Do It Yourself - 10 Different Hewlett Packard Printer Problems with 10 Different Printer Solutions
Posted: Saturday, December 03, 2005
by Motivational Marketer
Joseph Mercado
Did you know that when you printing documents and running those reams of paper through your printer, one of them is going to get tangled up?
If your print sessions are valuable to you, then you should check this article out.
Below are 10 HP LaserJet printer problems with 10 HP LaserJet printer solutions to help you with your printing nightmares.
A printer will jam for any number of reasons: It’s dirty, the wrong paper type is being used, or the rollers on the printer that feed the paper through its pathway are worn down.
While cleaning the printer periodically and using the correct paper type are easy fixes, roller replacement can be a difficult job depending on the model of HP printer.
For some HP printers, the rollers are easily accessible, but you'll need to completely tear down other models to remove the rollers.
Regardless of the cause, when removing a paper jam, always pull the paper in the direction of the paper path, because pulling it backwards can severely damage the printer.
Certain HP printers are more susceptible to paper jams than others.
In my experience, any printer that holds the paper vertically and then pulls it down through the printer invariably ends up having paper jam problems.
These models aren't designed for heavy use, but many organizations make use of them on individual systems and should be aware of this flaw.
In addition, some people have trouble with the newer HP 4000 series printers' paper pickup rollers—which is odd, because the older 4000 and 5000 series HP printers are considered rock solid and don't seem to have any trouble with their pickup rollers.
2. Some or all of the printing on the page is faded:
A faded print image is normally the result of one of three conditions: The printer is getting low on toner, the print density is set too low, or Economode printing is turned on.
For the last two settings, a printer self-test (typically a separate button on the printer) will show what the current settings are.
If Economode is on, and users are complaining about how light the print is, turn it off and/or set the print density higher.
If the toner is low, simply removing the cartridge and shaking it to redistribute the toner more evenly can temporarily resolve the problem until you can replace the cartridge.
3. Ghosting:
Ghosting is a condition where the image prints properly, but a much lighter copy of the image also prints elsewhere. This can be due to a problem with the power outlet that is supplying power to the printer.
Check the power outlet by plugging in a different printer to see if the same results occur. Ghosting can also be caused when consumable printer parts (such as the drum or imaging kit) are near the end of their life.
All of the consumable parts in a printer are rated for a certain number of pages. Once a printer gets near that magic number, you'll need to replace those parts to eliminate ghosting.
4. Toner smears or does not stay on the paper If words and images come off the paper when a hand is run across them, there are a few possible problems.
First, the fuser assembly may be damaged or at the end of its life. The solution is to replace the fuser assembly.
Repairing a fuser assembly is generally not recommended because the fuser is considered a consumable printer part and not worth the time or effort to fix.
Second, the toner cartridge may be defective and letting too much toner out at one time.
In a black-and-white laser printer, the solution is to replace the toner cartridge. In a color laser printer, only replace the cartridge that is exhibiting the problem.
Third, some toner may have spilled in the printer. If so, you'll need to clean it out.
5. Printer is displaying a 50.4 error message:
A 50.4 error message on some of the newer HP LaserJet printers indicates a problem with the power supply.
If the printer is connected to a UPS, disconnect it, or disconnect it from a power strip and plug it directly into a wall outlet.
A laser printer should never be plugged into a UPS, because the UPS can be damaged by the surges of power required by a printer to keep the fuser assembly warm.
If that doesn’t work, make sure that all of the components in the printer are seated properly.
6. Can't find a driver for a particular operating system:
As new operating systems are released, new drivers will need to be loaded for your existing printers. Not all printers have a driver for every OS (operating system).
In these cases, it’s best to consult the printer manual and find out what printers the drivers will emulate. While not all of the functionality of the printer will be available under this emulation, at least basic printing will work.
For example, most HP printers will print with the HP LaserJet II driver installed, although specific options, such as duplexing, will not work.
7. Printer is not printing from the expected paper tray:
You can check in two places to correct this particular error.
First, look on the printing PC, and second, on the printer.
If the application is set to print to the wrong paper tray, correct it within the application by clicking on Printer Properties and finding the Tray Selection source.
On the printer, make sure that the paper sizes in the control panel match what is actually in the paper trays.
8. Printer picks up all the paper from the manual feed tray rather than one sheet:
The pad that is responsible for separating the paper has likely worn out and needs to be replaced. You can order and install a new pad without sending the printer out for repair.
It is also possible that the paper is wet due to humidity. Make sure the paper is properly stored and that it is fanned before putting it into the printer.
9. Printer is displaying a 79 error:
A 79 error can be the result of a problem with the network print server that services the printer. When troubleshooting a 79 error, first open the Printer folder from the Start menu on the Print server to make sure there are no jobs pending.
A 79 error can also indicate a failure of a printer add-on component, such as an MIO (modular input/output) card or a RAM (random access memory) module.
All add-ons should be removed and then added back to the printer one by one to determine which module may be at fault.
10. Trouble printing onto envelopes:
Envelopes can cause many problems for laser printers. Choose envelopes that are close to 20-lb paper in weight and thickness.
Also, make sure that the adhesive on the envelope is capable of withstanding the heat that the fuser puts out to keep the printing on the page. If you don’t, the envelopes will come out of the printer already sealed.
If envelopes are coming out of the printer wrinkled, they may be too stiff for the paper path. Open the rear of the printer and let them exit at that location instead.
HP printers are considered to be among the most reliable in the industry. But just as any other piece of IT equipment, they're vulnerable to failure. And it seems the newer printers can’t withstand the same amount of abuse that the older models could.
So if you work on newer-model HP printers in a paper-intensive environment, expect more troubleshooting calls involving the problems I've described.
No matter what the age of your HP printer, this guide to common printing problems will help you diagnose and fix the problem quickly.
As a result of this content of information, you are now geared for the next problem you encounter. This time you will have an answer, making you the best “ Solution Provider " that you can possibly be.
About The Author:
Joseph Mercado invites you to be a part of a newly discovered world of enhanced marketing.
You can find his psychological and metaphoric secrets which will help bring your products and/or services to life at http://InkSecretsRevealed.com. This site will help increase you create your own inkjet wholesale busines in your area. To borrow the mind of an inkjet master, sign up for your first 7 Day Mini-Course today: http://InkSecretsRevealed.com. Receive your FREE 30 minute consultation appointment by contacting Joseph at 704.804.0923.
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More commentsYes, there should be a release in the rear of the multi-function device. The back panel has a lever that turns for you to remove the palstic piece and see the actual paper jam. It will allow you to pull the paper out from the back-side. Don't tug on the jammed paper too hard, yet be firm and apply force in your direction. I've experienced this problem several times and it's worked for me. If you attempt to remove the paper from the front-side, the paper may just break off and be more frustrating than the initial jam. Let me know how you make out. You're welcome.
My HP 940c continues to blink indicating ank ink problem. I have tried replacing the cartridges and doing everything the real-time chat guy suggested and it still isn't successful. Any suggestions?If your indicator light keeps blinking on your HP 940c printer, it's possible you have a problem with the carriage, where the cartridges sit and lock in. It sounds to me, from personal experiece like an internal mechanism problem. Here's what I suggest you do.... One, if you replaced the ink, making sure they are secured fasten in the carriage, turn off your printer for 3 minutes and turn it back on. You might even have to take the power adapter out from the back of the printer. Two, hold the paper button next to the cancellation button for about 3-5 seconds until a test page prints out. Sometimes if you do this, it will reset the cartridge recognition which is communicated by the printers firmware. Three, see if the cartridges are defective, possible the printheads are damaged and the printer is reading them as non-responsive. If you're still having problems, then I suggest upgrading your printer because to fix the carriage it can cost up to $100. For that, you mine as well invest in a new inket printer. Let me know how you make out and if I can help you any further. Hope this advice helps. Best of luck!
I have an HP LaserJet 1320 that has a horizontal line running down the left side, about 1/3 of the way across the page. The drum has been cleaned multiple times due to this problem, and it clears it right up, but now it's occuring more frequently. Any suggestions or solutions?Also, it's not so much a line printed on the paper, it's more a lack of ink. It's faded gray, but the rest of the printed page is standard black.
I've an HP LASER JET 3300 PRINTER and i've a problem with it oflate,the cartridge is ok,but the rollers seems to have some problem since the papers always jams on the other hand,the printout does not show all the characters i.e there are some mixing characters appearing in one line..kindly what could be the possible cause of the problem?is it that there is something that has peeled off from the inner roller thats why its not showing some other characters in a paper?
i have a pretty simple question. I have a hp psc 750 that carries two cartriges. One black and one color. If the color runs out do I have to replace it to use the black?
My HP 1100 Laser jams on the second page, themn gives me "printer out of paper". If I unplug it for a n hour, it works for a single page, but wil;l jam on the second.
My HP psc 1350 series also go paper jam at return level(upper row of rollers) . the paper was removed from the back of the printer .At subsequent attempts , paper was not drawn into the printer and an error light appeared
HP psc 1350 series also jammed. paper removed from back of printer. no subsequent attempt to print was possible. paper not picked up. error light appearedTHE JAMED PAPER WAS REMOVED GOING FORWARD. SHOU;D POWER BE OFF DURING THE REPAIR?
I have two printers that are printing with too much blue. A LaserJet 2600n (which is connected to my network) and a Officejet 5610 (which is connected to a workstation but allowed as a network printer). surprisingly, I also have a Photosmart C3140 connected to a workstation that still prints in proper colors. Does anyone know how to fix my problem?
I have a HP psc 2410 photosmart printer. The on button keeps blinking and the hourglass has stalled. The cartridges are both new, I have unplugged and replugged all cables and spent the last 3 hours trying to get the printer working again to no avail. HP aren't being helpful at all. Can you help (before I throw it out of the window !) ??
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