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Print problems
Print quality problems
Occasionally, you might encounter problems with print quality. The information in the following
sections helps you identify and resolve these issues.
Identifying and correcting print defects
Use the checklist and print-quality issues charts in this section to solve print-quality problems.
Print-quality checklist
General print-quality problems can be solved by using the following checklist:
1. Make sure that the paper or print media that you are using meets specifications. Generally,
smoother paper provides better results.
2. If you are using a special print media such as labels, transparencies, glossy, or letterhead,
ensure that you have printed by type.
3. Remove any toner build-up and run a cleaning page. See
To remove toner build-up.
4. Print a Configuration page and Supplies Status page at the printer. See
Device pages and reports.
● Check the Supplies Status page to see if any supplies are low or empty. No information is
provided for non-HP print cartridges.
● If the pages do not print correctly, the problem is with the hardware. Contact HP Customer
Care. See
HP Customer Care or the flyer that came in the printer box.
5. Print a Demo page from the HP ToolboxFX. If the page prints, the problem is with the printer
driver. Try printing from the other printer driver. For example, if you are using the PCL 6 printer
driver, print from the PS printer driver.
Use the Add Printer Wizard in the Printers (or Printers and Faxes in Windows XP) dialog box
to install the PS driver.
6. Try printing from a different program. If the page prints correctly, the problem is with the
program from which you were printing.
7. Restart the computer and the printer and try printing again. If the problem is not resolved,
choose one of these options:
● If the problem is affecting all printed pages, see
General print quality issues.
●
If the problem is affecting only pages printed in color, see
Solving issues with color
documents.
General print quality issues
The following examples depict letter-size paper that has passed through the printer short edge first.
These examples illustrate problems that would affect all of the pages that you print, whether you print
in color or in black only. The topics that follow list the typical cause and solution for each of these
examples.
156 Chapter 12 Problem solving ENWW