Quick Fixes & Printer Troubleshooting
This page is designed to help you understand your printer’s error codes, failure symptoms and provide quick fixes for the user. You may be able to avoid a service call and solve the problem with an easy fix. At the very least, you can gain an understanding of what type of printer failure you are experiencing and what to expect.
Common Printer Problems
My Printer is making grinding or rubbing noises when printing and I get an occasional 13.1 jam. Your pickup rollers are probably bald. This problem is typically corrected with new pickup rollers.
My printouts contain a line down the page, what causes this? The toner cartridge or fusing assembly usually causes this. First, change the toner cartridge if you have one in stock. If that does not correct the problem, call for service (804-908-4490)
Recently, my print characters have a fuzzy ‘halo’ around them? The friction of the paper moving through the printer and the rotating drum of the toner cartridge creates an excessive static charge drawing out more toner than what is needed. This creates a ‘halo’ effect around each character of your printout. This happens during cold weather in predominately dry office settings. Adjusting the printer density settings can result in a much “cleaner” look.
My printer hangs at “Processing Job”. Large or graphically complex print jobs can be the culprit of long processing times. Increasing printer memory will shorten these processing times.
When I try to print nothing comes out of my printer. Make sure you have the correct printer selected. Within the application you are printing from, click on the ‘File’ menu and select ‘Print’. An applet will appear displaying all the printers installed. Make sure the printer you want to is highlighted. You can also print a configuration page directly from the printer. Typically, if you can print a config page then there is a problem with the printer communicating with the network.Call for service (804-908-4490)
How do I re-install my printer driver? Your printer driver should be located on your operating system in your printer’s folder. Select Add Printer and follow instructions. If your driver is not located in the OS go to www.hp.com and select software & driver downloads and follow instructions.
How do I flash my printer’s firmware and why? Newer printers allow the firmware to be flashed and upgraded to the latest version. Firmware is basically your printer’s operating system and free upgrades are available at Hewlett Packard’s website. Upgrading your firmware reduces communication errors. Do not attemt this if you are not sure how, you can disable your printer.To flash the firmware, go to www.hp.com and select software & driver downloads and follow instructions.
Understanding Error Codes
Hewlett Packard has a sophisticated error code system, which accurately describes what type of failure your printer is experiencing.
Error 13 Paper Jam. This code describes where in the printer the paper is jamming. The locations are designated 13.1 through 13.6. Quick Fixes include checking to make sure the paper cassette trays and paper are installed correctly and the paper alignment guides in the paper tray are properly seated for the correct paper size. If you do find stuck paper, please remove it as gently as possible so that he paper sensors are not damaged. If paper jams are a chronic problem call for service. (804-908-4490)
Error 14 No EP cartridge. Check that the toner cartridge is installed and fully seated.
Error 16 Toner low. Toner cartridge is low on toner. Try gently rocking the cartridge to redistribute the toner. This may buy you a few hundred extra pages. Plan on replacing toner cartridge soon.
Error 18 MIO Not Ready. The printer is not connected to a LAN or the JetDirect Card is defective. Call for service (804-908-4490)
Error 20 Memory Overflow. Print job has exceeded the memory capacity of the printer. Simplify the print job or install additional memory. Other memory error codes are 21, 24, 25 & 53.
Error 41.3. There is a paper multi feed or the wrong paper size is being used. Check the paper size and make sure it matches what the printer is configured for.
Error 49. Communication Error . See Error 79
Error 50. This can be the mother of all quick fixes. The definition of this error is that the fusing assembly is not getting to the correct temperature. This may be solved by turning the printer off for a minimum of 10 min. and then turning back on. If the message clears, you have just saved yourself a service call. If the error persists call for service. (804-908-4490)
Error 51 & 52. Laser Scanner Malfunction. Call for service. (804-908-4490)
Error 57. Improper Motor Function or Failure. In some instances simply replacing the toner cartridge may clear this error.
Error 79, 80 & 49. These are communication errors. Try turning off the printer. It may just be a corrupt job. If these errors reappear with certain jobs try upgrading the firmware on the printer. Newer printers can be flashed via Hewlett Packard’s website. Go to www.hp.com and select software & driver downloads and follow instructions. If these steps fail to clear these errors call for service. (804-908-4490)
NOTE: For lower end printers, which do not have LCD control panels, light codes are used to describe printer errors. Often, in these cases, a technician is needed to perform a secondary light code analysis to determine the error.
Configuration Pages & Menu Maps
Configuration Pages, Menu Maps and Event Logs are valuable tools for the user in diagnosing printer problems. They convey the current settings of your printer, how to change them and the thirty most recent error codes.
Printing a Configuration Page for a HP 4000, 4100, 5000, 5100, 8000, 8100:
Press the Menu key until Information Menu is displayed
Press the Item key until Print Configuration is displayed
Press the Select Key
Printing a Menu Map for a HP 4000, 4100, 5000, 5100, 8000, 8100:
Press the Menu key until Information Menu is displayed
Press the Item key until Print Menu Map is displayed
Press the Select Key
Printing an Event Log for a HP 4000, 4100, 5000, 5100, 8000, 8100:
Press the Menu key until Information Menu is displayed
Press the Item key until Print Event Log is displayed
Press the Select key.
Printing a Configuration Page for a HP 4200, 4250, 4300, 4350, 4600, 4700, 5500, 9000:
Press ‘Check Mark’ button
Scroll to Information and press the ‘Check Mark’ button.
Scroll to Print Configuration and press the ‘Check Mark’ button.
Printing a Menu Map for a HP 4200, 4250, 4300,4350, 4600, 4700, 5500, 9000:
Press ‘Check Mark’ button
Scroll to Information and press the ‘Check Mark’ button.
Scroll to Print Menu Map and press the ‘Check Mark’ button.
Don't know what toner cartridge your printer uses?
Here's a list of common printers along with their toner order number.
HP PRINTER MODEL CARTRIDGE #
HP IIP 92275A
HP II/III 92295A
HP 3SI/4SI 92291A
HP 1100 C4092A
HP 1150 Q2624A
HP 1200 C7115A
HP 1300 Q2613A
HP 2100/2200 C4096A
HP 2300 Q2610A
HP 4/5 92298X High Yield
HP 4/5 92298A
HP 4V C3900A
HP 4L 92274A
HP 4000/4050 C4127A
HP 4000/4050 C4127X High Yield
HP 4100 C8061X High Yield
HP 4100 C8061A
HP 4200 Q1338A
HP 4250/4350 Q5942X High Yield
HP 4300 Q1339A
HP 4345 Q5945A
HP COLOR 4500 TRANSFER KIT C4196A
HP COLOR 4500 DRUM KIT C4195A
HP COLOR 4500 CYAN C4192A
HP COLOR 4500 BLACK C4191A
HP COLOR 4500 MAGENTA C4193A
HP COLOR 4500 YELLOW C4194A
HP COLOR 4600 TRANSFER KIT C9724A
HP COLOR 4600 BLACK C9720A
HP COLOR 4600 CYAN C9721A
HP COLOR 4600 YELLOW C9722A
HP COLOR 4600 MAGENTA C9723A
HP 5000/5100 C4129A
HP 5000/5100 C4129X High Yield
HP 5SI HIGH YLD C3909X
HP 5SI C3909A
HP 5P C3903A
HP COLOR 5500 TRANSFER KIT C9734A
HP COLOR 5500 BLACK C9730A
HP COLOR 5500 CYAN C9731A
HP COLOR 5500 YELLOW C9732A
HP COLOR 5500 MAGENTA C9733A
HP 8000 C3909X High Yield
HP 8000 C3909A
HP 8100/8150 C4182A
HP 8100/8150 C4182X High Yield
HP COLOR 8500 BLACK C4149A
HP COLOR 8500 CYAN C4150A
HP COLOR 8500 MAGENTA C4151A
HP COLOR 8500 YELLOW C4152A
HP COLOR 8500 TRANSFER KIT C4154A
HP COLOR 8500 DRUM KIT C4153A
HP 9000 C8543A
HP 9000 C8543X
NON HP TONER CARTRIDGE #
BROTHER BR 900 PRINT CART. PC91
BROTHER BR 1170 PRINT CART. PC201
BROTHER PPF-2800 COMP. BT2800
BROTHER PPF4750 DRUM DR400
CANON LC8500/9000 FX4 FX4
CANON LC3170 TONER FX6 1559A002AA
CANON IMG.RUNNER 5000/6000 GPR-4 4234A003AA
