in your printer's utilities folder. His description is a shortcut that is put in by the D7160 installation.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Horsepower has it spot on. The key is the TOOLBOX. That should be in your printer's utilities folder. His description is a shortcut that is put in by the D7160 installation.

I do not ever see that toolbox pop up after printing (probably clicked on something for that to happen, or I have older drivers)... and where is this utilities folder? I looked in Printers in the Control Panel, and I looked in the Program Files folder for HP and nothing, just setup files.

Maybe I should update my HP software.
edit: I only have the driver installed. Currently downloading the full software and driver package (95mb!). Usually go driver-only in these cases to avoid bloat. I like maintaining a clean-running install.

Originally posted by: mmc4587
HMM... there website could be more helpfull.

So according to the link it looks like your Printer has 6Cartridges? (this sounds absurd though I admit printers are not my thing) How many are actually inside your printer and which ones are you using? (51black, 23photo, etc..)

as best as I can tell the colors are (from left to right):
black (pentagon),
yellow(circle),
white(trapezoid),
cyan(Triangle),
pink(rhombus),
magenta(square).

--I am not color blind, but the website is confusing even to me... whoever heard of a white ink cartridge?

I recently filled my a lexmark all-in-one photo printer and it didn't seem so confusing.
there were 2 cartridges, clearly marked and refilling them was a breeze (though messy).

Most of us (i think)have never ran into this problem. I can tell when i need a to refill just by looking at the printed images.

cnet's review states the 6 colors are: black, yellow, light cyan, cyan, light magenta, and magenta
looking at them, it makes a little sense. The 'white' is just the horrible color of the photo, and I think I just see white on the actual display because I may not be able to see that shade, or again it's a horrible representation... who knows. I'm surprised I can't see the light blue, unless cyan has more green than blue and the light blue just can't be displayed on the OSD.

Ink cartridges are all the 02 Series Ink, and I've only seen them in ink packs. Not sure if the black was included in the pack or not. But photo paper is in the pack too. I never print any photos from it but I like the capability.. most of the color I rarely ever touch, and this is the first time I've refilled in over a year and a half, and last year I had heavy printing. I use draft mode almost all the time, and mostly black and white prints (papers, study notes, etc etc). Still haven't replaced the black ink. I love draft mode, so little ink is used and each page is printed at rapid speed. And it's still perfectly readable and I turn in all my assignments like that.


edit:
to update the thread:
I updated to the latest full software/driver package, and I can view the printer ink levels now.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: destrekor
[I updated to the latest full software/driver package, and I can view the printer ink levels now.

The lesson learned here is that "bloat" is not necessarily that. Don't delete product software until you know you don't need it.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: destrekor
[I updated to the latest full software/driver package, and I can view the printer ink levels now.

The lesson learned here is that "bloat" is not necessarily that. Don't delete product software until you know you don't need it.

eh, didn't really need it and outside of the toolbox, I still don't need it. I removed the software from the OS startup, because I don't need it. I don't like things hogging up the physical memory if they aren't necessary on a day to day basis.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: destrekor
I don't like things hogging up the physical memory if they aren't necessary on a day to day basis.

That type of program hogs no memory. It simply sits in a small bit of HDD space until you need it. Could it be run from a thumb drive? That would take care of occasional use. Apparently it was needed or we would not have this thread.