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Troubleshooting print-quality problems, Print-quality problems associated with media

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Troubleshooting print-quality problems This section helps you define print-quality problems and what to do to correct them. Often printquality problems can be handled easily by making sure that the printer is correctly maintained, using print media that meets HP specifications, or running a cleaning page. Print-quality problems associated with media Some print-quality problems arise from the use of inappropriate media. ● Use media that meets HP specifications. See Paper specifications. ● The surface of the media is too smooth. Use media that meets HP specifications. See Paper specifications. ● The moisture content is uneven, too high, or too low. Use media from a different source or from an unopened ream. ● Some areas of the media reject toner. Use media from a different source or from an unopened ream. ● The letterhead you are using is printed on rough media. Use a smoother, xerographic media. If this solves your problem, ask the supplier of your letterhead to use media that meets the specifications for this printer. See Paper specifications. ● The media is excessively rough. Use a smoother, xerographic media. ● The driver setting is incorrect. To change the media type setting, see Type and Size. ● The media that you are using is too heavy for the media type setting that you selected, and the toner is not fusing to the media. Print-quality problems associated with the environment If the printer is operating in excessively humid or dry conditions, verify that the printing environment is within specifications. See the printer getting started guide for operating-environment specifications. Print-quality problems associated with jams Make sure that all sheets are cleared from the paper path. See Jam recovery. ● If the printer recently jammed, print two to three pages to clean the printer. ● If the sheets do not pass through the fuser and cause image defects on subsequent documents, print three pages to clean the printer. If the problem persists, print and process a cleaning page. See Cleaning the printer. 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.) ENWW Troubleshooting print-quality problems 153

Section	Page
Printer basics	15
Quick access to printer information	16
Printer at a glance	17
Features at a glance	18
Walkaround	20
Printer parts	20
Interface ports	21
Printer software	22
Printer drivers	22
Driver Autoconfiguration	22
Update Now	23
HP Driver Preconfiguration	23
Additional drivers	23
Opening the printer drivers	24
Software for Macintosh computers	24
Installing Macintosh printing system software for networks	25
Installing Macintosh printing system software for direct connections (USB)	26
To remove software from Macintosh operating systems	26
Software for networks	26
HP Web Jetadmin	26
UNIX	27
Linux	27
Utilities	27
HP Easy Printer Care software	27
Embedded Web server	27
Other components and utilities	28
Selecting print media	29
Supported media sizes	29
Supported media types	31
Control panel	33
Overview	34
Control-panel layout	35
Using the control-panel menus	37
To use the menus	37
Show Me How menu	38
Retrieve Job menu	39
Information menu	40
Paper Handling menu	41
Configure Device menu	43
Printing submenu	43
Print Quality submenu	45
System Setup submenu	48
I/O submenu	52
Resets submenu	53
Diagnostics menu	54
Service menu	54
Changing printer-control-panel configuration settings	55
Changing control-panel settings	55
To change a control-panel setting	55
Show address	55
Tray-behavior options	56
Sleep Delay	57
Personality	58
Clearable warnings	58
Auto continue	59
Cartridge low	59
Cartridge-out response	60
Jam recovery	60
RAM disk	61
Language	61
Input/output (I/O) configuration	63
Parallel configuration	64
USB configuration	65
Connecting the USB cable	65
Network configuration	66
Manually configuring TCP/IP parameters from the control panel	66
Setting an IP address	66
Setting the subnet mask	66
Setting the default gateway	67
Disabling network protocols (optional)	67
To disable IPX/SPX	68
To disable AppleTalk	68
To disable DLC/LLC	68
Enhanced I/O (EIO) configuration	69
HP Jetdirect EIO print servers	69
Printing tasks	71
Controlling print jobs	72
Source	72
Type and Size	72
Priority for print settings	73
Gaining access to printer driver settings	73
Using print media	74
Paper to avoid	74
Paper that can damage the printer	74
Configuring output bins	75
Printing to the top output bin	75
Printing to the rear output bin	76
Configuring trays	77
Loading tray 1 (multipurpose tray)	77
To load tray 1	77
Customizing tray 1 operation	79
Loading tray 2 (250-sheet tray)	79
To load tray 2	79
Loading optional tray 3 (500-sheet tray)	81
To load tray 3	82
Printing on special media	84
Printing on letterhead, prepunched, or preprinted paper (single-sided)	84
Guidelines for printing on letterhead or preprinted forms	85
Printing on envelopes	85
To load envelopes in tray 1	86
Printing on labels	87
Guidelines for printing on labels	87
Printing on transparencies	88
Guidelines for printing on transparencies	88
Printing on rotated media	88
Printing full-bleed images	90
Printing on custom-size media	90
Guidelines for printing custom-size paper	90
Setting custom paper sizes	90
Loading custom-size media in tray 2 or optional tray 3	91
Printing on vellum	92
Printing on glossy paper	93
Colored paper	93
Heavy paper	93
HP LaserJet Tough paper	93
Recycled paper	94
Printing and paper storage environment	95
Printing on both sides (duplexing)	96
Paper orientation for printing on both sides	96
Layout options for printing on both sides	97
To print on both sides by using the built-in duplexer	97
To print on both sides manually	98
Using features in the Windows printer driver	99
Creating and using quick sets	99
Using watermarks	100
Resizing documents	100
Setting a custom paper size from the printer driver	100
Using different paper and printing covers	101
Printing a blank first page	101
Printing multiple pages on one sheet of paper	101
Using the Services tab	102
Using features in the Macintosh printer driver	103
Creating and using presets	103
Printing a cover page	103
Printing multiple pages on one sheet of paper	104
Printing on both sides of the paper	104
Managing special printing situations	106
Printing a different first page	106
Stopping a print request	106
To stop the current print job from the printer control panel	106
To stop the current print job from the software program	106
Managing stored jobs	107
Managing memory	108
Managing the printer	109
Using printer information pages	110
Configuring e-mail alerts	112
Using the embedded Web server	113
Opening the embedded Web server	113
To access the embedded Web server by using a network connection	114
Embedded Web server sections	114
Using HP Web Jetadmin software	116
Using the HP Easy Printer Care software	117
Supported operating systems	117
Supported browsers	117
To open the HP Easy Printer Care software	117
HP Easy Printer Care software sections	118
Using the HP Printer Utility for Macintosh	119
Opening the HP Printer Utility	119
HP Printer Utility features	119
Maintenance	121
Managing supplies	122
Supplies life	122
Approximate print-cartridge replacement intervals	122
Managing the print cartridge	122
Print-cartridge life expectancy	122
Print-cartridge storage	122
HP print cartridges	122
HP policy on non-HP print cartridges	122
Print-cartridge authentication	123
HP fraud hotline and Web site	123
Replacing supplies and parts	124
Supply replacement guidelines	124
Changing the print cartridge	124
To change the print cartridge	124
Cleaning the printer	127
To clean the printer using the printer control panel	127
Problem solving	129
Basic troubleshooting checklist	130
Factors that affect printer performance	130
Troubleshooting flowchart	131
Step 1: Does READY appear on the control-panel display?	131
Step 2: Can you print a configuration page?	131
Step 3: Can you print from a program?	132
Step 4: Does the job print as expected?	133
Step 5: Does the printer select the trays?	134
Solving general printing problems	136
Control-panel message types	139
Control-panel messages	140
Guidelines for using paper	155
Printing special pages	156
Common causes of jams	157
Jam locations	158
Jam recovery	158
Clearing jams	159
Clearing jams from the input-tray areas	159
Clearing jams from the print-cartridge area	160
Clearing jams from the output-bin areas	162
Clearing jams from the optional duplexer	164
Solving repeated jams	165
Troubleshooting print-quality problems	167
Print-quality problems associated with media	167
Print-quality problems associated with the environment	167
Print-quality problems associated with jams	167
Image defect examples	167
Light print (partial page)	169
Light print (entire page)	169
Specks	169
Dropouts	170
Lines	170
Gray background	171
Toner smear	171
Loose toner	172
Repeating defects	172
Repeating image	173
Misformed characters	173
Page skew	173
Curl or wave	174
Wrinkles or creases	174
Vertical white lines	175
Tire tracks	175
White spots on black	176
Scattered lines	176
Blurred print	177
Random image repetition	177
Troubleshooting network printing problems	179
Troubleshooting common Windows problems	180
Troubleshooting common Macintosh problems	181
Troubleshooting Linux problems	183
Troubleshooting common PostScript problems	184
General problems	184
Supplies and accessories	185
Ordering parts, accessories, and supplies	186
Ordering directly from HP	186
Ordering through service or support providers	186
Ordering directly through the embedded Web server (for printers that are connected to a network)	186
To order directly through the embedded Web server (for printers that are connected to a network)	186
Ordering directly through the HP Easy Printer Care software (for printers that are directly connect ...	186
Part numbers	187
Paper-handling accessories	187
Print cartridge	187
Memory	187
Cables and interfaces	187
Print media	188
Service and support	191
Hewlett-Packard limited warranty statement	191
Print cartridge, transfer unit, and fuser limited warranty statement	192
HP maintenance agreements	193
On-site service agreements	193
Next-day on-site service	193
Weekly (volume) on-site service	193
Repacking the printer	193
Extended warranty	194
Specifications	195
Physical specifications	196
Electrical specifications	196
Acoustic emissions	197
Operating environment	197
Paper specifications	198
Envelopes	198
Envelopes with double side seams	199
Envelopes with adhesive strips or flaps	199
Envelope margins	199
Envelope storage	199
Labels	200
Label construction	200
Transparencies	200
Regulatory information	201
FCC regulations	202
Environmental product stewardship program	203
Protecting the environment	203
Ozone production	203
Power consumption	203
Toner consumption	203
Paper use	203
Plastics	203
HP LaserJet printing supplies	203
HP printing supplies returns and recycling program information	204
Paper	204
Material restrictions	204
Disposal of waste equipment by users in private households in the European Union	205
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)	205
For more information	205
Declaration of conformity	207
Declaration of conformity	207
Safety statements	208
Laser safety	208
Canadian DOC regulations	208
VCCI statement (Japan)	208
Power cord statement (Japan)	208
EMI statement (Korea)	208
Laser statement for Finland	209
Working with memory and print server cards	211
Overview	212
Installing printer memory	213
To install printer memory	213
Installing CompactFlash cards	218
Checking DIMM or CompactFlash installation	222
Saving resources (permanent resources)	223
Enabling memory for Windows	224
Using HP Jetdirect print server cards	225
Installing an HP Jetdirect print server card	225
Removing an HP Jetdirect print server card	226
Printer commands	227
Understanding PCL 6 and PCL 5e printer command syntax	228
Combining escape sequences	228
Using escape characters	229
Selecting PCL 6 and PCL 5 fonts	229
Common PCL 6 and PCL 5 printer commands	230
Glossary	235

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Troubleshooting 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 correctly maintained, using

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

Print-quality problems associated with media

Some print-quality problems arise from the use of inappropriate media.

●

Use media that meets HP specifications. See

Paper

specifications

●

The surface of the media is too smooth. Use media that meets HP specifications. See

Paper

specifications

●

The moisture content is uneven, too high, or too low. Use media from a different source or from

an unopened ream.

●

Some areas of the media reject toner. Use media from a different source or from an unopened

ream.

●

The letterhead you are using is printed on rough media. Use a smoother, xerographic media. If

this solves your problem, ask the supplier of your letterhead to use media that meets the

specifications for this printer. See

Paper

specifications

●

The media is excessively rough. Use a smoother, xerographic media.

●

The driver setting is incorrect. To change the media type setting, see

Type

and

Size

●

The media that you are using is too heavy for the media type setting that you selected, and the

toner is not fusing to the media.

Print-quality problems associated with the environment

If the printer is operating in excessively humid or dry conditions, verify that the printing environment

is within specifications. See the printer getting started guide for operating-environment specifications.

Print-quality problems associated with jams

Make sure that all sheets are cleared from the paper path. See

Jam

recovery

●

If the printer recently jammed, print two to three pages to clean the printer.

●

If the sheets do not pass through the fuser and cause image defects on subsequent documents,

print three pages to clean the printer. If the problem persists, print and process a cleaning page.

See

Cleaning

the

printer

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

ENWW

Troubleshooting print-quality problems

153