I have an HP all-in-one 2610 printer. When printing, there is a line running through the text like the ink is low but the supply says I am fine...any clue?

Hmmn. It sounds as if something's going on with the ink cartridge. The heads may be clogged or dirty which could be leaving a trail of ink down the page. If you're using an off-brand ink cartridge, that could be part of the problem as well. HP printers are especially persnickety when it comes to generic ink cartridges. Let's look at some possibilities.

Clogged or Dirty Print Heads

Ink cartridges dispense ink through a print head found on the bottom of the ink cartridge. This print head can become clogged, partially clogged, or contaminated with debris. The preferred cleaning technique is to use the printer's built-in cleaning routine rather than wiping the print head with a cloth. For example, when wiping the cartridge, say with a Q-tip, fibers can be left behind, further adding to the problem. If you must wipe the cartridge or the print contacts, use lens cleaning tissue. Debris actually makes sense in your case as the debris would redirect ink and leave a trail.

To clean the print heads, press the menu/setup button followed by the right arrow. You're looking for either Tools or Maintenance (the wording varies depending on the exact model you have). Click OK or Enter and then look for the Clean Print Cartridges message. Once you see it, click OK or Enter to start the procedure. This uses ink and you may need to perform it several times before you see an improvement in ink quality.

Defective Ink Cartridge

It's also possible that the ink cartridge is bad. If it's brand new, and the cleaning procedure doesn't work, then this could be the problem. Cheap ink refills and generic brands of cartridges use different formulas than original HP inks, so if you're using an off-brand, the ink itself may be causing problems.

Other Issues

Remove the ink cartridge and feel the heft of it in your hand. Does it feel full? Does it feel about the same weight as an empty one? It's possible that the software that "measures" ink levels is wrong and the cartridge may in fact be nearly empty.

The cartridge might not be aligned properly. Print a test page and see what the alignment tests say. To do this, press the menu/setup button and use the right arrow to find Print Reports. Confirm your choice by pressing Enter or OK. Use the right arrow to find Self-Test Report. Press Enter or OK and the printer will print a test page. Analyze the results, looking specifically for alignment or ink issues.

Celeste Stewart | December 19th, 2009
Tags: hp ink, low ink, print quality
Categories: Printers

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