maybe you didn't install it properly.
can the mfc-255cw printer, print in black only with just a black cartridge?
No the HP all-in-one printers do not print unless ALL cartridges are installed. I own one.
Printers can work without any cartridges in them. However, to print anything, at least one colour or one black cartridge must be installed.
no it is designed so it will not print without color cartridge having ink in it
If your printer cartridge won't print, you might need to replace the cartridge. You can also preform a print head alignment, if the ink hasn't been depleted yet.
This will vary from printer to printer. For more detailed instructions we would need to know which printer you use. Most colour printers have a black cartridge and a number of colour cartridge. In this case you should go into the printer properties and set it for black and white printing or grey scale printing. Some colour printers have an interchangeable cartridge. You would need to remove the colour cartridge and replace it with a compatible black cartridge.
Yes, you could, provided you are not using the color cartridges. I assume you are filling the color cartridges with black ink to fool the printer you have refilled the colors
That is an ink cartridge, not a printer.
maybe-only if the empty one is the color cart-most will have print black only option
No , it only copies the document to print.
74 is just black ink, 99 is a photo cartridge containing light black, light magenta and light cyan.Your printer will print a great photo even without the photo cartridge, I would just stick with the black.
Have you installed a printer? Is the printer set as default?