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HP LaserJet 4350 HP LaserJet 4250/4350 Series - User Guide - Page 184

Correcting print-quality problems, Print-quality checklist, Image defect examples

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Correcting print-quality problems This section helps you define print-quality problems and what to do to correct them. Often print- quality problems can be handled easily by making sure that the printer is properly maintained, using print media that meets HP specifications, or running a cleaning page. NOTE Print-quality checklist General print-quality problems can be solved by following the checklist below. ● Check the printer driver to make sure that you are using the best available print quality option (see Selecting print-quality settings). ● Try printing with one of the alternative printer drivers. The most recent printer drivers area available for download from http://www.hp.com/go/lj4250_software or http://www.hp.com/go/lj4350_software. ● Clean the inside of the printer (see Cleaning the printer). ● Check the paper type and quality (see Paper specifications). ● Check to make sure that EconoMode is off in the software (see Using EconoMode (draft) printing ). ● Troubleshoot general printing problems (see Solving general printing problems). ● Install a new HP print cartridge, and then check the print quality again. (See the instructions provided with the print cartridge.) If the page is totally blank (all white) check to make sure that the sealing tape is removed from the print cartridge and ensure that the print cartridge is installed correctly.Newer printers have been optimized to print characters more accurately. This might result in characters that look lighter or thinner than you are used to from your older printer. If the page is printing images darker than those from an older printer, and you want the images to match the older printer, make these changes in your printer driver: on the Finishing tab, select Print Quality, select Custom, click Details, and click the check box for Print Images Lighter. NOTE Image defect examples Use the examples in this image-defect table to determine which print-quality problem you are experiencing, and then see the corresponding reference pages to troubleshoot. These examples identify the most common print-quality problems. If you still have problems after trying the suggested remedies, contact HP Customer Support. (See HP customer care.) The examples below depict letter-size paper that has passed through the printer short-edge first. 172 Chapter 4 Problem solving ENWW

Section	Page
Printer basics	13
Quick access to printer information	14
User guide links	14
Where to look for more information	14
Printer configurations	15
Feature designations for the HP LaserJet 4250 or 4350 series printer	15
Printer features	17
Printer parts	20
Accessories and supplies	20
Interface ports	22
Accessory lights	22
Moving the printer	23
Control panel	24
Control-panel layout	24
Control-panel buttons	25
Control-panel lights	25
Printing control-panel menus	26
Using the printer Help system	26
Changing printer-control-panel configuration settings	27
Software	38
Operating systems and printer components	38
Printer drivers	39
Software for Macintosh computers	42
Installing the printing system software	43
Uninstalling the software	48
Selecting print media	49
Supported sizes of print media	50
Printing tasks	55
Selecting which tray is used for printing	56
Understanding tray order	56
Customizing tray 1 operation	56
Printing by type and size of media (locking trays)	57
Manually feeding media from tray 1	58
Selecting the correct fuser mode	59
Stapling documents	60
To select the stapler in the software (Windows)	60
To select the stapler in the software (Mac)	60
To select the stapler at the control panel	60
Loading staples	61
Loading trays	62
Loading tray 1	62
Loading tray 2 or an optional 500-sheet tray	63
Loading an optional 1,500-sheet tray	65
Understanding media output options	68
Printing to the top (standard) output bin	68
Printing to the rear output bin	68
Printing to the optional stacker or stapler/stacker	69
Orientation of paper when a stapler is installed	70
Printing envelopes	71
Loading envelopes in tray 1	71
Feeding envelopes automatically (optional envelope feeder)	72
Installing the optional envelope feeder	72
Removing the optional envelope feeder	73
Loading envelopes in the optional envelope feeder	74
Printing on special media	76
Printing on labels	76
Printing on transparencies	77
Printing on letterhead, prepunched, or preprinted paper (single-sided)	77
Printing on paper that has a special finish	79
Printing on small sizes, custom sizes, or heavy paper	80
Setting custom paper sizes	81
Printing on both sides of paper (optional duplexer)	83
Guidelines for printing on both sides of paper	83
Orientation of paper for duplexing	84
Layout options for printing on both sides of paper	85
To duplex with the optional duplex-printing accessory	85
To duplex manually	86
Canceling a print job	87
Using the printer driver	88
Changing the settings for a print job	88
Changing default settings	88
Using printer-driver features	91
Printing watermarks	91
Printing multiple pages on one sheet of paper	92
Setting a custom paper size	92
Using EconoMode (draft) printing	93
Selecting print-quality settings	93
Using reduce/enlarge options	94
Selecting a paper source	94
Printing a cover, a different first or last page, or a blank page	95
Using job-storage features	96
Quick copying a job	96
Deleting a quick copy job	97
Proofing and holding a job	97
Deleting a held job	98
Printing a private job	98
Deleting a private job	99
Storing a print job	99
Managing and maintaining the printer	101
Using the embedded Web server	102
Opening the embedded Web server	102
Information tab	103
Settings tab	103
Networking tab	104
Other links	104
Using HP Web Jetadmin software	105
Using the HP Toolbox	106
Supported operating systems	106
Supported browsers	106
To view the HP Toolbox	107
Status tab	107
Troubleshooting tab	107
Alerts tab	108
Documentation tab	108
Device Settings window	108
Toolbox links	109
Other links	109
Uninstalling the HP Toolbox	110
To uninstall the HP Toolbox by using the Windows desktop shortcut	110
To uninstall the HP Toolbox by using Add/Remove Programs in the Windows control panel	110
Managing and configuring printer drivers	111
HP Web Jetadmin software plug-in	111
Customization utility	112
Configuring e-mail alerts	113
Setting the real-time clock	114
Setting the date and time	114
Checking the printer configuration	117
Menu map	117
Configuration page	117
Supplies status page	119
PS or PCL font list	119
Managing the print cartridge	121
HP print cartridges	121
Non-HP print cartridges	121
Print-cartridge authentication	121
Print-cartridge storage	121
Print-cartridge life expectancy	122
Checking the supply level	122
Cartridge-low and cartridge-out conditions	122
Cleaning the printer	124
Cleaning the inside of the printer	124
Cleaning the fuser	125
Performing preventive maintenance	127
To reset the maintenance-kit counter	127
Replacing the stapler unit	128
To remove and replace the stapler unit	128
Problem solving	131
Troubleshooting flowchart	132
1 Does the control panel display read READY?	132
2 Can you print a configuration page?	133
3 Can you print from a program?	134
4 Does the job print as expected?	136
5 Does the printer select the proper trays and paper-handling accessories?	138
Solving general printing problems	140
Guidelines for using paper	144
Printing special pages	145
Clearing jams	146
Jam locations	146
Clearing jams from the top-cover and print-cartridge areas	146
Clearing jams from the optional envelope feeder	148
Clearing jams from the trays	149
Clearing jams from the optional duplexer	152
Clearing jams from the output areas	153
Clearing jams from the fuser area	154
Clearing jams from the optional stacker or stapler/stacker	156
Solving repeated jams	158
Understanding printer messages	160
Using the printer online Help system	160
Resolving persistent messages	160
Understanding accessory lights for the stacker and stapler/stacker	181
Accessory lights	181
Replacing accessories or accessory components	183
Correcting print-quality problems	184
Print-quality checklist	184
Image defect examples	184
Light print (partial page)	186
Light print (entire page)	186
Specks	186
Dropouts	187
Lines	187
Gray background	188
Toner smear	188
Loose toner	189
Repeating defects	189
Repeating image	190
Misformed characters	190
Page skew	190
Curl or wave	191
Wrinkles or creases	191
Vertical white lines	192
Tire tracks	192
White spots on black	192
Scattered lines	193
Blurred print	193
Random image repetition	194
Troubleshooting network printing problems	195
Troubleshooting common Windows problems	196
Troubleshooting common Macintosh problems	197
Troubleshooting common PostScript problems	203
General problems	203
Specific errors	203
Troubleshooting the optional hard disk	205
Supplies and accessories	207
Ordering parts, accessories, and supplies	208
Ordering directly from HP	208
Ordering through service or support providers	208
Ordering directly through the embedded Web server (for printers that are connected to a network)	208
Ordering directly through the HP Toolbox software (for printers that are directly connected to a com ...	209
Part numbers	210
Paper-handling accessories	210
Print cartridges	211
Maintenance kits	211
Memory	211
Cables and interfaces	212
Print media	212
Control panel menus	217
Retrieve Job menu	218
Information menu	220
Paper Handling menu	221
Configure Device menu	225
Printing submenu	225
Print Quality submenu	228
System Setup submenu	232
Stapler/stacker submenu	236
I/O submenu	237
Resets submenu	238
Diagnostics menu	240
Service menu	241
Specifications	243
HP LaserJet 4250 or 4350 series physical specifications	243
Electrical specifications	245
Acoustic emissions	246
Operating environment	247
Paper specifications	248
Printing and paper storage environment	248
Envelopes	249
Labels	251
Transparencies	251
Printer memory and expansion	253
Overview	254
Printer memory	255
To install printer memory	255
Installing CompactFlash cards	258
To install a CompactFlash card	258
Checking memory installation	261
To verify that DIMMs or CompactFlash cards are installed correctly	261
Saving resources (permanent resources)	262
Installing EIO cards or mass storage devices	263
To install EIO cards or mass storage devices	263
To remove an installed EIO card or mass storage device (optional hard disk)	263
Printer commands	265
Understanding PCL 6 and PCL 5e printer command syntax	266
Combining escape sequences	266
Using escape characters	267
Selecting PCL 6 and PCL 5 fonts	267
Common PCL 6 and PCL 5 printer commands	268
Regulatory information	273
Introduction	273
FCC regulations	274
Environmental Product Stewardship program	275
Protecting the environment	275
Ozone production	275
Energy consumption	275
HP LaserJet printing supplies	275
Material safety data sheet	276
For more information	277
Declaration of conformity	278
Country-/region-specific safety statements	279
Laser safety statement	279
Canadian DOC statement	279
Japanese VCCI statement	279
Korean EMI statement	279
Finnish laser statement	280
Service and support	281
Hewlett-Packard limited warranty statement	281
Print Cartridge Limited Warranty Statement	283
Availability of support and service	284
HP maintenance agreements	284
Onsite service agreements	284
HP Express Exchange (U.S. and Canada only)	285
To use HP Express Exchange	285
Repacking the printer	286
To repack the printer	286
Service information form	287

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Correcting print-quality problems

This section helps you define print-quality problems and what to do to correct them. Often

print- quality problems can be handled easily by making sure that the printer is properly

maintained, using print media that meets HP specifications, or running a cleaning page.

Print-quality checklist

General print-quality problems can be solved by following the checklist below.

●

Check the printer driver to make sure that you are using the best available print quality

option (see

Selecting

print-quality

settings

●

Try printing with one of the alternative printer drivers. The most recent printer drivers

area available for download from

http://www.hp.com/go/lj4250_software

http://www.hp.com/go/lj4350_software

●

Clean the inside of the printer (see

Cleaning

the

printer

●

Check the paper type and quality (see

Paper

specifications

●

Check to make sure that EconoMode is off in the software (see

Using

EconoMode

(draft)

printing

●

Troubleshoot general printing problems (see

Solving

general

printing

problems

●

Install a new HP print cartridge, and then check the print quality again. (See the

instructions provided with the print cartridge.)

NOTE

If the page is totally blank (all white) check to make sure that the sealing tape is removed

from the print cartridge and ensure that the print cartridge is installed correctly.Newer

printers have been optimized to print characters more accurately. This might result in

characters that look lighter or thinner than you are used to from your older printer. If the page

is printing images darker than those from an older printer, and you want the images to match

the older printer, make these changes in your printer driver: on the

Finishing

tab, select

Print Quality

, select

Custom

, click

Details

, and click the check box for

Print Images Lighter

Image defect examples

Use the examples in this image-defect table to determine which print-quality problem you are

experiencing, and then see the corresponding reference pages to troubleshoot. These

examples identify the most common print-quality problems. If you still have problems after

trying the suggested remedies, contact HP Customer Support. (See

customer

care

NOTE

The examples below depict letter-size paper that has passed through the printer short-edge

first.

172

Chapter 4

Problem solving

ENWW