HP LaserJet M1005 MFP - Print problems and solution

Print quality problems

Improving print quality
Understanding print-quality settings
To temporarily change print-quality settings
To change print-quality settings for all future jobs
Identifying and correcting print defects
Print-quality checklist
General print-quality issues
Media-handling problems
Print-media guidelines
Solving print-media problems
Performance problems

Print quality problems

Occasionally, you might encounter problems with print quality. The information in the following sections helps y
issues.

Improving print quality

Use the print-quality settings to prevent print-quality problems.
Understanding print-quality settings
Print-quality settings affect how light or dark the print is on the page and the style in which the graphics are print
print-quality settings to optimize the print quality for a specific media type.
You can change the settings in the device properties to accommodate the types of jobs that you are printing. The
available, depending on the printer driver that you are using:
600 dpi
FastRes 1200: This setting produces the same resolution as the default setting, but you can change the scale patte
Changing the resolution can change the formatting of your text.
To temporarily change print-quality settings
To change the print-quality settings only for the current software program, open the properties through the Print
that you are using to print.
To change print-quality settings for all future jobs
For Windows 2000:
1. In the Windows system tray, click Start , select Settings , and then click Printers .
2. Right-click the device icon.
3. Click Properties (in Windows 2000, you can also click Printing Preferences ).
4. Change the settings, and click OK .
For Windows XP:
1. In the Windows system tray, click Start , and then click Printers and Faxes .
2. Right-click the device icon.
3. Click Properties , or click Printing Preferences .
4. Change the settings, and click OK .
 Identifying and correcting print defects
Use the checklist and print-quality issues charts in this section to solve print-quality problems.
Print-quality checklist
General print-quality problems can be solved by using the following checklist:
1. Make sure that the paper or print media that you are using meets HP specifications. Generally, smoother paper pr
2. If you are using a special print media such as labels, transparencies, glossy, or letterhead, ensure that you have pr
3. Print a Configuration report at the device control panel.
If the page did not print correctly, the problem is with the hardware. Contact HP Customer Care.
4. Print a Demo page from the device control panel. If the page prints, the problem is with the printer driver.
Use the Add Printer Wizard in the Printers (or Printers and Faxes in Windows XP) dialog box to install the cor
5. Try printing from a different program. If the page prints correctly, the problem is with the program from which y
6. Restart the computer and the device and try printing again. If the problem is not resolved, see .
General print-quality issues
The following examples depict letter-size paper that has passed through the device short-edge-first. These examp
would affect all of the pages that you print. The topics that follow list the typical cause and solution for each of th

Problem Cause Solution

Print is light or faded. The media might not meet HP Use media that meets HP
specifications. specifications.

Replace the print cartridge.

The print cartridge might be If the print cartridge is not low or

low. empty, inspect the toner roller to see
the roller is damaged. If it is, replace
the print cartridge.

If the whole page is light, the

print density adjustment is too Adjust the print density, and disable
print quality light or EconoMode might be EconoMode in the device Properties
illustration turned on.

Toner specks appear. The media might not meet HP Use media that meets HP
specifications. specifications.

The paper path might need

Clean the paper path.
cleaning.

print quality
illustration
 A single sheet of print media
Try reprinting the job.
Dropouts appear. might be defective.

The moisture content of the Try different paper, such as high-

paper is uneven or the paper has quality paper that is intended for lase
moist spots on its surface. printers.

The paper lot is flawed. The Try different paper, such as high-
manufacturing processes can quality paper that is intended for lase
cause some areas to reject toner. printers.

Replace the print cartridge.

print quality The print cartridge might be
illustration defective. If the error persists, contact HP
Customer Care.

Vertical streaks or bands appear on the

page.

The print cartridge might be low

Replace the print cartridge.
or defective.

print quality
illustration

The amount of background toner shading The media might not meet HP Use a different paper with a lighter
becomes unacceptable. specifications. basis weight.

The priority input tray might be Make sure that the priority input tray
installed incorrectly. in place.

Very dry (low humidity)

conditions can increase the Check the device environment.
amount of background shading.

The print cartridge might be

Replace the print cartridge.
low.
 The media might not meet HP Use media that meets HP
Toner smears appear on the media.
specifications. specifications.

If toner smears appear on the

leading edge of the paper, the
Clean the media guides and the pape
media guides are dirty, or debris
path.
has accumulated in the print
path.

The print cartridge might be

Replace the print cartridge.
low.

print quality
The fuser temperature might be In the printer driver, make sure the
illustration
too low. appropriate media type is selected.

In the printer driver, select

The device is not set to print on the Paper tab and set Type is to mat
the type of media on which you the type of media on which you are
The toner smears easily when touched.
want to print. printing. Print speed might be slowe
you are using heavy paper.

The media might not meet HP Use media that meets HP

specifications. specifications.

The paper path might need

Clean the device.
cleaning.

The power source might be Plug the device directly into an AC

print quality defective. outlet instead of into a power strip.
illustration
The print cartridge might be
Replace the print cartridge.
low.

In the printer driver, make sure that

The device is not set to print on
appropriate media type is selected.
the type of media on which you
Print speed might be slower if you a
want to print.
using heavy paper.

Marks repeatedly appear at even intervals

on the page. Internal parts might have toner The problem typically corrects itself
on them. after a few more pages.

The paper path might need

Clean the device.
cleaning.
 If a repetitive mark occurs at the sam
The print cartridge might be
spot on the page, install a new HP pr
damaged.
cartridge.

print quality
illustration

The printed page contains misformed Use a different paper, such as high-
The media might not meet HP
characters. quality paper that is intended for lase
specifications.
printers.

If characters are incorrectly

Verify that the problem also occurs o
formed so that they produce a
the Configuration report. If so, conta
wavy effect, the laser scanner
HP Customer Care.
might need service.

print quality
illustration

In the printer driver, make sure the

appropriate media type is selected.
The device is not set to print on
The printed page is curled or wavy.
the type of media on which you If the problem persists, select a medi
want to print. type that uses a lower fuser
temperature, such as transparencies o
light media.

Turn over the stack of media in the

The media might have been in
tray. Also, try rotating the media 180
the input tray too long.
in the input tray.

The paper path is curling the

Use the Less paper curl settin
media.
print quality
illustration
Use a different paper, such as high-
The media might not meet HP
quality paper that is intended for lase
specifications.
printers.
 Both high temperature and
Check the device environment.
humidity can cause paper curl.

Text or graphics are skewed on the Verify that the media is loaded
The media might be loaded
printed page. correctly and that the media guides a
incorrectly or the input tray
not too tight or too loose against the
might be too full.
stack.

Use a different paper, such as high-

The media might not meet HP
quality paper that is intended for lase
specifications.
printers.

print quality
illustration

Turn over the stack of paper in the

The printed page contains wrinkles or
The media might be loaded
creases.
incorrectly or the input tray
might be too full.
input tray, or try rotating the paper 1
in the input tray.
Verify that the media is loaded
correctly and that the media guides a
not too tight or too loose against the
stack.

Use a different paper, such as high-

The media might not meet HP
quality paper that is intended for lase
specifications.
printers.

The paper path is curling the

Use the Less paper curl settin
media.
print quality
illustration
Air pockets inside envelopes can Remove the envelope, flatten it, and
cause them to wrinkle. printing again.

The media might be loaded

Turn over the stack of paper in the tr
incorrectly.

Toner appears around the printed

characters. If large amounts of toner have
Use a different paper, such as high-
scattered around the characters,
quality paper that is intended for lase
the paper might have high
printers.
resistivity.
 print quality
illustration

In your software program, change th

An image that appears at the top of the
page (in solid black) repeats farther down
the page (in a gray field).
Software settings might affect
image printing.
tone (darkness) of the field in which
repeated image appears.
In your software program, rotate the
whole page 180 to print the lighter
image first.

Change the order in which the image

The order of images printed are printed. For example, have the
might affect printing. lighter image at the top of the page,
the darker image farther down the pa

If the defect occurs later in a print jo

A power surge might have turn the device off for 10 minutes, an
print quality
affected the device. then turn on the device to restart the
illustration
print job.

Media-handling problems
Use the information in this section when the device experiences media-handling problems.

Print-media guidelines
For best results, make sure that the paper is of good quality, and free of cuts, nicks, tears, spots, loose particles, d
and curled or bent edges.
For best-quality printing, use a smooth type of paper. Generally, smoother media produces better results.
If you are unsure what type of paper you are loading (such as bond or recycled), check the label on the package o
Do not use media that is designed for Inkjet printers only. Use media that is designed for LaserJet printers.
Do not use letterhead paper that is printed with low-temperature inks, such as those used in some types of thermo
Do not use raised or embossed letterhead.
The device uses heat and pressure to fuse toner to the paper. Make sure that any colored paper or preprinted form
compatible with this fusing temperature (200C or 392F for 0.1 second).
Failure to follow these guidelines could cause jams or damage to the device.

Solving print-media problems

The following problems with media cause print-quality deviations, jamming, or even damage to the device.
 Problem Cause Solution

The paper is too moist, too rough, too

Poor print quality Try another kind of paper, between 100 and 250
heavy or too smooth, or it is embossed or
or toner adhesion Sheffield, with 4 to 6% moisture content.
from a faulty paper lot.

The paper has been stored incorrectly. Store paper flat in its moisture-proof wrapping.
Dropouts,
jamming, or curl The paper has variability from one side
Turn the paper over.
to the other.

The paper is too moist, has the wrong

Use long-grain paper, or use the Less paper
grain direction, or is of short-grain
curlsetting.
Excessive curl construction.

The paper varies from side-to-side. Turn the paper over.

Jamming, damage
The paper has cutouts or perforations. Use paper that is free of cutouts or perforations.
to device

The paper has ragged edges. Use high-quality paper that is made for laser printe

The paper varies from side-to-side. Turn the paper over.

Problems with
feeding The paper is too moist, too rough, too
heavy or too smooth, has the wrong Try another kind of paper, between 100 and 250
grain direction, or is of short-grain Sheffield, 4 to 6% moisture content, or use long-gra
construction or it is embossed or from a paper.
faulty paper lot.

Remove all media from the input tray, straighten th

Print is skewed The media guides might be incorrectly stack, and then load the media in the input tray agai
(crooked). adjusted. Adjust the media guides to the width and length of
media that you are using and try printing again.

The media tray might be overloaded. Remove some of the media from the tray.
More than one
sheet feeds at one Verify that the media is not wrinkled, folded, or
time. The media might be wrinkled, folded, or
damaged. Try printing on media from a new or
damaged.
different package.

If Manual feed appears on the device control-

The device does The device might be in manual feed panel display, press Menu/Enter to print the job.
not pull media mode. Verify that the device is not in manual feed mode a
from the media print your job again.
 input tray. The pickup roller might be dirty or
Contact HP Customer Care.
damaged.
The paper-length adjustment control in
Adjust the paper-length adjustment control to the
tray 1 is set at a length that is greater
correct length.
than the media size.

Performance problems
Try the tips in this section if pages exit the device, but have nothing printed on them, or when the device does no

Problem Cause Solution

The sealing tape might

Verify that the sealing tape has been completely removed from the print
still be in the print
cartridge.
cartridge.

Pages print but

are totally The document might Check the document that you are printing to see if content appears on al
blank. contain blank pages. the pages.

The device might be

To check the device, print a Configuration report.
malfunctioning.

Pages print Certain media types can

Print on a different type of media.
slowly. slow the print job.

The device might not be

Re-stack the paper in the input tray. Try a different type of media.
pulling media correctly.

The media is jamming in

Clear the jam.
the device.

Pages did not

The USB cable mightbe Disconnect the USB cable at both ends and reconnect it.
print.
defective or incorrectly
Try printing a job that has printed in the past.
connected. Try using a different USB cable.

The device might not share a USB port. If you have an external hard dri
Other devices are or network switchbox that is connected to the same port as the device, th
running on your other device might be interfering. To connect and use the device, you m
computer. disconnect the other device or you must use two USB ports on the
computer.

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