HP Deskjet 460c User Manual

							Maintaining the printer 71
To clean print cartridges manually
Poor contact between the print cartridges and the print cartridge cradles can also affect the quality of the 
printout. When this occurs, try cleaning the electrical contacts on the print cartridges and print cartridge 
cradles.
1.Remove the print cartridge from the printer. (See Replacing the print cartridges.)
2.Clean the electrical contacts on the print cartridge cradle with a dry cotton swab.
3.Carefully clean the electrical contacts on the print cartridge with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth.
CAUTION:To prevent damage to the electrical contacts, you should wipe the contacts only once. Do not 
wipe the ink nozzles on the print cartridges.
4.Reinstall the print cartridges.
 
						

							 Chapter 5 - Maintaining and troubleshooting 72
Replacing the print cartridges
You can check the ink levels from the Toolbox (Windows), the HP Printer Utility (Mac OS), and the Toolbox 
software for PDAs (Pocket PC and Palm OS). For information about using these tools, see Overview of 
printer management tasks.
After removing a print cartridge from its package, install it right away.
CAUTION:HP recognizes customer’s choice, but cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-
HP print cartridges. Printer services or repairs required as a result of using non-HP or refilled print 
cartridges are not covered under warranty.
NOTE:To find out which print cartridges work with your printer, see HP supplies and accessories.
CAUTION:To prevent clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections, do not touch the print cartridge 
ink nozzles or copper contacts, and do not remove the copper strips.
1.Remove the new print cartridge from its package and then pull the colored tab to remove the protective 
film from the cartridge.
 
						

							Maintaining the printer 73
2.With the printer turned on, open the front access cover. Wait for the carriage to stop moving. This 
should take only a few seconds.
CAUTION:Only remove or install print cartridges when the print cartridge carriage stops moving.
3.
.Lift the print cartridge latch open and gently remove the print cartridge from its cradle compartment.
4.Insert the new print cartridge into its cradle compartment at the same angle at which you removed the 
old print cartridge. Check the number on the latch against the number on the print cartridge to make 
sure you are inserting the correct print cartridge.
 
						

							 Chapter 5 - Maintaining and troubleshooting 74
5.Close the print cartridge latch. If the cartridge is inserted correctly, closing the latch gently pushes the 
cartridge into its cradle compartment. Press the latch to make sure it is seated flat on the cartridge.
6.Close the front access cover.
7.Wait for the carriage to complete the print cartridge initialization routine and return to the home 
position at the left side of the printer before using the printer.
NOTE:Do not open the front access cover until the print cartridge initialization is complete.
Aligning the print cartridges
Whenever you install a new print cartridge, you should align the print cartridges for the best possible print 
quality. If your printout is grainy, has stray dots, jagged edges, or the ink is bleeding into another color, 
you can re-align them through the Toolbox or printer driver (Windows), the HP Printer Utility (Mac OS), or 
the Toolbox software for PDAs (Pocket PC and Palm OS). For information about using these tools, see 
Overview of printer management tasks.
To align the print cartridges
NOTE:Load plain paper into the paper tray before aligning the print cartridges. An alignment page is 
printed during the alignment process.
Toolbox (Windows)
1.Open the Toolbox. See Toolbox (Windows).
2.Click the Printer Services tab, click Align Print Cartridges, and then follow the onscreen instructions.
HP Printer Utility (Mac OS)
1.Open the HP Printer Utility. See HP Printer Utility (Mac OS).
2.Click Align and follow the onscreen instructions.
 
						

							Maintaining the printer 75
Printing with a single print cartridge
If one of the print cartridges runs out of ink before you can replace it, you can still print with a single print 
cartridge.
NOTE:Printing with one print cartridge might be slower and the print quality might be affected. It is 
recommended to print with both print cartridges. For borderless printing, the tri-color print cartridge must 
be installed.
Calibrating color
If you are not satisfied with the appearance of the colors, you can calibrate colors manually to ensure the 
best print quality
NOTE:Calibrate the color only when the tri-color and photo print cartridges are installed together. The 
photo print cartridge is available for purchase as an optional accessory. See HP supplies and accessories.
NOTE:If you are using a Pocket PC or Palm OS device, you can calibrate the color using the Toolbox 
software for PDAs. See Toolbox software for PDAs (Pocket PC and Palm OS).
Color calibration balances color tints on printed pages. It is only necessary if:
Printed colors have visibly shifted toward yellow, cyan or magenta.
There is a color tinge in the gray shades.
Low ink levels in the print cartridges might also produce incorrect colors.
To calibrate color
Toolbox (Windows)
1.Open the Toolbox. See Toolbox (Windows).
2.Click the Printer Services tab, click Calibrate Color, and then follow the onscreen instructions.
HP Printer Utility (Mac OS)
1.Open the HP Printer Utility.
2.Click Calibrate Color and follow the onscreen instructions.
Empty cartridge Cartridges used Output
Black Prints with only the tri-color print 
cartridgeColor and grayscale
Tri-color Prints with only the black or photo 
print cartridgeAll documents will print in grayscale
Photo Prints with only the tri-color print 
cartridgeColor and grayscale
 
						

							 Chapter 5 - Maintaining and troubleshooting 76
Replacing the ink service module
The replaceable ink service module holds waste ink from the black print cartridge. When it is almost full, 
the printer lights will prompt you to replace it. See Printer light patterns.
When the ink service module is full, the printer will stop printing. If you have a new ink service module, 
install it immediately by following the instructions that come with it.
Otherwise, visit http://www.hp.com/support/dj460
 or see Support and warranty to get a replacement. 
In the meantime, remove the black print cartridge to continue printing. The printer can print using only the 
tri-color print cartridge but the color results and print speed will be affected. See Printing with a single print 
cartridge.
CAUTION:Allowing the ink service module to fill completely can result in black ink spillage. Take care to 
avoid spilling the ink in the ink service module. Ink can permanently stain fabric and other materials.
NOTE:If you have installed the Toolbox (Windows), you can choose to display error messages on your 
screen when there is a problem with your printer. See Installing the printer software and sharing the printer 
(Windows).
 
						

							Troubleshooting tips and resources 77
Troubleshooting tips and resources
Use the following sections to resolve printing problems:
For printing problems, see Resolving printing problems.
For paper jam and paper-feed problems, see Resolving paper-feed problems.
For installation problems, see Troubleshooting installation issues.
If these sections do not resolve the problem, see General troubleshooting tips and check the items in that 
section. If your problem is still not resolved, see Support and warranty for information on contacting HP.
General troubleshooting tips
If the suggestions in Resolving printing problems, Resolving paper-feed problems, or Troubleshooting 
installation issues do not resolve the problem, try the following general troubleshooting tips. 
Check the printer
Verify the following:
Power cord and other cables are working and firmly connected to the printer. Make sure the printer is 
connected firmly to a functioning alternating current (AC) power outlet and is turned on. See Printer 
specifications for voltage requirements.
The printer is connected directly to the USB port if using a USB connection. Do not share the port with 
other devices, such as a Zip drive. Make sure the cable is connected firmly to the printer and computer.
All packing tapes and materials are removed from the printer.
Print cartridges are properly installed in their correct cradle compartments. Verify that you have 
removed the tape from each cartridge.
Print cartridge latches and all covers are closed.
Media is loaded correctly in the tray and is not jammed in the printer.
If using battery power, confirm that the battery power is not low. See Charging and using the battery.
Power light is on and not blinking. When the printer is first turned on, it takes approximately 
45 seconds to warm up.
Printer is in the Ready state. If lights are on or blinking, see Printer lights reference.
Printer can print a configuration page. See Understanding device information pages.
Check the software
Verify the following:
The printer is set as the current or default printer. See Changing print settings.
No error messages appear on the computer screen.
Pause Printing is not selected if you are using Windows.
The status Stopped does not appear in the Printer Setup Utility or Print Center in the Mac OS. 
The Use Printer Offline option is not checked in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. 
The Print to file option is not checked in the Print dialog box. For Windows, try checking Print directly 
to the printer from the Advanced tab in the Printer Properties dialog box.
The print settings (such as paper type, paper size, margins, and color) in the printer driver are correct 
See Changing print settings.
 
						

							 Chapter 5 - Maintaining and troubleshooting 78
You are not running too many programs when performing a print job. Close programs that you are not 
using or restart the computer before attempting the print job again.
Any necessary software, such as Printboy for Palm OS users, is installed in the host device if using a 
Bluetooth connection. Make sure your Bluetooth settings are correct. See Bluetooth wireless connection.
Your wireless network settings are correct if using an 802.11 connection. See 802.11 wireless 
connection.
You created a DPOF file on your digital camera memory card, if you are trying to print directly from 
the card. See Printing from memory cards and USB Flash drives.
 
						

							Resolving printing problems 79
Resolving printing problems
This section provides solutions to common printing problems.
Printer shuts down unexpectedly
Check the power and power connections
Make sure the printer is connected firmly to a functioning alternating current (AC) power outlet. See Printer 
specifications for voltage requirements.
All printer lights are blinking
A non-recoverable error has occurred
Turn the printer off and turn it back on. If the printer does not turn off or on, unplug the power connector 
from the back of the printer, wait a few seconds, and then plug it in again. If the problem persists, contact 
HP. See Support and warranty.
Printer is not responding (nothing prints)
Check the printer
See General troubleshooting tips.
Check the printer software installation
If the printer is turned off when printing, an alert message should appear on your computer screen; if no 
message appears, the printer software might not be installed correctly. To resolve this, uninstall the 
software completely, and then reinstall the printer software. See Uninstalling the printer software.
Check the cable
Make sure both ends of the USB cable are secure.
Check the wireless connection
Printing larger files using a Bluetooth wireless connection can sometimes cause the print job to fail. Try 
printing a smaller file.
See also Problems setting up 802.11 or Bluetooth wireless communication.
 
						

							 Chapter 5 - Maintaining and troubleshooting 80
Printer does not accept print cartridge
Check the print cartridge
Remove the print cartridge and make sure the protective tape has been removed completely from the print 
cartridge. See Cleaning the print cartridges.
Clean the print cartridge
Complete the print cartridge cleaning procedure. See Cleaning the print cartridges.
Turn off the printer after removing the print cartridge
After removing the print cartridge, turn off the printer, and then turn on the printer without the print 
cartridge installed. After the printer has restarted, reinsert the print cartridge.
Printer takes a long time to print
Check the system configuration
Make sure the computer meets the minimum system requirements for the printer. SeePrinter specifications.
Check the print settings
The printer prints slower when Best or Maximum dpi is selected as the print quality. To increase the print 
speed, select different print settings in the printer driver. See Changing print settings.
Check for radio interference
If the printer is connected using wireless communication and is printing slowly, then the radio signal might 
be weak. See Problems setting up 802.11 or Bluetooth wireless communication.
Check the wireless connection
Printing larger files using a Bluetooth wireless connection can sometimes cause the print job to fail. Try 
printing a smaller file.
After switching from one 802.11 wireless profile to another, the first print job takes 10 seconds or so 
before it starts to print.
See also Problems setting up 802.11 or Bluetooth wireless communication.