two printer problems?

X1180 all in one printer just replaced two cartridges, one colour, one black.
colour fine! black nothing.
I have subsituted the new colour cart: for an empty one to carryout a test print of the black cart: as removal of one cartridge prevents the printer working. No go no print no test page for the black cartridge, any suggestions!.

Now for the Z11 it has a new black cartridge. carried out relevant cleaning good black lines but print on cartridge alignement page and documents are c**p to be blunt. Any suggestions other than buy an new printer would be appreciated. Or is their anything below the printer cartridges that need cleaning by hand to get ink flowing clearer? I'm green to all this computer and printer business.
many thanks in anticipation. I am ready with a hammer so rapid help is required.

Rob
July 2007