I have an HP printer that isn't working. When I go to print something, it at first registers (printer icon appears in toolbar) but then disappears. I noticed that in the dialogue box it says the printer is "idle," but that when I open up the Printers and Faxes folder off the Start menu it says it is "Ready." I don't think the problem is with the printer because it can print photos directly from a USB drive (there's a USB port on the laptop). All I've done in recent days is unplug it (this is when the problem started) and then put in an identical black ink cartidge because the ink was low and after I unplugged it that time it stopped working entirely, so I thought it was an ink problem.
Things I've tried: unplugging the printer, uninstalling the printer and installing a new driver from HP website, "add a printer" option via the Windows printer wizard, both LPT1 and USB ports.
Printer: Photosmart 7850
System: Microsoft XP
Before you judge (given the printer's age), please know that I get a long life out of my products, take extremely good care of them, and that my printer was working perfectly fine until this started happening. I don't just want to buy a new printer for the heck of it. Also, it's Christmas and I would really appreciate your Christmas spirit.