H HP DeskJet 400 Printer Technical Support Solutions Guide
HP DeskJet 400 Printer Technical Support Solutions Guide H HP Part Number 5960-9676 Printed in U.S.A.
Notice The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. HEWLETT-PACKARD MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
Publication History This document is the first Technical Support Solutions Guide (TSSG) for the DeskJet 400 printer. The printing history of this guide is: First Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 1995 Trademark Credits AGFA is a registered trademark of Agfa-Gevaert AG. Arial is a U.S. registered trademark of the Monotype Corporation. CG Times, a product of Agfa Corporation, is based on Times New Roman under license from the Monotype Corporation plc.
Conventions This document uses special conventions to clarify information and ensure your safety and the safety of the product. Pay special attention to the information highlighted in the following ways: Italic type is used for the titles of publications and for emphasis in a paragraph. Warning Warning text is used where danger to an individual can develop. Caution Caution text is used where a risk of damage to equipment can develop. Note Note text is used for special instructions.
About This Guide This guide is designed as a reference for people who provide post-sale technical support to end-users of the HP DeskJet 400 printer. It represents a collection of information gathered from Hewlett-Packard’s dealer and end-user support organizations. The purpose of this guide is to provide answers to frequently asked questions and solutions to common problems. While the contents of this guide is quite comprehensive, it is not all inclusive.
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Contents Chapter 1 Product Information Model Numbers and Product Positioning . . . Support Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printer Options . . . . . . . . . . . Power Adapter Part Numbers . . . . . . . Supplies and Accessories . . . . . . . . User Documentation . . . . . . . . . . Internal Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . Performance Specifications. . . . . . . Reliability Specifications . . . . .
Chapter 3 Operation and Usage Printer Buttons and Lights. . . . . Loading Media . . . . . . . . . Normal Printing from the Paper Tray Manual Single Load . . . . . . Installing/Replacing a Print Cartridge . Maintenance . . . . . . . . . Maintaining Print Cartridges . . . Print Cartridge Safety . . . . Cleaning the Print Cartridge . . Material Safety Data Sheet . . . Print Cartridge Tips . . . . . Maintaining the Printer . . . . . Thermal Inkjet II Technology . . . Chapter 4 Contents-2 . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 5 Problem Resolution Troubleshooting Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overall Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . Solving Power Adapter Problems . . . . . . . . . Troubleshooting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . Self-Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power On Self-Test . . . . . . . . . . . . Printer Demo Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printer Light Indications. . . . . . . . . . . . Solving Carriage Stall Conditions . . . . . . . .
Chapter 6 Service and Support Information Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Service Support Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HP Express Exchange Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HP SupportPack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HP Customer Return Repair Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Non-U.S.
List of Tables Chapter 1 Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Table 1-1. The HP DeskJet 400 Printer Model Numbers and Product Positioning . 1-2 Table 1-2. Table 1-3. Table 1-4. Table 1-5. Table 1-6. Table 1-7. Table 1-8. Table 1-9. Table 1-10. Table 1-11. Table 1-12. Table 1-13. Table 1-14. Table 1-15. Table 1-16. Table 1-17. Table 1-18. Table 1-19. Chapter 2 HP DeskJet 400 Printer Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 3 Operation and Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 Description of Printer Buttons and Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 Media Loading Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5 Common Problems with Print Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8 Table 3-1. Table 3-2. Table 3-3. Chapter 4 Printer Driver Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1 Product Information Chapter Contents Section Title Page Model Numbers and Product Positioning . . . . Support Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printer Options . . . . . . . . . . . . Power Adapter Part Numbers . . . . . . . Supplies and Accessories . . . . . . . . . User Documentation . . . . . . . . . . Internal Fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . Performance Specifications . . . . . . .
Model Numbers and Product Positioning Table 1-1. The HP DeskJet 400 Printer Model Numbers and Product Positioning Printer HP DeskJet 400 Printer Model Number Model Status C2642A C2642B Available Product Positioning Professional quality black printing and easy-to-add color printing option for the home and small office users. Support Tools Hewlett-Packard recommends the following tools for supporting HP DeskJet 400 printer.
Features and Benefits Table 1-2. HP DeskJet 400 Printer Features and Benefits Feature Benefit Black output resolution: • 600 by 300 dots per inch Letter-quality output at an affordable price. Prints on plain paper No special paper required. Drop-on-demand thermal inkjet printing Proven reliable, letter-quality, and quiet printing solution. Paper tray that is foldable Flexible media handling. The paper tray can load paper and transparencies automatically.
Table 1-2. HP DeskJet 400 Printer Features and Benefits (Continued) Feature Benefit TrueType scalable fonts support in Windows using the HP printer driver included with the printer The HP DeskJet 400 also supports TrueType scalable fonts Create any size text needed in Windows 3.1. Grayscale output in Windows using the HP printer driver 256 levels of grayscale with enhanced dithering using the current HP DeskJet 400 printer driver.
Views paper feed button power button change cartridge button paper separator paper tray paper size selector (A4/LTR) paper width guide manual feed slot power socket parallel port cable track Figure 1-1. The HP DeskJet 400 Printer print cartridge holder envelope lever printer door Figure 1-2. The HP DeskJet 400 Printer (Internal View) Note • For physical dimensions, see “Physical Specifications” later in this chapter.
Printer Options The HP DeskJet 400 printer uses a power adapter. When replacing the power adapter, quote the power Adapter number listed below. Table 1-3. HP DeskJet 400 Printer Options 1-6 Region or Country HP DeskJet 400 Printer Option Number Power Adapter Included Language of User Documentation Argentina C2642A #AC8 9100-5129 US English/French/L.Spanish/B.Portuguese Australia C2642A #ABG 9100-5127 UK English Canada/Brazil/Mexico C2642A #ABM 8120-6732 US English/French/L.Spanish/B.
Power Adapter Part Numbers Table 1-4. Power Adapters Plug Type DJ Country or Region Power Adapter Part Number Region’s AC Voltage U.S.
Table 1-4.
Supplies and Accessories Table 1-5. HP DeskJet 400 Printer Supplies and Accessories Part Number Supply/Accessory Description 51626A Black print cartridge 51625A Color print cartridge C3280A C3281A C3282A Color Kit, including the color print cartridge (cyan, magenta, and yellow inks) and cartridge storage container U.S.A.
User Documentation Table 1-6.
Internal Fonts Note Windows 3.1 does not support these internal fonts. The HP DeskJet 400 printer driver uses TrueType fonts when printing from Windows 3.1 (see “Selecting a Printer Driver” in chapter 4). Table 1-7. Internal Portrait Fonts Portrait Fonts Comments Courier Upright (6 and 12 point) 5 cpi 10 cpi 16.
Specifications Table 1-9.
Table 1-10. Reliability Specifications Category Specification Printer usage 5,000 pages per year Mean time between failures (MTBF) 20,000 hours Mechanism life 25,000 pages Table 1-11. Graphics Resolution Horizontal Resolution Vertical Resolution Number of Dots Per Pixel 75 pixels per inch (ppi) 75 ppi 16 100 ppi 100 ppi 9 150 ppi 150 ppi 4 300 ppi 300 ppi 1 Table 1-12.
Table 1-13. Physical Specifications Figure 1-7 Reference Approximate Dimensions Approximate Weight Printer with the paper tray closed Width Height Depth A B C 13.7 in. (348.5 mm) 6.96 in. (176.9 mm) 6.43 in. (163.3 mm) 6.6 lb (3 kg) Printer with the paper tray extended Width Height Depth A D E 13.7 in. (348.5 mm) 6.96 in. (176.9 mm) 11.1 in. (281.9 mm) Item B A C D E Figure 1-3.
Table 1-14. Packaging Dimensions Specifications Packaging Dimensions Specifications Figure 1-8 Reference Dimensions of Package A B C 17.7 in. (450 mm) 9.1 in. (230 mm) 11.2 in.
Table 1-15.
Table 1-16. Product Safety Specifications Item Safety Certification Power Adapter UL CSA TÜV SEMKO NEMKO KEMA FIMKO LCIE SECV DEMKO SEV MITI NOM1 Printer with Power Adapter UL CSA TÜV NOM1 Item Printer with power adapter EMI Certification FCC Class B when used with a Class B computing device (U.S.A.
Table 1-17. Paper Handling Specifications Category 1-18 Specification Printable weights Paper Auto feed Paper Manual feed Envelopes Cards 16 to 24 lb (60 to 90 g/m2) 16 to 36 lb (60 to 135 g/m2) 20 to 24 lb (75 to 90 g/m2) 110 ib Index max: 8.5 pt max thickness (110 to 200 g/m2) Media size U.S. Letter A4 U.S. Legal U.S. Executive B5-JIS US No. 10 envelope DL envelope 8.5 in. ✕ 11 in. 210 mm ✕ 297 mm 8.5 in. ✕ 14 in. 7.25 in. ✕ 10.5 in. 182 mm ✕ 257 mm 4.12 in. ✕ 9.5 in.
black and color printing 0.08 inch (U.S. Letter, Legal and Executive) 2.0 mm (A4) black and color printing 0.25 inch (U.S. Letter, Legal and Executive) 3.2 mm (A4) Printable area Portrait orientation black and color printing 0.25 inch (U.S. Letter, Legal and Executive) 3.6 mm (A4) black printing 0.50 inch (U.S. Letter, Legal and Executive) 12.7 mm (A4) color printing 0.66 inch (U.S. Letter, Legal and Executive) 16.8 mm (A4) Figure 1-5. Printable Area (Portrait Orientation) 0.25 inch (U.S.
Table 1-18. Printable Area1,2 Portrait Mode Page Size Printable Area3 U.S. Letter 8.5 ✕ 11 in. (215.9 ✕ 279.4 mm) black printing: 8.0 ✕ 10.5 in. (203.2 ✕ 266.7 mm) color printing: 8.0 ✕ 10.34 in. (203.2 ✕ 262.6 mm) U.S. Legal 8.5 ✕ 14 in. (215.9 ✕ 355.6 mm) black printing: 8.0 ✕ 13.5 in. (203.2 ✕ 342.9 mm) color printing: 8.0 ✕ 13.34 in. (203.2 ✕ 338.8 mm) Executive Paper 7.25 ✕ 10.5 in. (184.2 ✕ 266.7 mm) black printing: 6.75 ✕ 10.0 in. (171.5 ✕ 254.0 mm) color printing: 6.75 ✕ 9.84 in. (171.
Table 1-19.
1-22 Product Information
2 Installation and Configuration Chapter Contents Section Title Page Items Included . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting Power to the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting the Printer to a Power Adapter . . . . . . . Centronics Parallel Pinout Information . . . . . . . . . Connecting the Interface Cable and Establishing Communication Installing Windows Printer Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . Configuring the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Items Included user’s Guide HP DeskJet 400 printer black print cartridge Power adapter power Printeradapter printer software Figure 2-1. Items Included Note 2-2 Items not included with the HP DeskJet 400 printer are listed below: – Centronics Parallel Interface Cable – Color Kit See tables 1-5 through 1-9 for the part numbers of these HP DeskJet 400 printer accessories.
Connecting Power to the Printer Connecting the Printer to a Power Adapter Caution Power adapters emit some magnetic interference. Place the adapter on the floor, or at least one inch (approximately 3 cm) away from the computer, disk drive, or hard disk. 1. Plug the power adapter firmly into the printer’s power socket. Plug the other end of the power adapter cable into a grounded electrical outlet. A 0m 40 2.
Centronics Parallel Pinout Information Data 7 Data 6 Data 5 Data 4 Data 3 Data 2 Data 1 Data 0 Strobe (STR) Acknowledge (ACK) Busy Paper Error (PE) Ready Signal Ground Chassis Ground +5V 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 Error (ERR) Reset/Input Clear Ground Figure 2-2. Centronics Parallel Interface Connector Table 2-2.
Connecting the Interface Cable and Establishing Communication • Use a Centronics parallel interface cable to connect HP DeskJet 400 printer to the computer. 1. Turn off the computer and the printer. 2. Connect the printer end of the interface cable to the parallel interface port on the printer. Snap both clips into the notches of the connector to secure the cable to the computer.
3. Connect the computer end of the parallel cable firmly into the parallel port on your computer and tighten the screws on the connector. 5. Establish communication between the computer and the printer by sending the following DOS command: MODE LPT1:,,P For DOS 5.0 and DOS 6, send MODE LPT1: RETRY=R This command causes infinite retries when sending data so that the computer does not timeout while waiting for the printer to print. All data is directed to parallel port 1.
Installing Windows Printer Drivers This section outlines the procedures for installing Microsoft’s and Hewlett-Packard’s printer drivers for Windows 3.1. For more information on available printer drivers, see “Windows Printer Driver Information” in chapter 4. Installing the Printer Driver for Microsoft Windows Users Ensure you have the minimum system requirements: 80386 processor and above Microsoft Windows 3.1 and above DOS 3.
Configuring the Printer Go to the printer setup to configure the printer. Follow the instructions on the screen to set the configuration. Alternatively, you could configure the printer by using the DJPMenu Configuration Utility for DOS environment. Setting up the Printer Go to the printer setup and select HP DeskJet 400.
Localizing Factory Defaults You can also use the DJPMenu configuration utility to change the factory default settings to those appropriate to a particular country. Then when you reset the printer to the factory defaults, you will be setting them to the “country defaults” that you changed with the DJPMenu configuration utility. Changing a country default will cause the printer — after you have reset it — to use the default character set and media size setting appropriate for that country. See table 2-3.
2-10 Installation and Configuration
3 Operation and Usage Chapter Contents Section Title Printer Buttons and Lights . . . . . Loading Media . . . . . . . . . Normal Printing from the Paper Tray Manual Single Load . . . . . . Installing/Replacing a Print Cartridge . Maintenance . . . . . . . . . Maintaining Print Cartridges . . . Print Cartridge Safety . . . . Cleaning the Print Cartridge . . Material Safety Data Sheet. . . Print Cartridge Tips . . . . . Maintaining the Printer . . . . . Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printer Buttons and Lights Note For patterns of lights on the printer that indicate problems, see “Printer Light Indications” in chapter 5. Table 3-1. Description of Printer Buttons and Lights Icon Button or Light Description Power light Lights when the printer is on; blinks when the printer is receiving information from the computer or when printing. Power button Press this button to turn the printer on or off. Paper Feed light Blinks when the printer is out of paper.
Normal Printing from the Paper Tray 2. Switch the media size selector (A4/LTR) according to the size of the paper that you are loading in: either A4 or US letter. 3. Insert a stack of paper into the paper tray with the print side down. If you are loading letterheads or HP transparencies, insert them print side down, with the top of the page going into the printer. 1 LT R LT A4 R LT A4 R A4 LT R A4 1. Open the paper tray and extend it to either the A4 or the LTR (US Letter)1 mark. 4.
Manual Single Load 1. Select Manual Feed in the Printer Setup dialog box. 2. Open the paper tray. 3. Open the printer door and switch the envelope lever to envelope if you are using envelope, labels or thick paper. Switch the lever to paper if you are using paper or transparencies. Then close the printer door. 4. Align the media against the molded line of the manual feed slot (on the back of the printer). Insert the paper until the printer pulls the paper out. .
Notes • If you are loading letterheads or HP transparencies, insert them print side up, with the top of the page going into the printer. • Remember to switch the envelope lever to paper after you have finished printing envelopes, labels, or thick paper. For optimal print quality, ensure that the envelope lever is adjusted according to what you want to print. Table 3-2. Media Loading Information Topic Information Transparencies Transparencies can either be fed by hand or loaded into the paper tray.
Installing/Replacing a Print Cartridge Caution • Do not let the print cartridge contacts and nozzles touch any surface or object, including your fingers. Oil and dust can cause missing dots and other print quality problems. • The star wheels on the printer door have sharp edges. make sure your hand does not get in contact with the star wheels. 1. If the printer is off, turn it on. 2. Open the printer door 3. Press the Change Cartridge button to move the print cartridge holder to the middle position. 4.
7. Push the green top in until the print cartridge snaps into place. 8. Close the printer door. 9. Press the Change Cartridge button again to bring the carriage back home position so that it is ready to print. Note Use only a recommended print cartridge. See table 1-5 for the part numbers. If you did not install a recommended print cartridge, the print cartridge holder will move back to the loading position, and the Change Cartridge light will continue to blink.
Table 3-3. Common Problems with Print Cartridges Problem Possible Causes Solution Nothing prints • Tape may be covering the print cartridge nozzles. • The print cartridge is out of or nearly out of ink. • The print cartridge is faulty. • The printer is faulty. See “Troubleshooting Print Cartridges” and “Solving Print Quality Problems” in chapter 5. Print fades, rows of dots are missing, or print quality is otherwise unsatisfactory • The print cartridge may be faulty.
Maintenance The HP DeskJet 400 printer does not require any scheduled maintenance. Periodic cleaning, however, not only enhances the look of the printer, but also maintains it in optimum condition. Cleaning may also make it easier to diagnose a problem visually. Maintaining Print Cartridges In order to maintain optimum print quality, the printer automatically performs the operations of “spitting”, wiping, and capping the print cartridge nozzles.
Print Cartridge Tips • • • • • • • • Do not use print cartridges after the expiration date. See “Identifying the Print Cartridge Expiration Date” in chapter 5. Keep the print cartridges sealed in the packaging container until ready for use. The print cartridges have a longer life sealed in this container than in the printer. Keep opened print cartridges in the printer or in the print cartridge storage container. Turn off the printer by pressing the Power button rather than unplugging the power adapter.
Thermal Inkjet II Technology The HP DeskJet 400 printer uses Thermal InkJet II (TIJ II) technology. This technology is based on a disposable print cartridge which propels ink out of 48nozzles. The basic principle of TIJ II is to apply heat to a tiny measure of ink until it expands and is propelled through a nozzle. The first step in the process is to fill a small reservoir, known as the firing chamber, with ink. The next step is to heat the ink with a thin-film resistor layered above the firing chamber.
3-12 Operation and Usage
4 Printer Drivers Chapter Contents Section Title Page Windows Printer Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . Microsoft’s Printer Drivers for Windows . . . . . . . . Hewlett-Packard’s Printer Drivers for Windows . . . . . Printer Driver Features and Capabilities. . . . . . . . HP DeskJet 400 Printer Driver for Windows . . . . . Minimum Configuration for Hewlett-Packard’s Printer Drivers Common Windows Printer Driver Problems . . . . . . Composite Black Ink . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windows Printer Drivers Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft provide several HP DeskJet 400 printer driver solutions for Windows 3.1. This chapter identifies available printer drivers and which driver to choose for optimum performance. Some users may choose to use the Microsoft printer driver, although the driver has limited capabilities. Microsoft’s and Hewlett-Packard’s printer drivers can be installed in Windows at the same time and assigned to the same port.
Printer Driver Features and Capabilities HP DeskJet 400 Printer Driver (v6.0) for Windows The HP DeskJet 400 Printer Driver for Windows (v 6.0) provides the following features and capabilities: • Windows 3.
Minimum Configuration for Hewlett-Packard’s Printer Drivers Hewlett-Packard’s printer drivers require the following minimum system configuration: CPU 80386 processor or greater Memory 2 MB of RAM for monochrome printing 4 MB of RAM for color imaging Free Disk Space 10 MB free of disk space (for installation of printer driver) Software Compatibility Microsoft Windows version 3.1 and above DOS 3.
Common Windows Printer Driver Problems Table 4-1. Common Windows Problems Problem Solution Difficulty installing the printer driver. 1. Close all other applications and memory resident programs. 2. Reinstall the printer driver using the HP Printer Setup program (SETUP). Do not install through the Control Panel. Printer won't print from Windows 1. Make sure the printer is on, the Power light is on, and the printer is properly connected to the computer with the appropriate cable. 2.
Increasing the Printing Speed Table 4-2. Increasing the Printing Speed Printing Speed Factor Computer and printer configuration Solution 1. Use a more powerful computer. For example, a computer with a pentium processor rather than an 80386 processor. 2. Use the paper tray rather than feeding sheets manually into the printer. Paper handling is quicker with the paper tray. 3. When possible, use econofast mode. The printer prints faster in econofast mode. 4.
5 Problem Resolution Chapter Contents Section Title Troubleshooting Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . Overall Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . Solving Power Adapter Problems . . . . . . . . . Troubleshooting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . Self-Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power On Self-Test . . . . . . . . . . . Printer Demo Page . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printer Light Indications . . . . . . . . . . . Solving Carriage Stall Conditions . . . . . . . .
Troubleshooting Tools The following tools are recommended for troubleshooting the HP DeskJet 400 printer: • • • • • • 5-2 Dial caliper or accurate linear scale Tissue paper Cotton swabs Rigid card stock Clean soft cloth Voltmeter (used to check the voltage out of the power adapter) Problem Resolution
Overall Troubleshooting Start Printer fails to power up correctly (power light off)? Yes Read “Solving Read Power Adapter “Troubleshooting Problems” in this Battery Pack and AC Operations” in chapter. this chapter. A Read “Printer Light Indications” in this chapter. Communication problem with the host? No Light flashing, alternately flashing or flashing in unison? Yes No Paper load or eject problems? No Goto A. Read “Troubleshooting Communication Problems” in this chapter.
Solving Power Adapter Problems Table 5-1. Solving Power Adapter Problems Problem Printer will not operate Solution 1. Verify that the correct power adapter has been used. 2. Verify that the power adapter connector is fully seated in the printer’s power socket. 3. The user may not be pressing the Power button long enough. Press the Power button until the light turns on. 4. Check the voltage out of the power adapter. Replace the power adapter if it is faulty. 5. The printer may be faulty.
Printer Demo Page The printer demo page pattern printed with a black print cartridge installed shows the following: • • • • • • A nozzle test pattern that identifies any ink nozzles that are not printing.
Figure 5-2.
Printing Problems Table 5-2. HP DeskJet 400 Printing Problems Problem Probable Cause Printing is skewed or slanted Sheets are not feeding into the printer correctly. See “Avoiding Print Skew” in this chapter. The print on your pre-printed forms is slanted. Re-print the forms. The tape(s) that cover the ink nozzles of a new print cartridge have not been removed. First remove the print cartridge from the printer. Then remove the tape(s) covering the ink nozzles and re-install the cartridge.
Printer Light Indications The HP DeskJet 400 printer lights blink on and off to give you information about what the printer is doing. Change cartridge Paper Feed Power Figure 5-3. Printer Buttons and Lights Note One or more blinking lights suggests that user intervention is needed. Table 5-3. Printer Light Indicatons Printer Light Indication Probable Cause Solution The Paper Feed light is blinking The printer is out of paper. The paper is not properly loaded. Load paper into the paper tray.
Table 5-4. Error Light Patterns Error Light Indication Probable Cause Solution None of the lights lit up Internal ROM is defective Return printer for replacement of main PCA Change Cartridge light lits up Print cartridge carriage cannot move Check the carriage path for physical obstruction Return printer for repair Paper light lits up Paper is jammed Remove paper or other obstruction from the paper path.
Solving Carriage Stall Conditions A carriage stall error condition occurs if the printer detects a problem with the movement of the print cartridge cradle along the printer carriage. In order to exit from a carriage stall, you have to turn the printer off. The Change Cartridge light is on when an HP DeskJet 400 printer detects a service station motor stall.
5. If the printer has a carriage stall error condition, look for obstructions or binding along the printer carriage path. Slide the print cartridge cradle back and forth across the printer mechanism. If the problem cannot be resolved, return the printer for repair. 6. If the printer has a service station motor stall error condition, look for any visible obstructions around the service station (right end of the mechanism) that may be hindering the service station operation.
Troubleshooting Paper Feed Operations Table 5-5. Media Related Problems Problem or Indication Possible Causes and Solutions If you are using manual feed Print is skewed or slanted See “Avoiding Print Skew” in this chapter. Printer does not pick up sheets fed by hand 1. Wait for the printer paper feed rollers to stop turning. Then insert the media in the paper feed slot again. 2. Make sure that the sheet you are feeding is aligned with the molded line in the paper feed slot.
Table 5-5. Media Related Problems (Continued) Problem or Indication Possible Causes and Solutions If you are using the paper tray Media loading from the paper tray is skewed or slanted 1. Media of different types or weights may be loaded together in the IN tray. If so, remove all the media and replace with a single type. 2. Reload the media. Make sure that: • The stack of media is pushed against the right side of the IN tray.
Clearing Paper Jams 1. Turn off the printer and remove the paper from the paper tray. 2. Open the printer door and remove it by grasping its sides and pulling it up. 3. Open the paper separator (the flap that separates the printed pages from the blank sheets) by pulling it toward you. 4. Grip the jammed paper firmly by its sides and pull it out slowly. 5. Close the paper separator and re-attached by placing the door flat on the paper tray.
Table 5-6. Possible Causes for Paper Jams Possible Cause Solution Paper is out-of-specification Use paper that meets the specifications listed in chapter 1. IN tray is too full Make sure that the stack of paper in the IN tray is no more than 0.2 inch (5 mm) high. Paper is too long • Use only media sizes recommended in chapter 1. • Do not use continuous Z-fold paper in the printer. Paper is not loaded correctly Make sure the paper is not buckled.
Avoiding Print Skew Print skew results when the movement of paper in the mechanism is not square to the carriage movement. The result is inconsistent print margins along the paper’s edge. • • • • Print skew is determined by three elements: – The printer itself may skew paper that is otherwise within specification and loaded correctly. – The paper may not be square. – The paper may not be properly loaded. The squareness of the paper can be measured (see below).
Measuring Print Skew 1. Load a stack of paper in the IN tray. Use paper with squareness that is within tolerance. 2. Print a page of information that should display a consistent left margin down the page. DJP601 3. Take measurements to determine the print skew on the page. A. Measure the distance from the left edge of the paper to the upper left corner of the printout. This is distance “A” in the figure below. B.
Troubleshooting Communication Problems Start Printer connected to some type of sharing device? Yes Disconnect the printer from the sharing device. Connect the printer directly to the host. Retest. No From DOS, send the following command to print the DOS directory: DIR>LPT1: Printer communicates without the sharing device? No Prints the DOS directory? No Goto A. 5-18 Problem Resolution Yes Sharing device is probably not the cause, however, continue testing without the sharing device.
A Cable fully seated on the printer and host connectors? No If using a different interface Verify that interface cable from thethe one included cable used is a Centronics with the printer, verify the Interface cable and that the cable is a Centronics Interface cable fully seats on the cable and that the cable fully printer interface connector. seats on the printer interface connector. Yes Connect the printer to a different host or connect a different printer to the same host. Retest.
Troubleshooting Print Cartridges Short Print Cartridge Life There are several causes for a short print cartridge life. The information below describes the average print cartridge life for the two recommended print cartridges and possible causes for a reduction to this expected print cartridge life. Table 5-7.
Table 5-8. Possible Causes for Short Print Cartridge Life — Black or Color (Continued) Possible Cause Explanation The print cartridge packaging seal was broken too soon The print cartridge has a longer life sealed in its packaging rather than in the printer. Keep print cartridges sealed in their packaging until needed. Then, install the print cartridge in the printer promptly.
Identifying the Print Cartridge Expiration Date Print quality problems may be caused by print cartridges that have passed their expiration date. There are two methods for determining whether a print cartridge is past its expiration date: 1. If the print cartridge is in the original packaging, read the 2. Determine the earliest and latest possible expiration dates “Use Before” date printed on the box. The date can also be from the code printed on the print cartridge.
Table 5-9. Print Cartridge Life Specifications — Age Print Cartridge Print Cartridge Life Part Number Description Sealed in its Container (Shelf Life) Open in the Printer or in the Storage Container1 51626A Black Print Cartridge 18 Months 90 Days 51625A Color Print Cartridge 18 Months 180 Days 1. At office, with ambient printing at least once a month. Table 5-10.
Using the Print Cartridge Cleaning Routine When dots or lines are missing from printouts, use the following routine to clear the print cartridge ink nozzles. The HP DeskJet 400 printer can clean either a black or a color print cartridge. 1. Hold the change cartridge button while pressing the power 2. If you are using manual feed, insert a sheet of Letter- or A4button. size paper in the paper feed slot. LT R 4 A 5 B 3. The printer will perform a series of “spits and wipes” on the 4.
Removing Crusted Ink from the Print Cartridge Nozzles Print cartridges left out of the printer may have crusted ink on the print cartridge nozzles. Do not install a print cartridge with crusted ink into the printer. Use the following procedure to remove the crusted ink from the nose of a black print cartridge. Caution Use care during this process to avoid staining your hands or clothes with ink from the print cartridge. 1. Grasp the print cartridge by the green top portion of the 2.
Cleaning the Electrical Contacts You may need to clean the electrical contacts on the print cartridge if: • the print cartridge cradle does not return to the home position when you press the Setup button. • the characters printed are incomplete, or if dots or lines are missing from the printouts. To clean the contacts, use the procedure described below: 1. Remove the print cartridge from the printer and clean the 2.
Troubleshooting Print Quality Solving Black Print Quality Problems Table 5-11. Solving Black Print Quality Problems Black Print Quality Issue Possible Cause and Solution Print is faint or fuzzy 1. Was the print cartridge new when installed in the printer or was it a refilled print cartridge? If it was refilled, replace it with a new print cartridge. Hewlett-Packard does not recommend refilling print cartridges and cannot guarantee the quality from a refilled print cartridge.
Table 5-11. Solving Black Print Quality Problems (Continued) Black Print Quality Issue Possible Cause and Solution Black printing is fading 1. Run the print cartridge cleaning routine to clear the nozzles. See “Using the Print Cartridge Cleaning Routine” in this chapter. 2. If the print quality does not improve, replace the print cartridge.
Table 5-12. Solving Color Print Quality Problems (Continued) Color Print Quality Issue Possible Cause Printouts contain inconsistent color fill patterns with horizontal bands or thin lines running completely across the sheet If bands or thin lines run all the way across the printout, the inconsistent color fill pattern can result from either of two problems: waitbanding or overlapping lines. These problems require different solutions.
Table 5-12. Solving Color Print Quality Problems (Continued) Color Print Quality Issue Possible Cause Color fades on transparencies It is possible that the transparencies are being exposed to ultraviolet light, typically from the sun. Check other instruments and machinery near the printer to see that they do not create ultraviolet light. Be sure to protect transparencies from direct or reflected rays of the sun or other sources of ultraviolet.
Printouts Missing Rows of Dots Loren ipsum dolor sit amet, consectuer udipseing elit, sed dium nonumy elusmod tempor incidunt ut labore et delore magna aliquam erat volupat. Ut enim ad minimim veniami quis nostrud exercitation ullamcorpor suscipit laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum 2121659 Figure 5-4.
3. Once the print cartridge and print cartridge cradle contacts 4. The print cartridge may be faulty. Replace the print are dry, reinstall the print cartridge. Retest by printing the cartridge and retest by printing the printer self-test. printer self-test. – If all of the rows of dots are printing, no further – If all of the rows of dots are printing, no further troubleshooting is necessary. troubleshooting is necessary.
Inconsistent Color Fill Patterns Inconsistent Color Fill Pattern Intended Color Fill Pattern 2121662 Figure 5-5. Inconsistent Color Fill Pattern The print quality in color fill patterns is best if the computer sends data at the same rate as the printer prints it. If the computer sends the data slower than the printer prints it, the printer stops and waits for the computer to send more data, resulting in a color banding effect as shown above. This phenomenon is called “waitbanding.
5-34 Problem Resolution
6 Service and Support Information Chapter Contents Section Title Warranty Information . . . . . . U.S. Service Support Contracts . . . HP Express Exchange Service . . HP SupportPack . . . . . . . HP Customer Return Repair Service Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 Non-U.S. Service Support Contracts . . . . . . . .
Warranty Information Hewlett-Packard maintains facilities throughout the world that can service HP DeskJet 400 printer. The warranty for HP DeskJet 400 printer varies, depending on the date of purchase, and the country of purchase. For products returned under warranty, Hewlett-Packard may use one of the following options: • Repair the product. • Replace the product with a remanufactured unit. • Replace the product with a product of equal or greater functionality. • Refund the purchase price.
U.S. Service Support Contracts HP Express Exchange Service Hewlett-Packard offers an express exchange service to minimize product downtime. With HP Express Exchange Service, a replacement unit is available by 10:30 the next working day. HP Express Exchange provides next day exchange service (same as HP SupportPack) but is based on a per incident of repair rather than throughout the warranty period. This service does not need to be purchased within 30 days of the printer purchase date.
Returning a Printer for Service In the U.S. If a printer requires service, the customer can contact a service authorized reseller. The reseller should verify that the printer is in need of repair and contact the HP Corvallis Service Center. Sales authorized resellers should call (800) 544-9976 to arrange for repair. Service authorized resellers should call (503) 750-2035. Customers can contact Hewlett-Packard directly by calling HP Customer Support Center at (208) 323-2551.
In the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands If a printer fails during the warranty period, the customer should do the following: 1. Follow the troubleshooting procedures in this document or consult the HP FIRST facsimile assistance services. 2. If the customer is still unable to determine the cause of the failure, the customer should contact their local reseller or the European Customer Support Center.
Service and Support Resources Obtaining Printer Drivers For the latest available versions of printer drivers, contact the appropriate software vendors directly. Hewlett-Packard offers printer drivers through the HP Forum on CompuServe. As updated and new printer drivers become available, they are uploaded to the HP Forum for instant access by CompuServe members. To become a CompuServe member and gain access to the printer drivers through HP Forum, call (800) 848-8990 from within the U.S. From outside the U.
Table 6-1. Obtaining Drivers and Information (Continued) To Obtain: Check the Following Resources: Presales Information 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. HP FIRST HP Customer Information Center HP Reseller Response Line (HP Authorized Resellers Only) HP BBS CompuServe and Internet HPNN (HP Authorized Resellers Only) Postsales Information 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Table 6-2. Resource Information (Continued) Service/ Support Resource Items Available Phone Number Hours (Pacific Time) 1 (800) 333-1917 (U.S. and Canada) 1 (208) 344-4809 (other countries) 24 hours/day (303) 339-7009 (U.S.
Printer Repair Feedback Information 1. Make a copy of the HP DeskJet 400 Printer Repair Sheet in this section. 2. Observe the problem with the printer. Verify the problem is repeatable. 3. Determine the applicable error code in table 6-3. 4. Fill out the repair sheet and return the repair sheet with the printer. Table 6-3.
Table 6-3.
Table 6-3.
HP DeskJet 400 Printer Repair Sheet Company Information Company ________________________________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________________________________________________ Your Name _______________________________________________________________________________ Printer Informat
A HP PCL Printer Commands and Control Codes HP PCL Printer Command Summary Table A-1.
Table A-1.
Table A-1.
Table A-1. HP PCL Printer Command Summary (Continued) Command Topic Secondary Font1 Designators Printer Command Decimal Equivalent Hex Equivalent Default character set Printer Feature Ec)0@ 027 041 048 064 1B 29 30 40 Default primary chr. set Ec)1@ 027 041 049 064 1B 29 31 40 Current primary chr.
Control Codes Table A-2. HP PCL Printer Control Codes Code Name Symbol Description Value (Dec) Value (Hex) Keystroke Backspace Causes the printer to move the current print position one character position to the left. 08 08 CTRL H Horizontal Tab Causes the printer to move to the next predefined tab position. (Tabs are located every eighth character position, beginning at the left margin.
A-6 HP PCL Printer Commands and Control Codes
Index A C accessories and supplies, 1-9 acoustic specifications, 1-16 alcohol caution, 3-10 all lights blinking, 5-8 altitude specifications, 1-16 area, printable, 1-19 AUTOEXEC.
Change Cartridge light, 3-2 blinking, 3-8, 5-8 change of color hue, 5-29 changing character set defaults, 2-9 configuration of printer, 2-8 country defaults, 2-9 Graphics Density, 2-8 printer settings, 2-8 character set changing defaults, 2-9 default setting, 2-8 character spacing on printout doesn’t match screen, 5-7 characters incomplete or missing from printouts, 5-28, 5-29 checking the interface cable, 5-19 cleaning cloth, lint-free, 1-2 electrical contacts, 5-26 print cartridge, 5-25, 5-26, 5-31 print
diagnosing paper jams, 5-13 problems, 5-1 diagnostics, overall, 5-3 dial caliper, 1-2, 5-2 dimensions, 1-14 of the packaging, 1-15 disk space free for printer drivers, 4-4 DJPMenu program, 2-8, 2-9 specifying Manual Feed, 3-4 document complexity, effect on printing speed, 4-6 documentation, 1-6 options, 1-6 user, 1-10 DOS support, 1-3 dot placement, 1-12 dots missing from printouts, 5-30, 5-31 dots per inch resolution, 1-3 dried ink, removing, 5-25 driver, printer Automatic button, 5-30 Best print quality s
HP Audio Tips, 6-8 HP BBS, 6-8 HP Customer Information Center, 6-8 HP customer return repair service, 6-3 HP Customer Support Center, 6-4, 6-8 HP Dealer Response Line, 6-8 HP DeskJet repair information, 6-9 HP Express Exchange Service, 6-3 HP FIRST, 6-6 HP Forum, 6-6 HP Health Line, 3-9 HP labels, 1-9 HP PCL commands and control codes, A-1 HP PCL Level 3 programming language, 1-7, 1-8, A-1 HP PCL printer control codes, A-5 HP SupportPack, 6-8 HPNN, 6-8 hues of colors change, 5-28 humid conditions, 1-23 tran
landscape internal fonts, 1-11 language of user documentation, 1-10 Letter Gothic internal fonts, 1-11 letterhead printing, 3-5 letter-quality internal fonts, 1-12 mode, 1-12, 3-3 life black print cartridge shelf life, 5-23 color ink cartridge, 5-20 life (continued) color print cartridge shelf life, 5-23 print cartridge, too short, 5-20 printer mechanism, 1-13 life specification ink cartridge, 5-23 light, 5-8 blinking, 5-8 Change Cartridge, blinking, 5-8 diagram, 3-2 error patterns, 5-9 Power, 3-2 light bli
nozzles, print cartridge, 3-10 clearing clogged nozzles, 5-25 dried ink on, 5-24 numbers, model, 1-2 O obstructions, paper path, 5-15 obtaining printer drivers, 6-6 off, turning the printer off and on, 3-2 on, turning the printer on and off, 3-2 open circuits, 5-26 operation and usage, of printer, 3-1 option numbers of printers, 1-9 options, 1-6 documentation, 1-6 power cord, 1-6 output appears greenish, 5-28 lines are jagged, 5-35 resolution, 1-3 overall troubleshooting, 5-3 P packaging specifications, 1
powering the printer, 2-3 pre-printed forms, problems with, 5-16 presales information, 6-7 presentation quality, in color, 1-3 preventive maintenance, 3-9 print appears greenish instead of black, 5-28 is black instead of color, 5-30 modes, 1-12 poor output in Windows, 4-6 resolution, 1-3, 1-12 speed, 1-12 print cartridge, 1-5, 2-2, 3-6 black print cartridge, 1-4 cleaning, 5-26 cleaning routine, 5-26 clearing clogged nozzles, 5-25 color print cartridge, 1-4 color, life, 5-20 color, shelf life, 5-23 crusted i
printer driver (continued) correct driver not selected, 5-7 Extra Dry Time option, 5-29 Glossy Paper option, 5-29 how to get one, 6-6 HP, 4-3 installing, 2-7 Match Screen option, 5-29 obtaining, 6-6 problems, 4-5 selection, 4-6 selection for Windows, 4-6 Transparency Film option, 5-29 Use Black selection, 5-30 Windows, 4-2 printer lights flashing, 5-8 printer settings changing, 2-8 Printer Setup dialog box, 5-28, 5-29, 5-30 printing benefit with InkJet, 1-3 drafts, 4-6 graphics, 5-20 increasing speed, 4-6 o
sensor, paper, 1-5 serial number label, 1-2 service and support, 6-1 resources, 6-6 service station, 5-20 home position, 5-20 motor stall, 5-10, 5-11 service support contracts, 6-3 non-US, 6-3 US, 6-3 service, express exchange, 6-3 service, return repair, 6-3 set up card, 2-2 setting country defaults, 2-9 settings default, 2-9 overriding defaults, 2-9 saving, 2-9 selecting printer, 2-8 sheet returned with printer for repair, 6-10 sheets of media, do not eject from the printer, 5-12 shelf life of print cartr
troubleshooting (continued) media related problems, 5-12, 5-13 overall, 5-3 paper jams, 5-14 power adapter, 5-4 print cartridge problems, 3-8, 5-20 print quality problems, 5-27 printer, 5-7 printer driver problems, 4-5 printer stall conditions, 5-10 printing problems, 5-7 tape not removed from print cartridge, 5-7 tools, 5-2 turning the printer on and off, 3-2 U underline internal fonts, 1-15 unexpected color output, 5-29 sage and operation, of printer, 3-1 usage of the printer, maximum pages per month, 1-
