Can someone please help me??? I have had this problem with this
printer for a long time now. It tells allignment failed and when the
colors print, only pink and black print. I know it is not the
cartridges, because I have changed them a dozen times and nothing
changes.
Contrary to what you "know", it *is* the cartridge. For starters blot the
cartridge on a damp tissue. Instead of a stripe of cyan, magenta and yellow
you will see only magenta. This will confirm that it is the cartridge. You
need to get a fresh cartridge. Look at the dates on the package, there is
an "install by" date on the package. A cartridge that is very old or that
has been stored at elevated temperatures can have the symptoms you describe.
If you no longer have the original box you can look at the end of warranty
date on the cartridge as shown at:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bua02014
I would bet your cartridges are four or five years old - the warranty
expiration date as shown in the link is two years from the date of
manufacture.
You may be able to recover one of your current cartridges by putting the
cartridge in an old sock, with the nozzle end in the toe. Take it outside
and swing it around your head rapidly for 30 seconds or so. Alternately you
can try soaking the nozzles in 1" or so of hot water for five minutes or so,
or try applying gentle compressed air to the vents in the back end of the
cartridge while resting the nozzles on a damp tissue. Any of these will at
best be band-aid solutions that may work for a while. The real solution is
to get fresh cartridges.
When storing new cartridges for extended periods it is best to keep then
standing upright as they would be hanging on a store display hook. Also
keep the cartridges in a cool place.
Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
