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I have an HP Photosmart C6380 printer. I have just replaced the black inkjet and although I have cleaned the print heads twice, it is not printing.

HP Print Diagnostic Utility
HP offers a print diagnostic utility tool that may be able to pinpoint or resolve the problem. You can download this tool directly from HP's website. Once downloaded and installed, it will automatically search for your printer. Once found, simply click the Fix Printing button and the tool will search for problems that it is capable of solving.

Double Check Cartridge Type
This printer takes two ink cartridges, a regular black and a photo black. Double check that the right type of cartridge is in the right slot.

Cleaning the Cartridge and Print Heads
When you cleaned the print heads, did you clean the actual cartridge or the print head assembly? Did you physically clean them or did you use the printer's cleaning mechanism? Since there are three different options, let's go through each one.

• Cleaning the print cartridges from the control panel. Make sure you have paper in the printer. Press Setup > 6 > 1 which effectively selects Tools > Clean print cartridge.
• Physically cleaning the ink cartridge. There are two sections that need to be cleaned: the ink window and the electrical contacts on the bottom of the ink cartridge. Use a lint free cloth (a coffee filter works well) to wipe away any debris.
• Pysically cleaning the HP print head assembly. You can remove the entire print head assembly and clean it. First, remove all of the ink cartridges, lift the latch handle, and lift the assembly out. Work quickly because the cartridges can dry out if left out for more than about 30 minutes. Make sure not to touch ink nozzles or the electrical contacts with your fingers. Turn the assembly upside down and use a damp lint free cloth (use distilled water, not tap water) to wipe three areas: the plastic ramp on the side of the nozzles, the edge between the nozzles and the electrical contacts, and the electrical contacts. Next, use the same damp lint free cloth to wipe the electrical contacts located inside the printer. Dry all areas and reassemble.

Hopefully a little extra cleaning will do the trick.

I need a driver for an HP Scanjet 4600. I failed to find anything by searching the web. I hope you can help?

Generally, HP is good about offering drivers for their devices. Exceptions are usually products that have been discontinued or are too old to continue to update. In your case, however, I think we are okay. Click to follow this link to the HP Support and Drivers webpage. On this page you can enter the product number of your unit, in your case: Scanjet 4600.

This will redirect you to a page listing the different models that fall within your description. Choose the exact model you have to go to the next step.

On the next page, you will see a list titled: Tasks for HP Scanjet 4600 Scanner series. The first item on the list reads "Download drivers and software." Click this to get to the next step.

You then choose your product again, and then are re-directed to a page that lists different computer operating systems. It is important that you choose the operating system version that is running on your computer because the drivers are written to create compatibility between specific programs and devices.

On the next page you will see different support options. A useful one to note is the offer to sign up to receive customized drivers, patches, security and email alerts about new developments. Choosing this option might save you time in the future, rather than repeating this procedure. You can also click the Useful Link to Automatically check to see if the latest driver is installed correctly. This option might be your simplest best, especially if you aren't exactly sure what you need. You can click this link and let the system figure it out for you. These applications will allow the HP system to analyze your computer's programs and make sure it is running optimally. If there is missing software, the HP system will flag it, let you know and suggest you download what you need.

Under these offers is an option to order a CD-ROM or directly download your missing driver. You can check out the latest software offered for your system and either download or order what you are missing.

Continue to follow the directions offered on the HP website until you get a page letting you know that you are successfully updated. That should do it! Good luck.

I have an HP Deskjet 3920 printer and cannot switch it on. What should I do? Thanks for your assistance.

There are a number of things that you can try to re-charge the power to your printer and get it up and running again. There could be a malfunction in the device, or it could be as simple as a loose cable connection. Work through these steps to troubleshoot the issue.

Test the Power Button

• 1. Press and release the Power button - instead of holding down or repeatedly tapping the power button, which could cause the printer to turn on and then off again - press and quickly let go. Now wait a moment and see if the unit starts to power up. In case it is slow to start, make sure you wait a minute before trying again.

Check the Power Cable and Wall Outlet

• 2. Check the electrical cable and outlet - to troubleshoot the power supply unplug the cord from both the wall outlet and the printer. Try plugging a lamp or other device into the same socket to test the power supply. Make sure there is no damage to the cable. Wait 60 seconds then reconnect the cable to the wall only. Bypass any powerbars or other intermediaries. If the green light on the power supply (cord and module) fails to light, contact HP directly to replace the power cord. If the power supply shows green, connect to the printer then quickly press and release the power button.

Test the USB Cable

• 3. Next, try disconnecting the UBS cable from the printer. Try powering up without the USB attached. If this works, replace the USB cable

Test the Battery

• 4. Check the battery light on the back of the printer. If red, recharge or replace the battery then power up.

Replace the Power Cord or have the Printer Serviced

• 5. If none of these steps solve the issue, you can try one of two things. Either contact HP to replace the power cord and module to make sure that isn't the issue, or take the printer in for servicing. You can likely ask a local shop to let you try swapping the power cord to remove that possibility before agreeing to service. If the cord is not the problem, then your printer likely needs some repair.

I hope this helps!!

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.

I have noticed lately that when I print something, myHP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One emits a number of blank sheets of paper before the actual printing. For example, I have just printed 4 copies of text and four blanks churned out.

HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer Error: Printing Blank Pages

It can be annoying when a printer suddenly strays from its intended purpose and begins to spit out blank pages before every print job. In some cases, this problem can be easily solved simply by remembering to turn the printer on before selecting a print job. In other cases, blank pages could be the result of ink that has either dried up or been used up. Obviously, this is not related to your problem, but it is something to keep in mind when nothing at all prints.

HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer Error: Clean the Printer

It is important to clean the printer occasionally to ensure that it works properly. If you have never done so, try cleaning the printer now. At the very least, you will have a clean printer while minimizing the possibility of future problems due to a dirty machine.

HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer Solution for Printing Blank Pages

Complete the steps listed here to try and resolve the problem with your printer and the blank pages that appear with each new printing task.

1. Open up Printers and Faxes. For Windows Vista, click on the Start Icon, select Control Panel, and double click on Printers and Faxes. For Windows 2000, click on Start, select Control Panel, and double click on Printers and Faxes. For Windows XP, click on Start and select Printers and Faxes in the menu list.
2. Select HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer by right clicking on it.
3. Select Properties.
4. Once the dialog box opens, select the Advanced tab along the top of the dialog box.
5. Once the Advanced tab is open, look for the tab for Separator Page in the lower right-hand corner and click it. Separator pages are blank pages that are designed to make it easy for people using the HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer to distinguish one print job from the next one without the necessity of reading the pages that have been printed.
6. Once the dialog box opens, delete each of the templates that are listed in the box.
7. Click Apply and then click OK.

It is important for anyone who is on a network to have their administrator take care of this problem at their end.

My recently acquired HP Photosmart C6380 All-in One Printer has 5 inkjets. One is "Photo Black" and the other black. What is the difference between these two? When is Photo Black used?

HP Printers and Ink Cartridges

HP printers come in several different configurations as far as ink cartridges go. At one end of the scale, you have printers requiring just two cartridges: a black ink cartridge and a tri-color ink cartridge. In the middle are printers with four cartridges: black, cyan, yellow, and magenta. At the other end are printers like your HP PhotoSmart printer with five ink cartridges: black, cyan, yellow, magenta, and "photo black." HP also offers extremely high-end printers with eight ink cartridges.

The Difference between Black and Photo Black Inks

Before getting into the difference between the two types of inks, it's important to note that these two ink cartridges are not interchangeable. You can't use one in place of the other. The ink in each of these cartridges is different. With a black ink cartridge, the ink is black whereas the ink in a Photo Black cartridge is actually gray. If your printer uses HP Vivera

Which HP Black Ink Cartridge is used for what Purpose?

HP and other manufacturers offer printers with various print cartridge setups to address different printing needs. For users who primarily print documents that are heavy on text with the occasional need for photo and color printing, a printer with a black cartridge and a tri-color cartridge is fine. A tri-color cartridge has three chambers containing cyan, yellow, and magenta. When one of those colors is empty, the entire cartridge needs to be replaced, even if the other two chambers are full. The four cartridge printers allow users to replace individual colors as needed, thus eliminating waste. For example, if you tend to use yellow ink more than the other two colors, you can replace just the yellow cartridge.

Printers that include the Photo Black cartridge are ideal for users who want exceptional photographs. Photo Black ink, which is really gray, allows for deeper blacks in the shadows and better tonal balances overall in your photographs.