HP PhotoSmart A526 User Manual

							For best print quality, HP recommends that you install all retail print cartridges before the
date stamped on the box.
To insert or replace a print cartridge
1.Make sure the power is on and you have removed the cardboard from inside the
printer.
2.Open the print cartridge door of the printer.
3.Remove the bright pink tape from the cartridge.
NOTE:Do not touch the copper-colored contacts on the print cartridge.
4.If you are replacing a cartridge, push down and pull outward on the cartridge in the
cradle to remove it.
5.Hold the replacement cartridge with the label on top. Slide the cartridge at a slight
upward angle into the cradle so the copper-colored contacts go in first. Push the
cartridge until it snaps into place.
6.Close the print cartridge door.
The printer starts print cartridge alignment. See “
Align the print cartridge”
on page 38 for more information.
Recycle the old cartridge. The HP Inkjet Supplies Recycling Program is available in
many countries/regions and lets you recycle used print cartridges free of charge. For
more information, go to 
www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/recycle/
inkjet.html.
Remove ink from your skin and clothing
Follow these instructions to remove ink from your skin and clothing:
SurfaceRemedy
SkinWash the area with an abrasive soap.
White fabricWash the fabric in cold water and use chlorine
bleach.
Color fabricWash the fabric in cold water and use sudsy
ammonia.
CAUTION:Always use cold water to remove ink from fabric. Warm or hot water can
set the ink into the fabric.
Chapter 6
40 Maintenance
 
						

							Get print cartridge ordering information
To view print cartridge ordering information and order cartridges online
1.Open the Toolbox dialog box. For more information, see “
Toolbox dialog box”
on page 37.
2.Click the Estimated Ink Levels tab.
3.Click Print Cartridge Information.
If you are connected to the Internet, you can click the Shop Online button to order
cartridges online.
To order HP papers and other supplies, go to 
www.hp.com/buy/supplies. If prompted,
choose your country/region, follow the prompts to select your product, and then click one
of the shopping links on the page.
Print a test page
The information on a test page can be helpful if you need to contact HP support. It also
contains information about ink levels, print or ink cartridge performance, printer serial
number, and so on.
To print a test page from the printer
1.Remove any memory card, if inserted.
2.Press 
 or  to highlight Print test page.
3.Press Print to begin printing a test page.
To print a test page from a computer
1.Open the Toolbox dialog box. For more information, see “
Toolbox dialog box”
on page 37.
2.Click the Device Services tab.
3.Click Print a Test Page.
4.Click Print Page.
Print a sample page
To print a sample page from the printer
1.Remove any memory card, if inserted.
2.Press 
 or  to highlight Print sample page.
3.Press Print to begin printing a sample page.
To print a sample page from a computer
1.Load paper in the paper tray.
2.Open the Toolbox dialog box. For more information, see “
Toolbox dialog box”
on page 37.
3.Click the Device Services tab.
Get print cartridge ordering information 41
 
						

							4.Click Print A Sample Page.
5.Click Print Page.
HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon
After you install the printer software, the HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon appears in the
Windows taskbar. This icon helps you perform a variety of tasks.
The HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon shows the status of the printer:
The HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon has a green check mark when the printer is in an
idle state.
The HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon has an exclamation mark when there is an error. An
error message also appears. Click the error message or HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon
to return the icon to its idle state.
• Double-click the HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon to open the HP Solution Center.
• Right-click the HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon to select from the following menu
items:
•HP Photosmart A520 series > About: View the printer software version,
installed printers, and the printer name and serial number.
•Launch/Show HP Solution Center: Opens the HP Solution Center.
•About: Shows the version of the HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon.
•Close HP Digital Imaging Monitor: Removes the HP Digital Imaging Monitor
icon from the Windows taskbar. The icon reappears when you restart the
computer.
•HP Photosmart A520 series > Display Status: Describes the current status of
the printer.
Store the printer and print cartridge
This section contains information on storing your printer and print cartridges.
•
Storing the printer
•
Store the print cartridges
Storing the printer
The printer is built to withstand long or short periods of inactivity.
• Store the printer indoors out of direct sunlight in a place without temperature
extremes.
• If the printer and print cartridges have not been used for one month or more, clean
the print cartridges before printing. For more information, see “
Clean the print
cartridge automatically” on page 38.
Chapter 6
42 Maintenance
 
						

							Store the print cartridges
When you store the printer, always leave the active print cartridges inside the printer. The
printer stores the print cartridges in a protective cap during the power-down cycle.
CAUTION:Make sure the printer completes its power-down cycle before you unplug
the power cord. This allows the printer to store the print cartridges properly.
Follow these tips to help maintain HP print cartridges and ensure consistent print quality:
• When you remove a print cartridge from the printer, store it in a print cartridge
protector to prevent the ink from drying out.
• Keep all unused print cartridges in their original sealed packages until they are
needed. Store print cartridges at room temperature (15–35 degrees C or 59–95
degrees F).
• Do not remove the plastic tape covering the ink nozzles until you are ready to install
the print cartridge in the printer. If the plastic tape has been removed from the print
cartridge, do not attempt to reattach it. Reattaching the tape damages the print
cartridge.
Store the printer and print cartridge 43
 
						

							Chapter 6
44 Maintenance
 
						

							7 Troubleshooting
Before contacting HP support, read this section for troubleshooting tips or go to the online
support services at 
www.hp.com/support.
Before you begin, make sure:
• All the cable connections between the printer and computer are secure.
• You are using the most recent version of the printer software.
TIP:HP recommends using a USB cable 3 meters (10 feet) or less in length. Using
a longer USB cable may cause errors.
This section contains troubleshooting information for the HP Photosmart A520 series
printer.
•
Software installation issues
•
Printing and hardware issues
•
Bluetooth printing problems
•
Device messages
Software installation issues
•The printer software did not install successfully
•
A There was an error writing to Dot4 message appeared
•
Missing HP Photosmart Software
The printer software did not install successfully
Cause:There may be a conflict with the virus protection application or another
software application that is running in the background on the computer that prevented
a successful software installation.
Solution:
1.Uninstall the printer software:
a. From the Windows Start menu, go to Programs > HP > HP Photosmart
A520 series > Uninstall Devices.
b. Follow the onscreen instructions.
2.Pause or disable any active virus protection applications.
3.Quit all software applications.
4.Reinstall the printer software according to the setup instructions that came with
the printer.
A There was an error writing to Dot4 message appeared
Cause:The printer software may have not installed correctly.
Troubleshooting 45
 
						

							Solution:
• Unplug the USB cable from the computer, then plug it in again.
• Make sure the cable is securely attached to the computer and to the USB port on
the back of the printer.
• Restart the computer.
If this does not resolve the issue, follow these steps:
1.Disconnect the USB cable from the printer.
2.Uninstall the printer software:
a. From the Windows Start menu, go to Programs > HP > HP Photosmart
A520 series > Uninstall Devices.
b. Follow the onscreen instructions.
3.When the uninstall is complete, restart the computer.
4.Reinstall the printer software. Follow the onscreen installation instructions.
5.Connect the power cord to the back of the printer and turn on the printer.
6.When the computer prompts you, connect the USB cable to the USB port on the
back of the printer.
Missing HP Photosmart Software
Cause:The HP Photosmart Software is not installed.
Solution:Install the HP Photosmart Software that came with the HP Photosmart.
If it is installed, restart your computer.
To install the HP Photosmart Software
1.Insert the HP Photosmart CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive and then
start the Setup program.
2.When prompted, click Install More Software to install the HP Photosmart
Software.
3.Follow the onscreen instructions and the setup instructions provided in the box
with the HP Photosmart.
Printing and hardware issues
•The printer is plugged in, but it will not turn on.
•
The printout did not appear
•
The computer and printer lost communication
•
The Found New Hardware Wizard did not recognize the printer when it was connected
to the computer
•
The New Hardware Wizard did not appear when the printer and computer were
connected with a USB cable
•
The HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon does not appear in the Windows taskbar
•
The printer would not print when it was connected to the computer with a USB cable
through another USB device
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46 Troubleshooting
 
						

							•A small red circle appeared on the HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon in the Windows
taskbar
•
An Unknown device message appeared
•
The document or photo did not print using the selected default print settings
•
The printer did not print borderless photos
•
Could not save photos from the computer to the memory card
•
Printing is very slow
•
The printout is rippled or curled
•
A blank page came out of the printer
•
The printer ejected the paper when preparing to print.
•
Parts of the printed document are missing or are in the wrong place
•
Print quality is poor
•
The photo printout appears cropped
•
The printout does not appear as it should
The printer is plugged in, but it will not turn on.
Solution:
• The printer may be plugged into a power strip that is turned off. Turn on the power
strip, and then turn on the printer.
• The printer may be plugged into an incompatible power source. If you are traveling
abroad, make certain the power source in the country/region you are visiting
complies with the power requirements and power cord of the printer.
• Check that the power adapter is functioning properly. To check the power adapter:
• Make sure the power adapter is connected to your printer and a compatible
power source.
• Press and hold down the On button on the printer. If the On button lights up,
then the power cord is working properly. If it fails to light, go to 
www.hp.com/
support or contact HP support.
The printout did not appear
Cause:The paper jammed while printing.
Solution:Try the following steps to clear the paper jam:
• If the paper came part way through the front of the printer, gently pull the paper
towards you to remove it.
• If the paper did not come part way through the front of the printer, try removing it
from the back of the printer:
• Remove the paper from the input tray, then gently pull down on the input tray
until it pops open more fully. Do not attempt to extend it to a full horizontal
position. Doing so could damage the printer.
• Gently pull the jammed paper to remove it from the back of the printer.
• Lift the input tray up until it snaps back into paper-loading position.
Printing and hardware issues 47
 
						

							• If you cannot grasp the edge of the jammed paper to remove it, try the following:
• Turn off the printer.
• Turn on the printer. The printer checks for paper in the paper path and will
automatically eject the jammed paper.
•Press OK to continue.
The computer and printer lost communication
Cause:
• The computer might not be connected to the printer.
• The printer might be turned off.
• The printer might not be connected to a power source.
• You might be using a USB hub or docking station that has multiple devices
connected to it. Accessing another device can temporarily break the connection
to the printer.
Solution:
• Make sure the USB cable is securely attached to both the computer and to the
USB port on the back of the printer.
• Make sure that the printer power cord is securely attached and the printer is turned
on.
• Wait until the other device is no longer being accessed or connect the printer
directly to the computer.
If an HP Photosmart dialog box is displayed, click Retry to try to re-establish a
connection.
The Found New Hardware Wizard did not recognize the printer when it was
connected to the computer
Cause:You connected the printer to the computer before installing the software or
before the software prompted you to connect.
Solution:
1.Disconnect the USB cable from the printer and close the Found New Hardware
Wizard.
2.Insert the HP Photosmart CD that came with the printer. When the Install Wizard
appears, click Cancel.
3.From the Start menu, click Run.
4.Click Browse and navigate to the CD-ROM drive.
5.Select the Uninstaller.bat file and click Open.
6.Click OK to launch the Uninstaller.
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48 Troubleshooting
 
						

							7.Click Continue to uninstall the files created when you connected the printer to
the computer.
8.Click Restart. When the computer restarts, remove the HP Photosmart CD and
follow the installation instructions in the setup instructions that came in the box
with the printer.
The New Hardware Wizard did not appear when the printer and computer were
connected with a USB cable
Cause:You may not be using the proper version of Windows, or there may be
something wrong with the USB cable or the USB cable connection.
Solution:Make sure the computer’s operating system is the proper version of
Windows and that the computer is connected to the USB port on the back of the printer
with a USB cable.
If that isnt the problem, try the following:
1.Disconnect the USB cable and power cord from the back of the printer.
2.Uninstall the printer software:
a. From the Windows Start menu, go to Programs >HP > HP Photosmart A520
series > Uninstall Devices.
b. Follow the onscreen instructions.
3.When the uninstall is complete, restart the computer.
4.Reinstall the printer software. Follow the onscreen installation instructions.
5.Connect the power cord to the back of the printer and turn on the printer.
6.When the computer prompts you, connect the USB cable to the USB port on the
back of the printer.
The HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon does not appear in the Windows taskbar
Cause:You may have selected Close HP Digital Imaging Monitor from the menu
when you right-clicked the HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon in the Windows Taskbar.
For more information, see “
HP Digital Imaging Monitor icon” on page 42.
Solution:Restart the computer.
The printer would not print when it was connected to the computer with a USB
cable through another USB device
Cause:Two-way communication between the printer and the computer was
interrupted by another device attached to the hub.
Solution:
1.Turn off the computer.
2.Connect the printer directly to a USB port on the computer.
3.Make sure the cable is securely attached to the computer and to the USB port on
the back of the printer.
Printing and hardware issues 49