Archive for the ‘Printer Troubleshooting’ Category

HP has recently updated a list of printers that block the use of third party ink cartridges and gives the user an error message stating that the cartridge is “damaged”.

This is an attempt for HP to force consumers to use Genuine HP ink cartridges instead of saving money by using our less expensive, high quality remanufactured ink cartridges. If you experience this message while using a third party cartridge, there is a simple fix to this problem: 1) click the link below to go to the HP website, 2) select your printer model, and 3) download and run the firmware update.  Once this is completed, you can install your cartridge and use it with no further problems.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-officejet-pro-8610-e-all-in-one-printer-series/5367603/model/5367606/document/c05308850/

A list of printers that are impacted by this update are:

• HP OfficeJet 6800 Series
• HP OfficeJet 6812
• HP OfficeJet 6815
• HP OfficeJet 6820
• HP OfficeJet 6822
• HP OfficeJet 6825
• HP OfficeJet Pro 6200 Series
• HP OfficeJet Pro 6230
• HP OfficeJet Pro 6235
• HP OfficeJet Pro 6239
• HP OfficeJet Pro 6830
• HP OfficeJet Pro 6835
• HP OfficeJet Pro 251 dw
• HP OfficeJet Pro 276 dw
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 ePrinter
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Plus e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Premium e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8615 e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8616 e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8625 e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8630 e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8640 e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro 8660 e-All-in-One
• HP OfficeJet Pro X 450 Series
• HP OfficeJet Pro X 451 dn
• HP OfficeJet Pro X 451 dw
• HP OfficeJet Pro X 470 Series
• HP OfficeJet Pro X 476 dn
• HP OfficeJet Pro X 476 dw
• HP OfficeJet Pro X 551 dw
• HP OfficeJet Pro X 576 dw

Important reasons why you should stick to your cartridges expiration dates.

Just like many other liquid products, such as ink pens or gasoline, your printer cartridges and toner cartridges have a shelf life. In fact, usage guidelines and the timeline of expiration of ink cartridges are very similar to that of an ink pen. At the tail end of a pen’s life, you may notice that your lines begin to fade in and out or stop all together. Even when you can see ink inside the pen, you may find that no ink comes out, leading to dozens of unusable pens that have probably built up in your desk drawer.

Continue reading “Everything You Need To Know About Ink Cartridges & Expiration Dates” »

All over the USA and the wider world, printers in homes and businesses have been printing reams of unasked-for pages filled with garbage text. If your printer has been doing this, the fault is almost certainly not with the printer or PC hardware, but the result of an infection by malware, which is triggering huge print jobs as a means of distracting people from its main purpose.

To explain what’s going on here, we’ll need to clarify some common computer security terms.

• Malware – Malware is software that has some harmful purpose, which might be disrupting the operation of your computer, gathering private information, or causing your computer to become part of a botnet. Viruses, trojan horses, spyware, and rootkits are all examples of malware.
• Adware – Adware is software that exists primarily to serve adverts to computer users. Adware need not be harmful, but it is usually annoying, and sometimes has malware as a component.
• Trojan Horse (AKA Trojan) – Trojan horses are malware that often attempt to disguise themselves as something innocuous or as part of your operating systems components.

Continue reading “Has Your Printer Been Printing Unauthorized Pages of Garbage?” »

Inkjet printers are mainly designed for home use, which means that when problems arise, you don’t have a technical support team at your beck and call. In many cases, you can contact the manufacturer for support, but there are a number of common troubleshooting steps you can try first to see if you can resolve the issue on your own. Most problems fall into a number of common categories, and often a few simple steps can get you back up and running. Here are some troubleshooting steps to try before you contact support for further help:

Continue reading “Troubleshooting Inkjet Printers” »

Printer problems often come up at the worst possible time, and finding a solution to the problem is not always easy. Luckily, Microsoft offers a software solution called Microsoft Fix It, which can diagnose a multitude of Windows problems, and in many cases it can solve the problems automatically. It does this by downloading and installing updates and patches, as well as fixing driver and connection errors that may be holding up the process.

Continue reading “Microsoft Fix It” »

The fuser melting toner to the page. Image: Wikipedia.org

There are many small parts that make up a printer.  The fuser is one of the most important parts, however, as it applies the heat needed to transfer toner to the paper when printing. The toner is transferred to the paper from the drum, but it is the fuser that heats the toner particles and fuses them to the fibers that are in each blank piece of paper. Continue reading “Printer Fuser Temperature Settings” »

Printing is no longer limited to standard sheets of paper.  Most current models can print on a variety of paper types and different media types.  While there are a number of specialty media types, such as iron-on transfers, labels, and stickers, even traditional paper media comes in multiple types that can tailor the output to your specific needs.  Armed with a bit of information, you can expand your printing horizons and step away from boring, plain prints when the right occasion calls for it.

Typically, the thicker the sheet of paper, the higher the quality of the print and the more prestige it represents.  Especially for businesses that rely on printouts to represent the company, it is important to use paper that has more durability and flare than a standard sheet.  Here are a few options: Continue reading “Types of Printer Paper” »

Regardless of a quality of a printer, eventually the wear and tear of frequent printing will begin to rear its ugly head. When problems with print quality start to appear, it can be useful to try a quick checklist of the most common fixes.

Overall Quality Issues

• Take out the toner cartridge, and shake it, redistributing the toner powder evenly.
• Clean the inside of the printer with a slightly damp towel.
• Make sure the paper is appropriate for your printer. (i.e. Laser paper for a laser printer)
• Replace the cartridge with a new one.

There are a few specific reoccurring quality issues that can be extremely frustrating, but might be a quick fix.  Here are some of the most common: Continue reading “Checklist for Laser Printer Quality Issues” »

A printer’s rollers play an important part in the printing process. They are responsible for moving the paper through the printer at the correct speed. If you find that you are consistently having problems with paper jams, misfeeds, or marks on your prints, you may want to inspect and even replace the rollers. Rollers that are damaged or worn down will not feed properly.

You may wish to have replacement rollers ready before you disassemble the printer. Contact the manufacturer or do a web search for your printer’s model and the term “rollers”. In some cases, the rollers may be included in a maintenance kit designed for your printer, which includes other replacement parts as well. Continue reading “Inspect and Replace Printer Rollers” »

Many printers, especially laser models, include multiple paper paths for printing. Which paper path is used will often depend on factors such as the type and thickness of media being used. Card stock media should generally be printed with the straightest path possible, to avoid bending it.

If you start to experience problems related to a specific paper path in the printer, such as paper jams, or you suspect that a printing problem relates only to one input or output tray, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take to isolate and resolve the issue. Continue reading “Troubleshooting Paper Path Issues” »