Despite being reliable printing machines and despite your best of efforts, HP printers often malfunction. Why? There can be multiple reasons for HP printers to malfunction and display error messages. Here we have listed 10 common HP printer problems and their solutions.
Toner smears or does not fix to the page
Check the fuser. If it is nearing the end, replace it. If you don't know how to replace a fuser, refer to your HP printer support manual that originally came with the HP printer setup kit. Sometimes, fuser displays a Clean Fuser Input message. It is a clear indication that fuser needs a cleanup. Open the front door on your HP printer. Check if you see a blue brush inside there (there must be one). Take the toner cartridge out of the printer to reach the fuser input assembly.
The assembly locates on top of the black toner cartridge port. Take the blue brush out and clean the assembly. The cleanup procedure is intended for a HP Color LaserJet 5500 printer. If you have a different printer, refer to its manual. If it's not fuser, it may be the toner cartridge which is either defective or nearing the end of its life. In that case also, you will need to replace it. If the toner is neither defective nor nearing end, clean the toner cartridge assembly.
Paper Jams
Paper jams are the commonest printer problems, not just with HP printers, but with all the printer brands and models. Paper jam can occur due to a number of reasons from torn paper bits, wrong paper tray selected, wrong paper type selected, loose paper roller, and to a lint of dust etc. Look carefully inside the paper tray and at the exit end of the print paper path. If there are any bits of paper stuck inside, remove them. Check that the paper tray has the right type of paper, that is listed in the control panel of the printer.
If it is different, the printer will experience a paper jam problem. Make sure that the paper type matches what is in the printer properties. If not, correct it. Also, make sure that the printer prints to the right paper tray. Failure to which it will lead to a paper jam. If the roller seems to be loose, tighten it carefully. If the roller looks shiny, it may need a replacement. Besides, never pull paper in the opposite direction that it feeds in. Always pull it in the paper path direction.
Windows sends print jobs to a wrong printer
It happens when Windows selects a default printer by itself. If you are using Windows 7, click the Start button and point to Devices and Printers. You will see various printers listed under Printer and Faxes. Right-click the desired printer and click Set as default printer. If prompted, confirm the action and exit Devices and Printers. Restart your computer and printer. Test a print page and check back. Windows should print to the right printer now.
If you are using Window XP, click the Start button and point to Control Panel. Double-click Hardware and Sound and then Printers. Look for the printer that you want to set as default, right-click it and then choose Set as Default Printer.
Print Spooler service stops working
This is again a common problem with HP printers. To get rid of this problem, click the Start button and point to Run. When in Run dialog box, type 'services.msc' (without quotes) and hit Enter. This will take you to the Services window. On the right hand side, look for Print Spooler, right-click it and select Restart. When prompted, confirm the action and exit the Services window. If prompted, restart your computer. When done, test a print page.
50.4 error message
The error message indicates a power supply problem and generally occurs when the power cord of your printer is plugged into a power strip or the UPS. To get rid of this error message, plug the printer directly into a power outlet.
Printouts are too light, have spots
Often a printer starts printing light or spotty when the ink\toner cartridge is either dried up or clogged. Remove the ink\toner cartridge. Take a soft cloth and dip it into either hot water or alcohol. Now rub the soft cloth cautiously against the print head. Also, rub it on the underside of the nozzle of the printer. It will soften the ink and let the printer print properly. Put the ink cartridge back in place. Print a test page and check back.
Error message 69.x
This shows a temporary glitch on your printing device. To make this message disappear, you simply need to power off your printer, wait for 10-15 seconds and then power it on. This will reset the configurations and make your printer start working again. In case the message still appears, power off both printer and computer and then turn them on.
Error message 10
The error indicates a Supplies Memory Error. Depending on your HP printer model, the error can occur due to various reasons. To get rid of the problem, power off your printer and unplug it from the power outlet. Wait for 10-15 seconds before plugging the printer back in. When done, plug the printer back into power outlet, power it on, and let it warm up properly. When done, print a test page and check back. Your printer should start working fine now. There may also be a problem with your printer's memory. Replace its memory stick.
Cannot fit more text on the page
You may want your print page to have a substantial text amount, but your default printer settings may not let you do so. Sometimes, you may also face a problem when shrinking the text on a sheet. To get rid of this problem, go to Printer Properties in Control Panel. Change the printer settings to accommodate more pages for each sheet. For example, click the drop-down menu under Pages per sheet and posters and select it to 2 or 3 as desired per pages. Click the OK button. The settings may differ according to your printer model. Refer to your HP printer support manual for correct settings.
Wireless printer problems
Wireless printers are great for home or office use. However, they cannot beat wired printers when it comes to speed. Wireless printer users often face printer slow problems. To make sure that your wireless printer works at a decent speed, use a unique channel number in your router. Besides, place your printer close to your Wi-Fi router. Keep gadgets like cordless phones, security alarms away from your wireless router. These gadgets create electrical interference and cause your printer to function slowly.
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