HP Deskjet 820Cxi driving me crazy

[mwalcoff]

For some reason, I get poor text quality when printing from Word or
Wordpad on my HP Deskjet 820Cxi, but it prints fine from Acrobat or
Firefox. Any idea what's going on?

(Yes, I know I should buy a new printer.)

Thanks.

 

[Bob Headrick]

For some reason, I get poor text quality when printing from Word or
Wordpad on my HP DeskJet 820Cxi, but it prints fine from Acrobat or
Firefox. Any idea what's going on?

(Yes, I know I should buy a new printer.)

My guess is that one set of apps is printing in text mode and the other
is printing in graphics. If you are using XP the graphics printing will
use only the color cartridge, while the text mode will be printed with
the black cartridge.

Most likely one of your cartridges has some problems. To figure out
which try printing a (rudimentary) nozzle test. Turn on the printer.
Now press and hold the power button, then press the formfeed button 4
times in quick succession, then release the power button. This will
print nozzle patterns of black, cyan, magenta and yellow. The nozzle
patterns should be regular and roughly rectangular. If random nozzles
are missing from the pattern a nozzle cleaning may help, or the
cartridge may need replacement. If a regular repeating set of nozzles
is missing then try cleaning the contacts for the affected cartridge as
shown at:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=bpa02060

Hmm.... WordPad is most likely using the black cartridge. It is also
possible that your spittoon has filled up, causing the black cartridge
to be missing a few hundred nozzles. This would show up in the nozzle
pattern as most of the center nozzles for the black cartridge missing.
It is relatively easy to clean, see:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=bpa02019
Be sure to heed the warning to put down newspaper or similar and do not
drop the ink sludge on your clothes or carpet - it can be very messy.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[mwalcoff]

My guess is that one set of apps is printing in text mode and the other
is printing in graphics. If you are using XP the graphics printing will
use only the color cartridge, while the text mode will be printed with
the black cartridge.

Most likely one of your cartridges has some problems. To figure out
which try printing a (rudimentary) nozzle test. Turn on the printer.
Now press and hold the power button, then press the formfeed button 4
times in quick succession, then release the power button. This will
print nozzle patterns of black, cyan, magenta and yellow. The nozzle
patterns should be regular and roughly rectangular. If random nozzles
are missing from the pattern a nozzle cleaning may help, or the
cartridge may need replacement. If a regular repeating set of nozzles
is missing then try cleaning the contacts for the affected cartridge as
shown at:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=bpa02060

Hmm.... WordPad is most likely using the black cartridge. It is also
possible that your spittoon has filled up, causing the black cartridge
to be missing a few hundred nozzles. This would show up in the nozzle
pattern as most of the center nozzles for the black cartridge missing.
It is relatively easy to clean, see:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=bpa02019
Be sure to heed the warning to put down newspaper or similar and do not
drop the ink sludge on your clothes or carpet - it can be very messy.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging

That's strange, because I just got a new black cartridge, and I haven't
replaced the color one for years. When I did the test you suggested, it
printed two little black lines in the top corner and that's it. Thanks.

 

[Bob Headrick]

That's strange, because I just got a new black cartridge, and I
haven't
replaced the color one for years. When I did the test you suggested,
it
printed two little black lines in the top corner and that's it.
Thanks.

Do you have a scanner? It would be helpful to scan the diagnostic page
and email it to me. The tests described at
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...&docname=bpd02949&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
have more options. If you do not have a scanner please email me and I
will send you my address and you could send me the self-test prints for
diagnosis.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging