HP Deskjet

Included below are solutions to common problems associated with HP DeskJet printers. Please give us a call if you need further assistance. We are happy to answer your questions.

Won't Pick Up Paper

Problem: The printer seems to have a hard time picking the paper up. Often I have to help the paper into the printer. Can this be repaired?

Solution: Frequent paper jams are often a result of feed rollers worn smooth with use. We can restore the surface finish to a like-new condition without replacing the rollers.

Printer Makes Chattering Noise

Problem: My HP DeskJet makes a grinding or chattering noise when it prints. Is this just a lubrication problem?

Solution: Odd noises during the printing cycle indicate a more serious problem, and we can help . Call us and we can provide estimates and repair services for many popular models, including the Hewlett-Packard DeskJet, Deskwriter, and OfficeJet printers.

Black Streaks

Problem: The output from my inkjet printer is full of black streaks through the letters. What can I do to stop this?

Solution: Open your printer and remove the print cartridge. Use a soft, lintless cloth, slightly dampened with water, to clean accumulated paper dust and ink from the underneath side of the carriage assembly. The carriage assembly is the plastic unit that holds the cartridge or cartridges and moves back and forth over the page. Also, carefully clean the cartridge printhead, making sure that there are no stray pieces of fuzz or lint left on the printhead.

The printhead is the small area on the base of the cartridge that sprays ink on the page. Look at the print cartridge to make sure the protective tape has been removed from the nozzle and vent. Use a damp cloth to clean the copper contacts on the print cartridge and the copper contacts in the carriage assembly. Place the cartridge back into the printer, making sure you install it correctly. If these steps don't take care of your printing problems, it may be time to replace the print cartridge. If this doesn't take care of the problem, call us and we can give the printer a thorough cleaning.

Blurry Images

Problem: Our inkjet printer has been producing images that seem blurry around the edges of the color. Is there anything we can do to sharpen up the edges?

Solution: It sounds like the ink is "blooming" or "wicking," being absorbed into the paper beyond the actual dot size applied. If the problem occurs when printing in a rough or normal print mode, move up to the next higher mode, which will use more and smaller ink dots. (You'll notice, however, that print time will slow with the improvement in print quality.) You can also try lowering the Color Intensity setting. If it's too high (dark), it will apply more ink to the page than is necessary. Finally, the problem may be with your paper. You may be printing on the wrong side of plain paper or bond simply flip the paper over. Also, some papers absorb ink more rapidly than others. Try switching to a different brand or use one of the specialty papers recommended for your printer

What About Refilling?

We've been remanufacturing toner cartridges for HP Laserjet printers for 16 years, and are routinely asked about refilled ink cartridges for HP Deskjet and Officejet printers. Though we recommend and sell compatible ink cartridges for Epson and Canon inkjet printers, we do not currently recommend use of refilled HP inkjet cartridges. Here's why.

The printhead portion of an HP inkjet cartridge cannot be replaced or refurbished to an as-new condition, it can only be cleaned. And it is the printhead portion that "jets" the ink pattern onto the paper.

So, first of all, avoid the do-it-yourself refill kits. All they can do is replace the ink without really cleaning the printhead, and you'll probably ruin some clothing in the process.

Second, if you decide to use a commercially refilled product, you should plan on generally poorer color quality and a lower number of pages-per-cartridge.

You can download a recent reliability study of refilled HP inkjet cartridges here.

Or, you can look at the recent study by Consumer Reports, here, in which they concluded, "While low-priced cartridges might seem like the answer to your prayers, don't give thanks just yet. They're not the bargains they appear to be when you calculate per-photo costs, and they rarely match the excellent photo quality you can get with brand-name ink cartridges."