Printer Help (1 Viewer)

[Uruk-Hai]

HP Deskjet 3050 J610 All In One Wireless on a home network.

Everything I try to print now just spits out blank pages. Low ink light isn't on (nor should it be, as little as I've used it). It has printed in the past. I've tried printing from web pages, pdf, and excel - nada in all formats.Also printed a test page from the printer control - blank.

I poked around but can't find anything that helps. HP's next to useless if you don't have a contract with them and the user manual is no help.

Could the ink have just gotten old? I haven't tried replacing the cartridges yet as I don't have any extras laying around.

What else could it be?

TIA

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Have you tried turning it off and on?

 

[Ignoramus]

Maybe the docs you are printing are just blank pages.

 

[Bucks]

Does it just form feed a whole sheet at a time or does the print arm move back forth as if it thought it was spreading ink?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Does it just form feed a whole sheet at a time or does the print arm move back forth as if it thought it was spreading ink?

It sure seems like the print arm is doing its thing

 

[Rustoleum]

They could have dried out. Is there any crud on the foil thingie at the bottom of the cartridges, or are these the type that have a separate print head?

You can try wiping them off with a wet paper towel. Some old cartridges you could sit in a cup of warm water to clean them up.

If you aren't even getting the faintest of images from the self-test page after that either the cartridges are dead, or the printer is toast. Probably cost almost the same for a new set of cartridges as it will for a whole new printer though.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

They could have dried out. Is there any crud on the foil thingie at the bottom of the cartridges, or are these the type that have a separate print head?

You can try wiping them off with a wet paper towel. Some old cartridges you could sit in a cup of warm water to clean them up.

If you aren't even getting the faintest of images from the self-test page after that either the cartridges are dead, or the printer is toast. Probably cost almost the same for a new set of cartridges as it will for a whole new printer though.

I took the cartridges out and cleaned them. Some ink came off of the black one when I touched the foil on it.

I'm getting no images, faint or otherwise. Straight white paper homey.

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

PC LOAD LETTER!!!

 

[IC FBGCav]

http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Deskjet-3050A-e-All-in-One-Printer-series---J6/4311836/model/5061081/document/c02206095

 

[Cliff Clavin]

They could have dried out. Is there any crud on the foil thingie at the bottom of the cartridges, or are these the type that have a separate print head?

You can try wiping them off with a wet paper towel. Some old cartridges you could sit in a cup of warm water to clean them up.

If you aren't even getting the faintest of images from the self-test page after that either the cartridges are dead, or the printer is toast. Probably cost almost the same for a new set of cartridges as it will for a whole new printer though.

I took the cartridges out and cleaned them. Some ink came off of the black one when I touched the foil on it.

I'm getting no images, faint or otherwise. Straight white paper homey.

There will be two spots of contacts (aka foil). Make sure they are both very clean and have not been damaged.

 

[belljr]

Does the printers test page print?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The test page "prints" in that everything acts like it's printing but the page is completely blank

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

Most printers have a "clean print head" function in the software that gets loaded when you install. Maybe try that? Sounds like either the jet(s) are clogged or the print head is bad.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I've seen the printer's "software" mentioned a couple of times now, but don't know how to access that. I've opened the printer up on my laptop from Devices and see three options:

See What's Printing

Customize Your Printer

Set Preferences

I think I've gone all through them and don't see either a "clean print head" option, nor one to check ink levels (which is what I was first looking for).

 

[belljr]

You have to go to the printer itself

 

[Osaurus]

To the dumpster with it

 

[belljr]

Or right click in control panel and it should have a printer options

 

[captain_amazing]

You likely need new ink cartridges. Could be bad cartridges. Could be a bad connection between electrical connections on the ink cartridges and the cartridge holder in the printer.

 

[gmbacm]

installed invisible ink cartridge by accident?

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

I've seen the printer's "software" mentioned a couple of times now, but don't know how to access that. I've opened the printer up on my laptop from Devices and see three options:

See What's Printing

Customize Your Printer

Set Preferences

I think I've gone all through them and don't see either a "clean print head" option, nor one to check ink levels (which is what I was first looking for).

well, if Windows installed the printer for you, you may not have the "software"

If you installed it from a disk that came with the printer, you should have the software. It usually will be in a folder under Programs, named after either the printer or the printer brand. Then in that folder, there's usually some sort of admin control panel interface, where you can check ink levels, adjust calibration, clean print heads, change advanced quality/paper settings, etc.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Have you tried turning it off and on?

I dont have any printer suggestions, but that was a great show.

 

[3C's]

If it's not printing a test page from the printer control panel (not windows, the printer itself) it's not a s/w issue. Not windows, not driver, not the doc, it's a printer issue. First thing to do would be buy a new cartridge.

 

[VA703]

does ink come out of the cartridge when you touch and fondle it?

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Also, let this be a lesson. Never buy an inkjet. Always go laser.