HP Laserjet 5 User Manual

							
Computer, network, or I/O port problems
Situation Solution
Printer interface problems. Run a self test to verify that the interface configurationsshown on the printout match those on your host computer
(see self test section earlier in this chapter).
Computer software problem. Check that your computer is working correctly by printing from a software application you know works. You can also
try printing a plain MS-DOS file (for example, C:\dir>prn)
to see if the problem is with your software application or
printer driver.
Software is selecting the
wrong port. Check your software application to be sure the print job is
being sent to the correct port (LPT1, for example).
There is a printer port
problem. Check that your computer’s port is configured and working
properly. One way to check this is to connect another
printer, if available, to that port on your computer and print
from an application you know works.
Network or shared printer
problems. Check that there are no network or shared printer problems
by connecting your computer directly to the printer and
printing from an application you know works. If you suspect
network problems, check with your network administrator.
Computer displays messages
such as: Write Fault Error
Writing Device LPTn: Abort,
Retry, Ignore? 1.
2.Add a Mode command to your computer’s
AUTOEXEC.BAT file. It can be inserted anywhere after
the PATH statement:
For a parallel port, add:
MODE LPT1:,,P
For a serial port, add:
MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1,P
MODE LPT1=COM1
Your I/O cable could be faulty; see “Blank, garbled, or
incomplete pages...” later in this chapter.
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ENSolving Printer Problems 7-29 
						

							
Print speed is slow
Situation Solution
First page takes much longer
to print than following pages.Set the PowerSave feature for a longer time period or turn it
off.
Printer is generally slow to
respond. 1.
2.Printer speed is highly dependent on how your
software application is set up and which printer driver
you are using. See the
Getting Started Guidefor
configuration information.
You may need to add more memory. See “Accessories
and Options” in Chapter 1 for HP memory part
numbers.
Printer is slow to switch
between personalities. Set
ADV FNCTNS=OFF in the Parallel Menu (see Chapter 3).
Blank, garbled, or incomplete pages print, or printing is interrupted
Situation Solution
Blank pages print. Toner cartridge sealing tape has not been removed (see the
Getting Started Guideor the installation guide that came
with your toner cartridge).
Garbled pages print,
there are overprints, or
a portion of a page prints. 1.
2.
3.Ensure that your software application is configured for
the correct printer.
Replace the printer interface (I/O) cable with a cable
you know works to see if the cable is bad.
Your parallel printer cable quality may be bad. Use a
high-quality cable (see Chapter 1 for an HP cable part
number).
Data is missing, but there are
no printer messages. 1.
2.Check your software application to be sure the print
file contains no errors.
Your parallel printer cable may be bad. Use a
high-quality cable (see Chapter 1 for an HP printer
cable part number).
Printing stops in the middle of
the job. 1.
2.
3.
4.Check to see if the
[Job Cancel]key was pushed.
Check the control panel for an error message.
If you are on a network, make sure your computer is
correctly configured or there is not a network problem
(see your network administrator).
Check that your line voltage is steady and within
printer specifications (see Appendix C).
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Printer does not recognize fonts, tray selection, other printer
languages (PostScript, etc.), or similar requests
Situation Solution
Printer prints some wrong
fonts or formats.1.
2.The font is not present in the printer and must be
downloaded by your software application. Check your
software program to ensure the correct printer driver
has been installed and configured. To verify that the
font, or format you want is available, print a font list
(see “Checking Installed PCL Fonts” earlier in this
chapter).
Your software is selecting a substitute font for one that
is not available in the printer (see your software
application manual for font selection).
Courier font is too dark. Change the COURIERsetting to REGULARin the Printing
Menu. See “Printing Menu” Chapter 3 for details.
Courier font is too light Change the COURIERsetting to DARKin the Printing Menu.
See “Printing Menu” Chapter 3 for details.
Printer prints in wrong
personality. 1.
2.Ensure that the personality (printer language, such as
PostScript) is installed in the printer (see Chapter 5,
“PostScript Printing”).
Check the
PERSONALTY item in the Job Menu; if it is not
set to AUTO, then your software application may not be
sending a command telling the printer to switch to that
personality.
Control panel settings, such as
tray selection or font selection,
do not work or are ignored. Software commands override control panel settings (see
Chapter 3 for information on how your software works with
control panel settings).
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Situation Solution
Printer draws media from the
wrong paper source.1.
2
3.
4.
5.
6.Check the paper source option in your software
application.
Ensure that the printer driver for your software
application is correctly installed, configured, and
capable of printer tray selection.
Paper tray may be reserved (“locked out”). Print a self
test to determine if a tray has been reserved (see
“Testing the Printer” earlier in this chapter) or check
the “Lock” item in the printer’s Config Menu (see
Chapter 3).
The size of paper you are requesting is not in the tray
you have selected. The printer draws paper from the
next default tray having the correct size. Put the
correct size paper in the tray or, if you are using an
adjustable tray, check that the paper size knob is set to
the correct size paper.
If you selected the optional Tray 3 and did not turn the
printer off when installing it, the printer will not
recognize it and will draw paper from the next default
size paper source (switch the printer off, then back on,
so the printer will recognize it).
If you are printing to Tray 1 but the software is not
selecting it, try setting
TRAY 1=CASSETTE.
Manual feed problems
Situation Solution
Cannot clear manual feed
messages. A previous print job may still be in the printer’s buffer. Press
[Job Cancel]
to remove the previous print job.
Cannot print from Tray 1. Check to be sure you have selected “Manual Feed” or “Tray 1” through your software application.
Problems when printing transparencies and labels
Situation Solution
Labels and/or Transparencies
jam or multifeed when printing. 1.
2.The media might be sticking together. Try fanning the
media, allowing them to separate from each other.
If this does not solve problem, print the labels or
transparencies individually from Tray 1.
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Problems Using Optional Accessories
500-sheet Tray 3 problems
Situation Solution
General operation problems. For general operation and problems, see “Printing from the500-sheet Tray 3” in Chapter 4.
Paper jams and paper feeding
problems. 1.
2.See “Clearing Paper Jams” earlier in this chapter.
Ensure that paper weight is within recommended
range. (See Appendix A, “Media Specifications,” and
Chapter 4, “Printing”) Then see Chapter 4 for
information on setting Tray 3 tension adjustment.
Cannot access Tray 3. Adjust the paper size knob for the correct size paper (see “To Load Paper into the Optional Tray 3” in Chapter 4).
Printer does not recognize
Tray 3. 1.
2.Ensure the Tray 3 Assembly is firmly seated, then
switch printer off, then on again. If the printer still does
not recognize Tray 3, contact your dealer or authorized
HP service provider.
Verify that you are using a Tray 3 Assembly for the
HP
LaserJet 5/5M
printers (the Lower Cassette Assembly
for the HP LaserJet 4/4M printers will not work).
A grinding noise is coming
from Tray 3. This noise will occur if the pickup roller has been rotated
out of adjustment. This can happen from removing
jammed paper too vigorously, causing the paper to catch
the roller and rotate it out of position. This noise will also
occur if a replacement roller has been installed incorrectly.
Follow the instructions in the “Optional Tray 3 Pickup
Roller” section in Chapter 8 for readjusting the roller.
Duplex option problems
Situation Solution
General operation problems. For general operation tasks, see “Printing with the Duplex
Unit” in Chapter 4. You must have the optional duplex unit
installed to do two-sided printing with the HP LaserJet 5/5M
printers.
Paper jams. See “Clearing Paper Jams” earlier in this chapter.
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ENSolving Printer Problems 7-33 
						

							
Envelope Feeder option problems
Situation Solution
General operation problems. See the manual that came with your Envelope Feeder option.
Paper jams and envelope
feeding problems.1.
2.
3.See “Clearing Paper Jams” earlier in this chapter.
Ensure envelopes meet the specifications in Chapter 4,
“Printing” and in Appendix A, “Media Specifications.”
Ensure there is no media in Tray 1 (if there is paper in
the Tray 1, the printer will draw from there first).
Printer does not recognize
the Envelope Feeder. 1.
2.Ensure the Envelope Feeder is firmly seated, then
switch the printer off, then on again. If the printer still
does not recognize the Envelope Feeder, contact your
dealer or authorized HP service provider.
Verify that you are using an Envelope Feeder for the
HP
LaserJet 5/5M
printers (the feeder for the HP LaserJet
4/4M printers will not work).
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PostScript Troubleshooting
The items below are PostScript language-specific and may occur where
several printer languages are used and in shared printer environments.
Situation Solution
A text listing of PostScript
commands prints instead of
your PostScript printing job.The control panel
PERSONALTY=AUTO setting may have been
confused by a nonstandard PostScript code. Set the
control panel PERSONALTYsetting toPERSONALTY=PS for this
print job only, then, when the job has printed, return the
setting to AUTO.
The job prints in Courier (the
printer’s default font) instead of
the font you requested. The requested font is not downloaded. A personality switch
may have been performed to print a PCL job just before the
PostScript printing job was received. Download the
desired font.
A legal page prints with clipped
margins. If the page margins are clipped, you may need to print the
page at 300-dpi resolution or install more memory (see
Chapter 5, “Printing a Legal Page in PostScript”).
A legal page fails to print. First, set PRT PS ERRS=ON, then send the job again to print
a PostScript error page. If an error page prints, see “A
PostScript error page prints,” below. If margins are clipped,
see “A legal page prints with clipped margins” above.
Letter page jobs fail to print. First, set PRT PS ERRS=ON, then send the job again to print
a PostScript error page. If an error page prints, see “A
PostScript error page prints,” below. If this does not correct
the problem, you may need to install more memory (see
Chapter 5, “PostScript Printing”).
A PostScript error page prints. Make sure the print job is a PostScript job. Check to see if your software expected you to send a setup or PostScript
header file to the printer.
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8
Maintaining and Adjusting the Printer
Introduction
Your printer requires minimum routine maintenance. This chapter
explains the following tasks:
•Managing the Toner Cartridge
•Cleaning the Printer
•Saving Power with the PowerSave Feature
•User-replaceable Parts
ENMaintaining and Adjusting the Printer 8-1 
						

							
Managing the Toner Cartridge
Toner Cartridge Life
The life of your toner cartridge depends on the amount of toner your
print jobs require.  When you print text, a toner cartridge lasts an
average of 6,800 pages, printed at 5% coverage (a typical full-page
business letter is about 5% coverage).  This assumes that the print
density setting is in the middle range (set to 3 - see “Adjusting Print
Density” in Chapter 6).
Using EconoMode can further extend toner cartridge life (see
“EconoMode Printing” in Chapter 6).
Storing, Installing, and Recycling the Toner
Cartridge
Storing:Do not remove the toner cartridge from its packaging until you
are ready to use it. The shelf life of a cartridge in an unopened package
is approximately 2 1/2 years of storage; the shelf life of a cartridge in an
opened package is approximately six months.
Installing and Recycling: To install a new toner cartridge, follow the
instructions in the Installation and Recycling Guide included in your
toner cartridge box. The guide also includes information on recycling.
HP’s Policy on Use of Non-HP Toner Cartridges
Hewlett-Packard cannot recommend use of non-HP toner cartridges,
either new or remanufactured.  Because they are not HP products, HP
cannot influence or control their quality.
8-2 Maintaining and Adjusting the PrinterEN