HP 1315 check print cartridge error

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Issue

The quality of the printout or printed image is not as expected.

Try the following solutions in the order presented to resolve the issue. When one of the solutions resolves the issue, there is no need to continue troubleshooting.

note:

Many steps in this procedure require that you install the HP full feature software and drivers. We recommend you go to the Support and Drivers download page to download the full feature version of the driver before continuing.

Solution one: Use genuine ink cartridges

HP recommends that you use genuine HP ink or toner supplies. HP cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-HP or refilled cartridges. If you do not use genuine HP cartridges, the steps in this document might not resolve the issue. To check the authenticity of your cartridges, go to the HP anti-counterfeit webpage (in English).

Solution two: Check ink levels and replace low or empty ink cartridges

Follow these steps to check the ink levels on your product, and then replace low or empty cartridges according to the results.

note:

Ink level warnings and indicators provide estimates for planning purposes only. When an indicator shows low ink levels, consider having a replacement ink cartridge available to avoid possible printing delays. You do not need to replace ink cartridges until print quality becomes unacceptable.

1. Open the Printers folder:

   • Windows XP: Click Start, and then click Control Panel. In the Control Panel, double-click Printers and Faxes.

   • Windows Vista: Click the Windows icon (

     
     ), and then click Control Panel. In the Control Panel, double-click Printers.

   The Printers folder opens.

2. Right-click the icon for your product, and then click Printing Preferences. The Printing Preferences window opens.

3. In the Printing Preferences window, click the Services tab, and then click Service this device. The printer Toolbox opens.

4. Click the Estimated Ink Levels tab. The estimated ink-levels graphic displays.

   Figure : Estimated ink levels

   
   • If the ink-level graphic shows full cartridges, you do not need to replace the cartridges yet. Continue to the next solution.

Solution three: Check the paper

Use the following guidelines to make sure the paper you are using is appropriate for the print job. If it is not, reload the product with an appropriate paper type.

• Load the paper print-side down in the input tray. Many papers have printing and nonprinting sides.

• Make sure that the paper is not wrinkled or curled. Load only clean, wrinkle-free paper into the product.

• Use the correct paper type for your project. For everyday documents, plain paper works well. For documents with dense printing, such as high-contrast graphics or photographs, use HP Premium Plus paper for the best results.

• Store photo paper in its original packaging inside a resealable plastic bag. Store the paper on a flat surface in a cool, dry place. Load photo paper only when you are ready to print, and then put the unused paper back in the packaging.

• Try using a different paper. Paper that does not accept ink well is also prone to print defects. HP ink and paper are designed to work together.

After trying the preceding guidelines, try printing again.

• If these steps resolved the issue, you do not need to continue troubleshooting.

• If the issue persists, continue to the next solution.

Solution four: Check the print settings

Follow these steps to check the print settings to make sure that they are appropriate for your print job.

Step one: Check the print quality settings

1. In the software application you are trying to print from, click File and then click Print. The Print dialog box opens.

2. Select your product and then click Preferences. The printer Properties dialog box opens.

3. Click the Features tab.

4. Review the following options on the Features tab, and then make any necessary changes.

   • Print quality: If you are not satisfied with the quality of your printouts, increase the print quality. To print more quickly, decrease the print quality.

   • Paper type: If one of the options matches your paper type exactly, choose the matching option rather than Automatic.

   • Resizing Options: Make sure the selected option matches your paper size.

• If these steps resolved the issue, there is no need to continue troubleshooting.

• If the issue persists, see the next step.

Step two: Check the Print in Grayscale setting

The product software might be set to print in grayscale. Follow these steps to check this setting.

1. In the software program from which you want to print, click File, and then click Print. The Print dialog box opens.

2. Make sure your product is selected, and then click Properties or Preferences. The Properties dialog box opens.

3. Click the Color tab.

4. Make sure Print in Grayscale is not selected.

• If these steps resolved the issue, you do not need to continue troubleshooting.

• If the issue persists, continue to the next solution.

Solution five: Print and evaluate an extended self-test report and troubleshoot defects

Follow these steps to print, and then evaluate an extended self-test report.

Step one: Print an extended self-test report

1. If you have not already, load clean, plain white paper in the main tray.

2. Press and hold the Cancel button (

   
   ) on the product control panel.

3. Press the Start Copy Color button.

4. Release both buttons. The extended self-test report prints.

Step two: Determine which cartridges printed which areas of the extended self-test report

Different cartridges print different areas of the extended self-test report. Use the following steps to determine which cartridge printed which areas.

The printer uses two cartridges: either a black and tri-color cartridge combination, or a photo and tri-color cartridge combination. The number and arrangement of color bars on the self-test page depends on the cartridges installed.

Example extended self-test reports by cartridge configuration
Cartridge configuration	Example	Which cartridges printed which areas
Tri-color cartridge and black cartridge		Printed by the black cartridge Printed by the tri-color cartridge
Tri-color cartridge and photo cartridge		Printed by the tri-color cartridge Printed by the photo cartridge

Step three: Check the extended self-test report for defects

In general, if the product and its cartridges are working correctly, all the color bars should be present, unstreaked, and uniform in color across the width of the page. The black text on the page should not show ink streaks.

Use the following table for examples of defects that can exist on the extended-self test report. The following examples are not inclusive, but tend to represent the most common issues.

Examples of defects on the extended self-test report
Defect	Example	Description or cause
Faded or non-uniform colors in the color blocks		Black cartridge running out of ink
	Photo cartridge running out of ink
Track marks or ink smears in the text		Fibers or other debris on the printhead
The color blocks are streaked or lined		The cartridge might be running out of ink or the nozzles might be clogged
One or more of the colored blocks is missing entirely		The cartridge is out of one color of ink or the ink nozzles might be clogged.

• If you see one or more defect on the extended self-test report, continue to the next step to troubleshoot the problem cartridge. The problem cartridge is the one you identified in the previous step.

Step four: Clean the ink cartridges using an automated utility

Follow these steps to run a utility to clean the cartridges if you found defects on the extended self-test report.

1. Open the Printers folder:

   • Windows XP: Click Start, and then click Control Panel. In the Control Panel, double-click Printers and Faxes.

   • Windows Vista: Click the Windows icon (

     
     ), and then click Control Panel. In the Control Panel, double-click Printers.

   The Printers folder opens.

2. Right-click the icon for your product, and then click Printing Preferences. The Printing Preferences window opens.

3. In the Printing Preferences window, click the Services tab, and then click Service this device. The printer Toolbox opens.

4. Click the Device Services tab, and then click Clean the Print Cartridges.

5. In the next box, click Clean. The cleaning utility runs, and the product prints a page with an illustration.

6. Examine this test page for print-quality issues.

• If these steps resolved the issue, there is no need to continue troubleshooting.

• If the issue persists, see the next step.

Step five: Align the printer

Follow these steps to open the printer toolbox and align the printer, if you found defects on the extended self-test report.

1. Press and hold the Cancel button (

   
   ) and the On/Resume button (
   
   ).

   The Check Paper and Check Print Cartridge lights should blink.

2. Release both buttons.

   note:

   You will have eight seconds to complete the next five steps.

3. Press the Cancel button (

   
   ) again.

4. Press the Copies button.

5. Press the Paper Type button.

6. Press the Start Copy - Color button.

   The alignment sheet will begin printing. If the sheet does not start printing, repeat the button press combinations.

7. Open the scanner glass lid.

8. Place the alignment sheet face down on the left-front corner of the glass. See the engraved guides on the sides of the scanner glass for assistance.

   Figure : Load the alignment sheet on the scanner glass

   

9. Close the lid, and then press the Scan button. Wait while the product finishes the alignment. The On light (

   
   ) blinks until the alignment completes.

10. Try the print job again.

• If these steps resolved the issue, there is no need to continue troubleshooting.

• If the issue persists, see the next step.

Step six: Clean the area around the ink nozzles

Follow these steps to clean the area surrounding the ink nozzles on the cartridges. You need to complete these steps only if you noticed track marks or smears in the text on the extended self-test report as described earlier in this document.

1. Press the On button (

   
   ) to turn on the product.

2. Open the cartridge access door. The carriage might try to move into the access area. If it does, allow it to move to that position.

   Figure : Open the cartridge access door

   

3. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent, and then unplug the power cord from the back of the product.

4. Lightly press down on the problem cartridge to release it, and then pull it out of its slot.

     caution:

   Do not remove both cartridges at the same time. Do not leave a cartridge outside the product for more than 30 minutes.

5. Set the cartridge on a piece of paper with the ink nozzles facing up.

6. Lightly moisten a clean, foam-rubber swab with distilled water.

7. Clean the face and edges around the ink nozzle with the swab.

     caution:

   Do not clean the ink nozzle plate.

   Figure : Clean the area around the ink nozzle

   

   1. Nozzle plate - DO NOT CLEAN

   2. Area surrounding ink nozzle - Do clean

8. Either let the cartridge sit for 10 minutes to allow the cleaned area to dry, or use a new swab to dry it.

9. Slide the cartridge back into the slot. Push the cartridge forward until it clicks into place.

10. Repeat these steps for the other cartridge, if necessary.

11. Gently close the product cover, and then plug the power cord into the back of the product.

12. Try printing again.

• If these steps resolved the issue, you do not need to continue troubleshooting.

• If the issue persists, continue to the next solution.

Solution six: Replace the problem ink cartridge

Follow these steps to replace the problem cartridge if you saw defects on the extended self-test report. These steps are only basic instructions for installing a new cartridge. If you prefer detailed steps, click for here for step-by-step instructions on replacing the cartridges (c01577355) (in English).

1. With the product on, remove the old cartridge.

2. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging.

3. Remove the pink pull-tab from the new cartridge.

     caution:

   Do not touch the copper-colored electrical contacts or the ink nozzles on the print cartridge. Doing so can cause bad electrical connections, clogged ink nozzles, or poor print quality.

4. Insert the new cartridge in the appropriate slot at a slight angle, and then push the cartridge forward until it snaps into place.

   • The black or photo print cartridge fits in the slot on the right.

   • The tri-color print cartridge fits in the slot on the left.

5. Wait while the product automatically prints an alignment sheet, and then follow the instructions on the alignment sheet to finish aligning the new cartridge.

• If these steps resolved the issue, you do not need to continue troubleshooting.

• If the issue persists, continue to the next solution.

Solution seven: Review additional information

Additional information

HP offers additional resources for information on your product. HP recommends exploring these resources.

• If these steps resolved the issue, you do not need to continue troubleshooting.

• If the issue persists, continue to the next solution.

Solution eight: Service the All-in-One

note:

Keep a print sample that shows the problem. If the ink cartridges, printhead, or printer is replaced under warranty, the support agent will request the print sample. If the printer is returned to HP, the print sample must be returned with the printer. Place the sample in the output tray when you package your printer for shipping.

Service or replace your HP product if the issue persists after completing all the preceding steps.

Go to Contact HP Customer Support to schedule a product repair or replacement. If you are in Asia Pacific, you will be directed to a local service center in your area.

To confirm your warranty status, go to HP Product Warranty Check. Repair fees might apply for out-of-warranty products.