Officejet 6500 printing problem

[dudsound]

I recently purchased this printer and it is connected onto my network with an ethernet cable. I have installed the full fat version of the HP software onto my computer, but the slimline version onto other machines. It prints perfectly well from all connected computers to standard A4 paper, but anything out of the ordinary, like an envelope or a sticky label causes problems.

Using my own computer, again connected by cable to the network, and running Windows 7 Professional and Office 2007, when trying to print a standard 110 x 220mm envelope, the printer starts the process, takes in the envelope and spits it out again unprinted, says it's printing and then gives a paper mismatch error message. Another computer connected by cable to the network and using Office 2007 but running XP Home performs in the same way.

I have spoken at length to HP support, and they say I have to change paper settings from within the HP driver. For a start there are nowhere near the same number of products listed in the driver settings as there are in Word, (no labels at all as far as I can see), but I have never had to change these settings using the driver with other printers, including the HP Officejet G85 this printer replaced. Everything is usually controlled from Word or whatever application you is using.

Is this behaviour a function of being connected direct to a network and would it perform normally if connected by USB, or could there be a fault?  Any ideas gratefully received.

[PrintDoc]

Paper mismatch error often occurs when the print job is sent with the page that is not matched to the paper loaded.  Have you tried changing the paper size in both Word and in the print dialog box?  I know it should not be that way, but in the name of science, it may be worth trying.

You could also try to reset your printer - hold the # and 6 keys down while powering on.

[dudsound]

Thanks PrintDoc

The re-set didn't work. Changing the document size/type in both Word and in the HP driver software does make the 6500 print the envelope, but the envelope in the HP software is only a close match for the envelope, not the actual size, but it worked. What is strange is that I can still print an ordinary A4 document properly without changing the HP software back to A4.

So it's a workaround, but there is no easy way I'm going to be able to print Avery sticky labels using this method. I just wish someone from HP would tell me difinitively if this is a fault/software bug or if this is normal for this model. They must have tested these things and know what it can and cannot do, especially using Word which is universal.

[PrintDoc]

One last thought is to do a Windows Update (which should include an Office update, not sure, though) and a HP Software Update to make sure you have the latest of all your software.

[dudsound]

All the software I'm using is up to date so there is nothing more I can do in that respect. As one last control test, I removed the printer from the network and connected it to my computer with a USB cable but unfortunately this didn't provide a solution either, so I'm afraid I'll be boxing it up, taking it back and buying an alternative, probably from another manufacturer.

What I would like is HP to either say this should be working without using their software all the time, or just hands up and admit, no, I'm afraid you cannot use it in what most people would consider a normal manner.

[BiggggAl]

Hi there! I share your frustration... I am connected via a usb cable and am unable to print any avery labels.  The printing and the labels misalign.

So weather you are printing wireless or with the cables does not matter... I don't think.

[MEChacon]

I have the same problem. It started after one document printed and the next one didn't. I did not change any settings or change the paper. The "help" documentation tells me to put the "right" size paper in the printer and set the "right" paper size in the software. This is silly. There is obvioulsy something wrong with the paper sensor. Is there a way to bypass this "feature" so I can print? 

[cabin]

I hae a hp office jet 6500wireless printer. It will print only papers that I use for  copy purposes. If I want to print a email or something else that I see, it will show the printer icon on my computer, but the  copier does nothing. why? cabin

[Janet111]

I have the same issue with my (2 month old) 6500A.  The work around seems to be setting the preferences to "draft" each time....and it works.  I can't seem to reset.