Check the printer cable connection
If your printer and computer are connected with a USB cable and the devices are not
communicating with each other, try the following:
•
Make sure the power cord is firmly connected to the printer and plugged into a power
outlet.
•
Check the USB cable. If you are using an older cable, it might not be working properly.
If you experience problems, the USB cable might need to be replaced. Also verify
that the cable does not exceed 3 meters (9.8 feet) in length.
•
Check the connection from your printer to your computer. Verify that the USB cable
is securely plugged into the USB port on the back of your printer. Make sure the other
end of the USB cable is plugged into a USB port on your computer. After the cable is
connected properly, turn your printer off and then on again.
•
If you are connecting the printer through a USB hub, make sure the hub is turned on.
If the hub is on, try connecting the printer directly to your computer.
•
Try connecting the USB cable to another USB port on your computer. After you check
the connections, try restarting your computer. Turn your printer off and then on again.
NOTE:
For best printing performance, use a USB 2.0 compatible cable.
Clear the print queue
Cause:
When you start a print job, it is sent to a list called the “print queue.” If the
printer stops printing before the job is complete, the print job might be stalled in the
print queue.
Solution:
To resolve a print job that is stalled in the queue
1.
For Windows 2000, click
Start
, click
Settings
, and then click
Printers
. For
Windows XP, click
Start
, and then click
Printers and Faxes
.
2.
Double-click the name of the HP Deskjet printer.
3.
Click the
Printer
menu, and then click
Pause Printing
.
4.
Click the
Printer
menu again, and then click
Cancel All Documents
.
5.
Click
Yes
to confirm the cancellation.
6.
Click the
Printer
menu, and then uncheck
Pause Printing
.
7.
If there are still documents in the list, restart the computer.
8.
After restarting, if there are still documents in the list, repeat steps 1 – 6.
After resolving a print job that is stalled in the print queue, the print queue still might
not be clear. In that situation, you need to stop and then restart the print service.
To stop and restart the print service
1.
For Windows 2000, click
Start
, click
Control Panel
, and then click
Administrative Tools
. For Windows XP, click
Start
, click
Control Panel
, click
Performance and Maintenance
, and then click
Administrative Tools
.
2.
Double-click
Services
, and then double-click
Print Spooler
.
Chapter 10
60
Troubleshooting
3.
Click
Stop
, and then click
Start
to restart the print service.
4.
Click
OK
to close the window.