Print Cartridge Alignment

I have just replaced my print cartridges and the printer will not print properly. It attempts to print a test page and all I get is a few lines. It looks nothing like a test page at all. So needless to say when I put that on the screen for the machine to read it, it states there is no test page! After it attempts to read it two or three times it gives up and says its going to use the default settings. With the default settings I'm getting halflines printed or lines totally skipped! I've never had this issue before today. So does anyone know anything about this?

I'll get cartridges tomorrow and let you know what happens.

Similar Messages

A C7280 Photosmart reads print cartridge alignment failed

I have a Photosmart C728 printing blank pages I have exhausted all HP solutions except spending $25 to speak to a person. It still reads "print cartridge alignment failed. See the product documentation for details"!? HELP!

This article should help resolve your blank pages:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01892627&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en
Give the steps listed under your operating system a try and let us know if it helps.
Best of Luck!
You can say thanks by clicking the Kudos Star in my post. If my post resolves your problem, please mark it as Accepted Solution so others can benefit too.

Deskjet F4280 - Prints a cartridge Alignment Page every few minutes

My F4280 has decided to printe cartridge alignment pages every time I turn it on or randomly as it just sits there. When I put the alignment page and hit resume (as it tells me to do) it goes throught some internal movement, then sits there for awhile, THEN prints out another chartridge alignment page. Tried reloading software, but problem still them.
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Hello ImJustAvg,
this should help. When another page comes out of the printer, first disconnect it from the computer and then place the page on the scanner and hit resume. After its done reboot the printer to see if it will still print a page. If it keeps doing it check the quality of the page. there must be black on it and at least 1 color. not counting the color in the picture of the printer.
Say "Thanks" by clicking the Kudos Star in the post that helped you.
Although I work for HP my posts and replies are my own
Please mark the post that solves your problem as "Accepted Solution"

Tired of getting On-Screen Message about aligning new print cartridges.

Hello,
I have an hp Deskjet 5440 Printer. Every few minutes I'm getting the message (on the monitor screen): "If you have just installed a new print cartridge it is recommended that you align it. Click on "Align" to align your new print cartridge."
I use generic ink cartridges which the printer does not recognize so I never go through the alignment process. I did not like using the alignment process even before I started using generic cartridges because it seemed to be a waste of paper, ink, and time. So, whether I'm using generic or hp cartridges I'm getting the message - over & over & over. It really takes the fun out of using my computer. Can anyone tell me how to stop these #$%^* messages?
Thank you,
Bakwtr

The way to stop the alignment messages is to complete the alignment process. Regardless whether the cartridges are new or refilled the alignment process should be done. In addition to the alignment (necessary for best print quality, you may not care) the process also sets the correct operating energy for the printheads. This is important to get the best quality and also life from the cartridges. The amount of ink used in the alignment is tiny, particularly compared to the ink that may be wasted if the printer is not using the correct printhead energy (and temperature).
Bob Headrick, HP Expert
I am not an employee of HP, I am a volunteer posting here on my own time.
If your problem is solved please click the "Accept as Solution" button ------------V
If my answer was helpful please click the "Thumbs Up" to say "Thank You"--V

Printer is aligning cartridges every five minutes!!!

Help - I have HP309g printer and it's decided to start aligning the printer cartridges every five minutes! I let it run through one cycle in the hope that would cure it, but it just indicated 'printer alignment failed' and tried to do it again on the next document. I'm in the middle of a rush job and haven't the time for this - does anyone know how to cure this at least until I get through the stack of very expensive cartridges I 've just bought for this machine - at which point I'm taking it for a trip to the recycling centre!

I purchased a HP photosmart Premium, C310a in Dec.2010. The Black cartridge went empty and I purchased a HP564XL. The Alignment check Failed. This test will not pass. I have followed the procedure over and over. No good. Help!

Alignment of printer cartridges will not complete on my 6500 officejet. No copies. What do I do?

My officejet6500 will not align the printer cartridges. I replaced the black cartridge and have tried
everything and nothing will align the cartridge. I tried cleaning the printhead and used tons of ink--that didn't work either.
Somebody please help.

Black cartridge is full and doesn't print.

Cartridge print head alignment routine lock up

Printer locks up on cartridge alignment after starting to printi the alignment page. Gets as far as the page-edge alighment arrows and then locks up. Every time. Green LED on printer starts flashing fast green when this happens. Have to unplug printer to clear. Similar result if request test page print. But printer is printing fine when I send it a document! It's just that I can no longer do the "align printheads" routine. Have re-installed printer driver. Also installed a "patch" that was on the HP web site. Help, please. Surprisingly, the print quality looks good, even without the print head alignment, but I would like to align my cartridges.

I only use OEM, new, HP ink cartridges. The ink cartridges (both 21 and 22) are new and full. The link you provided is to the standard instructions, which I followed, and which say simply "perform the align cartridges" routine. But as I explained, that routine starts and then locks up. Every time. The routine gets as far as printing the page alignment arrows when the lockup occurs (starts fast flashing on the front panel green LED). I have had this printer for several years, and have performed the align cartridges routine many times without difficulty. Have always used HP OEM cartridges, never any non-OEM refills. Then this lock up problem started. Don't recall if it was associated with one of the HP printer driver updates I get (and install) from time to time. Printer will also lock up if asked to print a test page. But printer works when I send files to it, and the print quality looks good, so the alignment of the cartridges must be pretty close. But it would be nice to be able to perform the alignment, just to be sure.

Print head alignment keeps on getting worse and worse the more I try to "fix" it

First off, I know that this question doesn't really belong in the mbp section, but since I am printing from one, I thought this would be the closest match.
I have an Epson NX420 printer which came with my 2011 mbp 13in for free (err... $100 off the original $95ish to be exact). It will turn 3 years old in less than a month.
This past week, I have had troubles printing "good" images, so I did the print head alignment on Epson Printer Utility 4, following the written directions. I printed something out, and it was still disgustingly off, so I repeated the process two more times, each time printing something different. The vertical alignment is fine, but the horizontal alignment seems to get worse and worse. One thin line will be split into two in some places, and one will be dotted while the other solid, and in the case of color, the two bands are different colors. Solids come out grainy.
I don't want to waste any more paper and expensive ink for something that is not fixing itself. Since my mbp is still under Applecare warrenty, will Apple fix or trade my current printer for another one for free, or does Apple have nothing to do with printers other than its sale? If not, are there alternative ways to fix this problem? I am sure I am choosing the box without any bands at all and if there is I choose the lightest band-in-a-box and click realignment.
Here is the recent printout of random lines and text, after three unsuccesful trials of print head alignment.

This is a printer issue and it's only covered under the Epson Warranty Program, which is 1 year. AppleCare has nothing to do with that.
You'll probably have to replace the printer if the print heads cannot be replaced. That's the issue when you buy an inkjet that has print heads that aren't part of the ink cartriges... when they go bad, they go bad and you're hosed. If the issue persists after a print cartridge change, then it's definitely the heads.

DJ 940c: Installed 78XL Cartridge, it works; printer cartridge light off; Toolbox Low Ink warning on

This is a real workhorse printer and I love it. And looking at this forum, many people feel the same way for everyday color printing. But, on Wednesday, 7/7, I bought a bew HP tri-color cartridge because the old cartridge had run out of yellow ink (for real), the printers's cartridge light was staying on and the HP DeskJet 940c Series Toolbox program had a "Tri-Color Print Cartridge Low On Ink" warning in my Win XP SP3 System Tray. The office supply chain store I went did not have the usual HP 15-78 Combo cartridge set I buy nor did it have an HP 78 tri-color standalone cartridge. They did have a 78XL tri-color cartrige which (supposedly) can print "up to 2X MORE PAGES" because it has twice the amount of ink the HP 78 cartridge has. The package listed the HP deskjet 940 and the store tech person assured me the cartige would fit and I bought it, installed it (yes, it did fit), and aligned the cartridges. A test print using a sprite jpg file I got from Amazon's site printed beautifully. The printer's cartridge light was off but then I noticed the icon in the System Tray. The HP DeskJet 940c Series Toolbox program still had a "Tri-Color Print Cartridge Low On Ink" warning. I turned the printer off, waited awhile, turned the printer on, still had the warning. Restarted the computer. Still had the warning. Am I doomed to always have this Low Ink warning with the 78XL cartridge? Is there some value in the Window's Registry I can chage so the warning goes away until one of the cartridge colors really does get low on ink? If I can do this and I actually do this deed, will the problem occur again if I install an 15XL cartridge? Is this a problem becuause the printer driver or some other HP software does not recognize the signals coming from the 78XL Cartrige chip? If this is the case, are you going to update the drivers from way back (say Microsoft unsupported Windows98 to and through Windows 7, skip 8.x, and 10?

Is the cartridge an original HP or is it a third party remanufactured or refilled cartridge? If you open the printer lid with the power on where does the carriage pointer point?

Check print cartridge error

I installed a new black cartridge in my HP PSC 1410 All-in-One. It printed a sheet to align the cartridges, but it won't scan, and I can't find HP Utilities or Scan or Toolbox on my MAC.
I tried taking one cartridge out, then the other. That did not help. I also tried turning everything off, no luck. The only thing that happened was the printer printed another aligning sheet.
Any suggestions??
Thanks

Hello apgrams,
Welcome to the HP Forums!
I understand you're receiving a few problems with the PSC 1410. I will do my best to assist you! What is your operating system on your Mac computer? Click here to find out.
Are you still receiving "Check Print Cartridges" error?
Is this alignment sheet missing colors? If not, then please follow these steps:
1) Remove all ink cartridges from the printer, then close the door
2) Remove the power cord from the printer (Do not press the power button)
3) Wait 60 seconds or more, then plug the power cord back in
4) Wait for the printer to turn on completely, then install the ink cartridges
5) Try to print another alignment page
I will be looking forward to hearing from you. Have a great night!
I worked on behalf of HP.

Pc2510 Check Right Printer Cartridge/Not Supported/Hourglass Errors

Hello!
If anyone has had success resolving these errors, please let me know, even if it has meant replacing your print cartridge. Thanks!
Error Description:
Original problem: The printer cartridge error message "Check Right Printer Cartridge" is blocking any use of the psc 2510, including scan and nonprinting noncopying functions.
Current problem:Hourglass freeze accompanied by printer sounds (alignment?) which stop, but screen message never advances past hourglass..
Summary of Troubleshooting:
I received an error saying: check cartridge in right stall. Tried cleaning contacts on printer cartridge and printer contacts with distilled water. In process of employing other tactics in online tutorial, I tried unplugging power while the printer was open. Ever since, it just runs through hourglass and printer sound, but does not advance past this screen icon.
Customer Technical Support:
Suggested a semi-reset of # and 6 keys plus unplug and replug or try new print cartridge. When asked if there was anything I could try before purchase of a new cartridge, suggested I unplug and hold power buton for 10 seconds, then replug. (Full description of these at bottom). Upon further research, representative suggested an upgrade.
Hourglass fix attempts employed from forums:
Tried to plug into wall outlet vs. power strip. (Fully plugged in loose connection to brick when noticed was not in all the way.) Reset modem. No results.
What I Haven't Tried:
Have not tried a new printer cartridge until have exhausted all non-monetary fixes.
Full Description of Troubleshooting:
The first error: check cartridge in right stall occurred suddenly after problem-free use.
The contacts on the black cartridge were cleaned but the error persisted.
After disconnecting use for a time, I reconnected last night to troubleshoot printer cartridge error on current Mac machine. Installation was completed successfully.
The same error occurred once setup was complete.
I performed the following:
1) cleaned contacts on black cartridge using distilled water.
2) unplugged power cord (per post in forum)
3) unplugged power cord and tried pressing cancel/left arrow (per same post in forum)
4) cleaned contacts behind black cartridge on printer
5) removed black cartridge, closed machine and got insert black cartridge error (attempt to determine which cartridge was the problem)
6) Even though this message appeared to indicate the black cartridge was the problem (per web support article) I cleaned the contacts on and behind the color cartridge as well.
In the course of all of this trouble shooting I got a second error: "Print cartridge in right stall not supported."
I noticed that the fit is looser than in the color cartridge. I inspected the spring and cartridge area for damage and found none. Cleaned dirt however below contacts on machine.
Also, at one point during the trouble shooting I was able to get to the scan menu but then it quickly reverted to the first error message.
7) Per general support article online, I tried unplugging the power while the lid was opened (as indicated during cleaning of cartridges.) This information was not in the manual that came with my machine. I was hoping this might reset things.
Then I got the third error: a period of sounds of the printer (alignment?) followed by hour glass on screen.
The 2510 appears to be frozen. No buttons like cancel or menu or on button caused any response.
I unplugged it again (this time with the lid closed) and got the same series. A period of sounds like alignment and then a halt of sounds with the hourglass still on the screen.
Customer Service Rep sent the following:
Email 1:
1.      While the printer is powered on, without turning it off, unplug the power cable from it.
2.      Press and hold the # and 6 keys together and while you are holding them, plug the power cord into the printer
3.      Hold the keys for about 30 seconds, while the printer tries to power on, and release the buttons.
4.      If the printer turns off, use the on button to power on the printer, and follow the instructions on the display.
If it still comes up with the same error, I request you to try with a new black cartridge and get back to us with the results.
Email 2:
1.      While the printer is powered on, without turning off the printer, unplug the power cable from it
2.      Press and hold the on button for about 10 seconds and release it.
3.      After about 1 minute, plug the power cord back and try powering on the unit.
The reason I suggested to try with a new cartridge is because whenever the printer powers on, it does a self test to make sure all the hardware components are working fine, which includes the cartridges. So if there is any error with the cartridge, then the printer might freeze if it is unable to determine the cause of the issue or the point of failure.
Email 3:
I did some research and the issue seems more likely with the hardware of the printer.[...]
If the issue persists, get back to us with the information below for upgrade options for your printer.
Forums:
I then tried unplugging from power strip into wall outlet and resetting modem without result. Noticed blue light for wireless connection is no longer on.
Message Edited by allinfun2510 on 05-04-2009 05:46 PM
This question was solved.
View Solution.

I had the same issue with my 7610 (error=print cartridge not installed correctly), and tried some of the listed suggestions - opened up another brand new cartridge - same issue; put the old one back in - same issue. So I knew it wasn't a defective cartridge, but rather something wrong with the spring that supports the cartridge, because it didn't seem to 'click' in correctly anymore. Compared the spring on the black (right) side, to the color (left) side, and saw the spring hanging down. Put it back in place a couple times - still without success - until I looked closer and saw that part of the plastic that holds the spring in place must have just broken off. Tried t a little piece of tape to hold the spring in place, and finally, the cartridge worked - for now. Hope this helps someone else if they're having the same issue. Good luck!

How much ink does a print head alignment use on a MX860 printer?

Just wanted to know how much ink is being used when I run a print head alignment job on a MX860 printer?
Thanks.

This is a printer issue and it's only covered under the Epson Warranty Program, which is 1 year. AppleCare has nothing to do with that.
You'll probably have to replace the printer if the print heads cannot be replaced. That's the issue when you buy an inkjet that has print heads that aren't part of the ink cartriges... when they go bad, they go bad and you're hosed. If the issue persists after a print cartridge change, then it's definitely the heads.

Print Cartridge Error (Electrical Failed Pen)

I'm using an HP Deskjet F4400 series, and I just replaced my empty black cartridge. Prior to that, the color cartridge was around 75% full. After installing the black cartridge, I have an error with the color cartridge, Print Cartridge Error (Electrical Failed Pen). I found a thread that suggested cleaning the contacts, but I still have the same error, and cannot use the printer. Please help!
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hi, you could try doing a reset (check out this link ), then try to reseat the cartridges and perform an alignment (details here ). Does this solve the problem?
Although I am an HP employee, I am speaking for myself and not for HP.
Twitter: @Ciara_B_HP

HP 6510 printing only blank pages after changing print cartridges

Hi,
My HP 6510 is printing only blank pages after I installed new print ink cartridges. I tried cleaning the print heads, aligning the printer... which did result in some pages printing with a little color (but it seemed "off" to me). That said, when I try to print a regular document from my PC it only prints a blank page.
I can't seem to figure this one out on my own - please help!
Thanks!
Chloe

The document here may help resolve black not printing on your Photosmart 6510. Be sure the cartridges are vented as shown in solution two.
Is your printer still in warranty? You can check with HP's warranty tool here.
Bob Headrick, HP Expert
I am not an employee of HP, I am a volunteer posting here on my own time.
If your problem is solved please click the "Accept as Solution" button ------------V
If my answer was helpful please click the "Thumbs Up" to say "Thank You"--V

C5280 All-in-one Main heading is "! Print Cartridges'

I tried to print a photo from an SD card and as I selected 'print' the screen started flashing and I was prompted to restart the printer. I did this and got a warning saying "! Print Cartridges" followed by "Refer to printer documentation".
I knew my colour ink was low so went and bought a new colour ink cartridge. It loaded fine and did an alignment page.
I tried to print from the SD card again and the same problem happened. Now no matter what I do I only get the "! Print Cartridges" screen warning come up.
Can anyone help please?

Hi Paul
Seem no one responded to your problem, I am pretty much does not like this particular printer, I run so many times with the same issue with you, and had to replace new cartridges again , it worked and re-used that silly old cartidges again, hipppoooo it worked. but the issue has never ended....at one stage , i just bought a cheap new printer .
But if you know the answer , please let me know cos 'am starting using that silly printer again and what , the same message pop up.
thank you

Print Cartridge Alignment

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