ACAD/HP Printer problem

Greetings,
First message here. I am using ACAD 2000i with a HP 9650 Deskjet
printer with no problems until recently. Suddenly, without warning,
the printer ceased to be listed on the pull down under the plot cmd. I
used the wizard to creat the printer profile again but now I have a
printing problem. The prints come out ledgable and crisp but with no
real defined color. It seems that the colors are all there, I mean ALL
there. Despite any attempt at pen/color control all I get is a kind of
purplish/brown color. In looking very closly at the prints it seems
like all the ink is being sprayed in a wild mix with a look similar to
water used to clean a paintbrush with tempra paint. I know the printer
is working correctly as it seems to be doing just fine with everything
else thrown at it, MS word, photos, etc. I am not too familiar with
the set up of the printer and its relationship to the pen/colors. Can
anyone provide me with a bit of guidance here? Thanks!
Hank K.
Design Group Omega
Metro-Chicago, Illinois