Pixma mp160 - access the scanner, or print just in only color, without a black ink cartridge?

[drakegraves]

I know, I know, this thing is ancient and it's time for a new printer.

But I'm an artist working on a weekly serial and I need to get this thing out. It will be a huge inconvenience to go to a kinkos or something right now because I just have too much trial and error. I'd have to sit there in the kinkos and print/scan every hour, transfer the scanned files to photoshop on  my laptop with a wacom tablet etc, it's just not good. 

I turn on the printer it goes through it's normal crap, then I get E 2 2. 

I replaced the color cartridge and now the color ink light is on after startup where it wasn't before. The thing is, I ONLY NEED to print in color, non-photo blue to be specific, so that I can ink by hand and re-scan the result into photoshop and remove anything blue, preserve anything black.

However I can't scan OR print, all I can get is this error. Can I really not scan or print unless I have paper and working ink cartridges? It just won't allow me to use the features at all?

Thanks for your help!

[Michael]

Hello.

This error code indicates that there is an internal hardware error with the printer.  The printer will need to be replaced or repaired at this point.  If you would like to get the unit repaired, check your local listings for any electronic repair specialists in your area.

[Danny]

Thanks for being active in our community! We're happy to share that it's possible to scan with an empty ink tank or cartridge. To start scanning, follow the instructions at this link.