HP OfficeJet Pro K550 User Manual

							Check the media size
●Content on a page might be cut off if the document size is larger than the media that you are
using.
●Make sure the media size selected in the printer driver match the size of media loaded in the tray.
●If you are using a computer running Windows, select Emulate LaserJet Margins in the printer
driver to scale the document to fit the media size currently selected. See 
Changing print settings.
Check the margin settings
▲If the text or graphics are cut off at the edges of the page, make sure the margin settings for the
document do not exceed the printable area of your printer. See 
Setting minimum margins.
Check the page-orientation setting
▲Make sure the media size and page orientation selected in the application match the settings in
the printer driver. See 
Changing print settings.
Check the printer location and length of USB cable
▲High electromagnetic fields (such as those generated by USB cables) can sometimes cause
slight distortions to printouts. Move the printer away from the source of the electromagnetic
fields. Also, it is recommended that you use a USB cable that is less than 3 meters (9.8 feet)
long to minimize the effects of these electromagnetic fields.
If the above solutions do not work, the problem may be caused by the inability of the application to
interpret print settings properly. See the release notes for known software conflicts; or refer to the
applications documentation, or contact the software manufacturer for specific help.
ENWW Resolving printing problems 43
 
						

							Poor print quality and unexpected printouts
Poor quality printouts
Check the printheads and ink cartridges
●Print the print quality diagnostic page on a clean sheet of white paper. Evaluate any problem
areas, and perform the recommended actions (see 
To print the print quality diagnostic page).
●Replace any ink cartridges that are low on ink, and try to print again. See 
Replacing the ink
cartridges.
Check the paper quality
▲The paper might be too moist or too rough. Make sure the media used meets HP specifications,
and try to print again. See 
Selecting print media.
Check the type of media loaded in the printer
●Make sure the tray supports the type of media you have loaded. See 
Understanding
specifications for supported media.
●Make sure you have selected the tray in the printer driver that contains the media that you want
to use.
Check the printer location and length of USB cable
▲High electromagnetic fields (such as those generated by USB cables) can sometimes cause
slight distortions to printouts. Move the printer away from the source of the electromagnetic
fields. Also, it is recommended that you use a USB cable that is less than 3 meters (9.8 feet)
long to minimize the effects of these electromagnetic fields.
Meaningless characters print
If an interruption occurs to a job that is printing, the printer might not recognize the rest of the job.
Cancel the print job and wait for the printer to return to the ready state. If the printer does not return
to the ready state, cancel all jobs and wait again. When the printer is ready, resend the job. If
prompted by the computer to retry the job, click Cancel.
Check the cable connections
▲If the printer and computer are connected with a USB cable, the problem may be due to a poor
cable connection.
Make sure the cable connections at both ends are secure. If the problem persists, turn off the
printer, disconnect the cable from the printer, turn on the printer without connecting the cable,
and delete any remaining jobs from the print spooler. When the Power light is on and not
flashing, reconnect the cable.
Check the document file
▲The document file may be damaged. If you can print other documents from the same application,
try printing a backup copy of your document, if available.
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							Ink is smearing
Check the print settings
●When you print documents that use much ink, allow more time to dry before handling the
printouts. This is especially true for transparencies. In the printer driver, select the Best print
quality, and also increase the ink drying time and reduce the ink saturation using the ink volume
under the advanced features (Windows) or ink features (Mac OS). However, note that
decreasing ink saturation might give printouts a washed-out quality.
●Color documents that have rich, blended colors can wrinkle or smear when printed using the
Best print quality. Try using the other print mode such as Normal to reduce ink, or use HP
Premium Paper designed for printing vivid color documents. See 
Changing print settings.
Check the media type
▲Some types of media do not accept ink well, ink will dry more slowly and smearing may occur.
See 
Selecting print media.
Check the margin settings
●Increase the margins in your document. Refer to the documentation included with your software
application.
●If you are using a computer running Windows, make sure Minimize Margins is not selected in
the printer driver.
Ink is not filling the text or graphics completely
Check the ink cartridges
▲Ink cartridges might have run out of ink. Replace any empty cartridge. Or try removing and
reinstalling the cartridges; make sure they snap firmly into place. See 
Replacing the ink cartridges.
Check the media type
▲Some media types are not suitable for use with the printer. See 
Selecting print media.
Output is faded or dull colored
Check the print mode
▲The draft or fast mode in the printer driver allows you to print at a faster rate, which is good for
printing drafts. To get better results, select Normal or Best. See 
Changing print settings.
Check the paper type setting
▲When printing on transparencies or other special media, select the corresponding media type in
the printer driver. See 
To print on special or custom-sized media (Windows).
Check the ink cartridges
▲If lines in the text or image are broken or do not print properly, one or more of the ink cartridges
may have run out of ink or are defective. Replace these cartridges with new ones. See 
Replacing
the ink cartridges.
ENWW Poor print quality and unexpected printouts 45
 
						

							Colors are printing as black and white
Check the print settings
▲Make sure Print in Grayscale is not selected in the printer driver.
Wrong colors are printing
Check the print settings
▲Make sure Print in Grayscale is not selected in the printer driver.
Check the printheads
▲Print the print quality diagnostic page on a clean sheet of white paper. Evaluate any problem
areas, and perform the recommended actions (see 
To print the print quality diagnostic page).
Printout shows bleeding colors
Check the print settings
▲Some media type settings (such as for transparencies and photo papers) and print quality
settings (such as Best) require more ink than others. Choose different print settings in the printer
driver, make sure you select the correct media type. See 
Changing print settings.
Check the ink cartridges
▲Make sure ink cartridges have not been tampered with. Refilling processes and the use of
incompatible inks can disrupt the intricate printing system, and result in reduced print quality and
damage to the printer or printhead. HP does not guarantee or support refilled ink cartridges. For
ordering information, see 
HP supplies and accessories.
Check the printheads
▲Print the print quality diagnostic page on a clean sheet of white paper. Evaluate any problem
areas, and perform the recommended actions (see 
To print the print quality diagnostic page).
Colors do not line up properly
Check the printheads
▲Print the print quality diagnostic page on a clean sheet of white paper. Evaluate any problem
areas, and perform the recommended actions (see 
To print the print quality diagnostic page).
Check the graphics placement
▲Use the zoom or print preview feature of your software to check for gaps in the placement of
graphics on the page.
Lines or dots are missing from text or graphics
Check the printheads
▲Print the print quality diagnostic page on a clean sheet of white paper. Evaluate any problem
areas, and perform the recommended actions (see 
To print the print quality diagnostic page).
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							Resolving paper-feed problems
For information on resolving jams, see Clearing jams.
Tray cannot be inserted 
●Reinsert the tray. Make sure it is aligned with the printer opening.
●Check for paper jam. See 
Clearing jams.
Another paper-feed problem is occurring
Media is not supported for the printer or tray
▲Use only media that is supported for the printer and the tray being used. See 
Understanding
specifications for supported media.
Media is not picked up from a tray
●Make sure media is loaded in the tray. See 
Loading media. Fan the media before loading.
●Make sure the paper guides are set to the correct markings in the tray for the media size you are
loading. Also make sure the guides are snug, but not tight, against the stack.
●Make sure media in the tray is not curled. Uncurl paper by bending it in the opposite direction of
the curl.
●Make sure the tray is inserted properly.
Media is not coming out correctly
●Make sure the output tray extension is extended; otherwise, printed pages may fall off the printer.
●Remove excess media from the output tray. There is a limit to the number of sheets the tray can
hold.
●If the rear access panel or duplex unit is not installed properly during a print job, media may exit
through the rear of the printer. Reinstall the rear access panel or duplex unit, or close the cover
of the duplex unit.
ENWW Resolving paper-feed problems 47
 
						

							Pages are skewing
●Make sure the media loaded in the trays is aligned to the paper guides. If needed, pull out the
trays from the printer, reload the media properly, making sure that the paper guides are properly
aligned.
●When reinserting a tray into the printer, do so gently. Forceful insertion with a full stack of paper
may cause sheets to slide up within the printer, causing the printer to jam or pick multiple sheets
at one time.
●Make sure the rear access panel or duplex unit is properly installed.
Multiple pages are being picked up
●Fan the media before loading.
●Make sure the paper guides are set to the correct markings in the tray for the media size you are
loading. Also make sure the guides are snug, but not tight, against the stack.
●Make sure the tray is not overloaded with paper.
●When reinserting a tray into the printer, do so gently. Forceful insertion with a full stack of paper
may cause sheets to slide up within the printer, causing the printer to jam or pick multiple sheets
at one time.
●Use HP media for optimum performance and efficiency.
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							Resolving printer management problems
This section provide solutions to common problems that involve managing the printer.
Embedded Web server cannot be opened
Check your network setup
●Make sure you are not using a phone cord or a cross cable to connect the printer to the network.
See 
Configuring the printer (Windows) or Configuring the printer (Mac OS).
●Make sure the network cable is securely connected to the printer.
●Make sure the network hub, switch, or router is turned on and working properly.
Check the computer
▲Make sure the computer that you are using is connected to the network.
Check your Web browser
▲Make sure the Web browser meets the minimum system requirements. See 
System requirements.
Check the printer IP address
●Print the configuration pages of the printer, and locate the printers IP address on the second
page. See 
Understanding the configuration page.
●Ping the printer using the IP address from an MS-DOS prompt.
For example, if the IP address is 123.123.123.123, type the following at the MS-DOS prompt:  
C:\Ping 123.123.123.123
If a reply appears, the IP address is correct. If a time-out response appears, the IP address is
incorrect.
ENWW Resolving printer management problems 49
 
						

							Troubleshooting installation issues
Problems printing an alignment page
When printheads are installed or replaced, the printer automatically prints a few alignment pages to
align the printheads. This process takes about 8 minutes, and the alignment pages may be discarded
after they are printed. If the printer does not print the pages, try to start the alignment process
manually (see 
To align the printheads).
Problems installing software
NOTEVisit HP website (www.hp.com/support/officejetprok550) for the latest troubleshooting
information, or product fixes and updates.
Verify the computer requirements
▲Make sure the computer meets the system requirements. See 
System requirements.
Verify installation preliminaries
●Before installing software on a Windows computer, ensure all other programs are closed.
●If the computer does not recognize the path to the CD drive that you type, ensure you are
specifying the correct drive letter.
●If the computer cannot recognize the Starter CD in the CD drive, inspect the CD for damage. The
printer driver can be downloaded from 
www.hp.com/support/officejetprok550.
Reinstall the printer software
▲If you are using Windows and the computer cannot detect the printer, run the uninstallation utility
(Util\Scrubber\Uninstall.exe on the Starter CD) to perform a clean uninstallation of the printer
software. Restart your computer and reinstall the software. See 
Uninstalling the printer software.
Problems connecting to a network
NOTEAfter correcting any of the following, run the installation program again.
General network troubleshooting
If you are unable to install the printer software on the computer, verify that:
●All cable connections to the computer and the printer are secure.
●The network is operational and the network hub is turned on.
●All applications, including virus protection programs and personal firewalls, are temporarily
closed or disabled.
●Make sure the printer is installed on the same subnet as the computers that will be using the
printer.
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							●If the installation program cannot discover the printer, print the configuration page of the printer,
and enter the IP address listed on the configuration page during the software installation. See
Understanding the configuration page.
●Ping the printer using the IP address from an MS-DOS prompt.
For example, if the IP address is 123.123.123.123, type the following at the MS-DOS prompt:  
C:\Ping 123.123.123.123
If a reply appears, the IP address is correct. If a time-out response appears, the IP address is
incorrect.
●If you are using a computer running Windows, make sure that the network ports created in the
printer driver match the printer IP address:
1.Print the configuration page. See 
Understanding the configuration page.
2.On the Windows desktop, click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers or Printers and
Faxes.
3.Right-click the printer icon, click Properties, and then click the Ports tab.
4.On the Ports tabbed page, select the TCP/IP port for the printer and click Configure Port.
Compare the IP address listed in the dialog box and make sure it matches the IP address listed
on the configuration page. If the IP addresses are different, change the IP address in the dialog
box to match the address on the configuration page.
Alternatively, create a new HP standard TCP/IP port (using the IP address listed on the
configuration page) by doing the following:
a.On the Ports tabbed page, click Add Port.
b.Select Standard TCP/IP Port and click New Port.
c.Follow the onscreen instructions to create a new TCP/IP port using the printers IP address.
5.Click OK twice to save the settings and close the dialog boxes.
Problems connecting to a wired network
●If the Link light on the network connector does not turn on, make sure that all of the conditions
listed in 
General troubleshooting tips are met.
●Though it is not recommended that you assign the printer with a static IP address, you might
resolve some installation problems (such as a conflict with a personal firewall) by assigning the
printer with a static IP address. For more information, see 
Configure network settings.
Problems setting up or using wireless communication
If the printer is unable to communicate with the network after completing the wireless setup and
software installation, perform one or more of the following tasks:
ENWW Troubleshooting installation issues 51
 
						

							Check the wireless network settings
●Make sure the computers wireless card is set to the correct wireless profile. A wireless profile is
a set of network settings unique to a given network. A single wireless card might have several
wireless profiles (for example, one for a home network and one for an office network). Open the
configuration utility for the network card installed on your computer, and ensure that the profile
selected is the profile for the printers network.
●Make sure the printers network settings match those of your network. Do one of the following to
find the settings for your network:
●Infrastructure communication mode: Open the wireless access points (WAP)
configuration utility.
●Ad hoc communication mode: Open the configuration utility for the network card installed
in your computer.
●Compare the networks settings to those that appear on the printers network configuration page
(see 
Understanding the configuration page), and note any differences. Possible problems include
the following:
●The WAP filters hardware addresses (MAC addresses). See 
To add hardware addresses to
a wireless access point (WAP).
●One of these settings in the printer might be incorrect: communication mode (infrastructure
or ad hoc), network name (SSID), channel (Ad hoc networks only), authentication type,
encryption. See 
Understanding 802.11 wireless network settings.
●Print a document. If the document still does not print, then reset the printers network settings
(see the instructions under 
Troubleshooting tips and resources) and reinstall the printer software
(see 
Setting up the printer for wireless communication (HP Officejet Pro K550dtwn)).
If the wireless network settings are correct, the computer might be associated to another wireless
network. Ensure that the computer is associated to the same wireless network as that of the printer.
Users can ensure this by checking the wireless settings on their respective computers. In addition,
ensure that the computers have access to the wireless network.
If the wireless network settings are incorrect, follow these steps to correct the printers network
settings:
1.Connect the printer to your network with a network cable or to the computer using the cross
cable included with the printer.
2.Open the printers embedded Web server. See 
Embedded Web server.
3.Click the Networking tab, and then click Wireless (802.11) in the left pane.
4.Use the Wireless Setup wizard on the Wireless Setup tab to change the printers settings to
match the settings of the network.
5.Close the embedded Web server, and then disconnect the cable from the printer.
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