Maybe it needs a new cartridge? Mine prints blue when the color is running out. To fix the other problem, turn it off, unplug it from the back and wait a few minutes to plug it back in. I'm guessing it hit a glitch of some sort. Last night the storms bounced the electric off then back on here and sometimes that will make the printer hick-up. Mine is an HP all in one. Hope that helps. ;o)

There should be built in tests you can run to see if the heads are aligned and to determine if the heads need to be cleaned. If the tests proves you have either problem it will offer you some ways to fix it. The test can usually be found in the same window that opens when you want to print something.

I have a HP All-in-One and never had any problem with it, but I do think putting in a new cartridge is tricky. Reminds me of that saying about "you just have to hold your mouth right."

Ever since I put the last black cartridge in, I get a message that says if I have just put a new cartridge in, I should align it. I did already . . .several times. Now I just X that message out.

So did you align it last time you put a new cartridge in?

You should have gotten an alignment sheet to check it by.

Sue

Under your eyes?

The stuff that these modern appliances are capable of!

o j

I'm finally back!
My computer went bazurk (is that a word?) while I was trying to fix this.

I have recently replaced both cartriges.
The unplugging didn't do it!
We haven't had any electrical troubles lately.

Jodi and Sue------
That is what I need - to get it alligned, but I have not been able to fine the whereabouts to do it.

I know what you mean about "holding my mouth the right way" to get it in, even to get the cartriges over to the right side in the first place!

I just can't figure out HOW to allign it.
It automatically runs a test pattern each time I turn it on. I'm going to run out of ink before it works right. Each time it runs the little birds at the bottom are messy.
I don't know what to do from there.

O.J. You go to your room! (alone!)

I think my brain waves finally wiggled! LOL
I finally thought to go under PROGRAMS and to HP. There I was able to find the settings I needed.

Sometimes I wonder how I managed for those first years of handling a computer, when I have such a hard time now.

I haven't checked the test pattern yet, but the copy looks good.

Thank you everyone!

What's the model # of your printer? I'll see if I can find the alignment procedure.

In the meantime, a couple thoughts: Have you unplugged the printer from the computer, then powered it down and back up? Also, is there a printer icon in the tray indicating something is in the queue, like something is waiting to be printed?

Another thought: Does the test print give instructions on it? Sometimes it'll tell you to scan that page.

You might give this a try:

1. Turn off the printer and wait 10-20 seconds. Turn it on again

2. Let the printer print the test page.

3. After the test page is printed, unplug the USB cable connecting the printer to your computer. DO NOT turn off the printer while disconnecting the USB cable.

4. Place the test page on the scanner glass and press the SCAN button on the printer.

5. Remove the test page when the ON light is steady.

6. Turn off the printer and wait another 10-20 seconds. Then turn it on again. Hopefully it will not print the test page. Reconnect the printer to your computer via the USB cable.

Post back here with results, please. Good luck!

LOL... of course you now fix it yourself! Good for you.

I just ran another copy and it is not fixed yet.

I don't have any more time tonight, so I will save your step by step, Cynic, and give it a try tomorrow.

Hope you got it working, Hayjud MN.

o j

Nope! It's still not fixed!

Cynic, I tried your method - I even turned around three times and wiggled my nose.
BUT - It still has shadows and makes a test pattern when I turn it on. The test makes a poor picture of the birds at the bottom. It doesn't give me directions and I couldn't find any help in the HELP. My new cartriges are about 3/4 used up already.

I'm wondering about uninstall/ install over again.
Excuse me while I search for the software...............
............. AAAHaaaaaa - I found it! I installed this printer in Feb of 2007.

What do you think, Cynic?
Might that work? (of course this is something new for me!)
Oh you asked the model of my printer. It's a HP Photosmart C3100 series. I noticed (on the picture) that the light is lit down below - it is labeled Photosmart Express. I have never used the photo printing. I have no idea if it has always been on or not, but I can't figure out a way to turn it off.

{{!gwi}}

I doubt that reinstalling it would do anything. It's working, albeit not correctly.

I'm suspicious of the cartridge. Possibly defective or maybe the contacts are not making a good contact with the sensors on the printer, or not seated completely or properly so it doesn't send the signal to the printer. I'd pull the cartridges out and check for pieces of tape or adhesive. Got a few Q-tips and some alcohol? Clean the contacts on the printer and on the cartridge. I'm sure you removed all the tape when you installed the cartridges... right? But it's possible there's some residue.

I know it's using a lot of ink and is frustrating. But I'm really suspicious of the cartridge(s). Do you have another set to try to see if that's the problem? Sounds like these will be empty soon at this rate and will soon be replaced anyway.

Oh, be sure to unplug the printer as you're cleaning the contacts and give it a little time to evaporate so it doesn't short anything out.

It was doing all this before I put in the new ink.

I'll try cleaning. Is alcohol necessary, when I tried adjusting them I noticed a little ink splattered on the door of the printer and also on the color cartrige. I cleaned that with water -- OK, in honesty, I spit washed it, with a tissue.

It was doing all this before I put in the new ink.

I'll try cleaning. Is alcohol necessary, when I tried adjusting them I noticed a little ink splattered on the door of the printer and also on the color cartrige. I cleaned that with water -- OK, in honesty, I spit washed it, with a tissue.

Dinner is ready and Survivor is on, so I'll be back later.

It was doing all this before I put in the new ink.

I'll try cleaning. Is alcohol necessary, when I tried adjusting them I noticed a little ink splattered on the door of the printer and also on the color cartrige. I cleaned that with water -- OK, in honesty, I spit washed it, with a tissue.

Dinner is ready and Survivor is on, so I'll be back later.

Wow! When I studder I really studder!
I clicked on submit and waited and waited, so I clicked it again.

I tried the cleaning, and the shadows are gone, but it still runs a test pattern. I just hit cancel to stop the test pattern and the it prints.

In PROGRAMS I finally found HP - Solution Center
That had all the things for aligning and cleaning etc.
Some of us usually manage to find things right in front of our faces.
Maybe something was plugged in the wrong order.

I give up! I will live with it the way it is.

The bad news is that apparently this is a very common problem with this printer.

Not sure if there's good news or not. The way it sounds from what I've found is that there's probably an issue with, most likely the color cartridge. Several resolved it by replacing the color cartridge, whether defective or a low tank, I'm not sure. Here's one excerpt I found:
"I just got off the HP help line. After changing my black ink cartridge a test page was printing each time I turned the machine on. This is very costly, in both time and ink as the cartridges themselves for this machine hold very little ink. I tried to learn from HP tech how to turn off the test-print while keeping my color cartridge empty. It turns out that you cant do it. HP requires you to keep buying and using cartridges whether you need them or not.If you buy the color ink it will use it up in its testings. And if you dont buy the color cartridge it will use up your black ink by printing the test each time you turn on the printer. The printer was inexpensive sure, but I'm paying for it in wasted ink."

But I did find this at the HP support center:
"To ensure the highest-quality prints, the product performs an automatic alignment process when you setup the product for the first time, and when you replace the cartridges as part of normal maintenance. The product prints an alignment page during this alignment process. You must complete the full alignment process or the product continues to print an alignment page each time you turn the product on or off, or start a print job.
HP used to be solid printers. (sigh) Not anymore. Do you have new cartridges? Also, are the ones in there HP brand or a generic?

Here is a link that might be useful: An Alignment Page Prints Every Time that the All-in-One is Turned On or Off or a Print Job is Started

Found another site that suggests there's a printer setting for Print test page after new Cartridge = Yes or No

I wouldn't give up just yet Judy. Persistence often pays! :)

After I had found the Solution Center and cleaned it up, I also found a button for setting the factory settings. I clicked that.
It is now alligned, but the test pattern runs yet.
To solve that I just push the CANCEL button on the top of the printer just after the test pat. starts. It shoots outs the paper clean, and then it works fine.

I have been in the habit of only turning on the printer when I need a copy. I will just leave it on all day and turn it off at night. I don't really use it very often.