• ×
    Information
    Windows update impacting certain printer icons and names. Microsoft is working on a solution.
    Click here to learn more
    Information
    Need Windows 11 help?
    Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
    Windows 11 Support Center.
  • post a message
  • ×
    Information
    Windows update impacting certain printer icons and names. Microsoft is working on a solution.
    Click here to learn more
    Information
    Need Windows 11 help?
    Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
    Windows 11 Support Center.
  • post a message
Guidelines
Experiencing 'Printer Blocked' or 'Printer Error' message? Click here for more information.
Check some of the most frequent questions about Instant Ink: HP INSTANT INK, HP+ PLANS: INK AND TONER.


Check out our Black or Color Ink Not Printing, Other Print Quality Issues info about: Print quality and Cartridge Issues.
HP Recommended
HP4500
Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit)

I have recently replaced the colour cartridge on my Officejet 4500, and since then, I am getting a shadow print on anything that uses the black cartridge, ie documents, dark colours or black writing. I have cleaned and aligned the cartridges, and the print test page comes out clear, but when printing anything else it is blurred.

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
HP Recommended

@Cathyj1973,

 

 

Good Day. Thank you for taking an interest in the HP community. I understand that you require assistance regarding issues with printing. A test page prints correctly while regular printing has issues. I will be really glad to assist you here. 🙂

Fabulous description and superb diagnosis of the issue before posting. Kudos to you for that. 🙂
To assist you with accurate information I would require more information regarding this:

  • Did you make copies directly from the printer and check if it copies correctly?
  • Did you run HP print and scan doctor and check again?

For now, try these steps:

Perform a hard reset on the printer from this link: https://hp.care/2kcz5os (Step 1: Reset the printer)

Now run HP print and scan doctor from here https://hp.care/2b4bUIM  and check if the issue gets fixed.

If the issue continues, make 2 copies directly from the printer without any communication from the computer to eliminate hardware issues with the printer.

If it copies correctly please uninstall and reinstall the printer drivers at the root level by following these steps:

  • Uninstall the printer from "programs and features" which can be accessed by doing a right-click on the Windows button (Please have the printer Off and disconnected during uninstallation.)
  • Check in device manager, if the printer is listed there, please delete it. (Right click on the Windows button to access device manager)
  • Go to devices and printers, in control panel and select any printer listed there and you will get some options on the top.
  • Click on print server properties.
  • You will get a popup, click on the drivers tab and delete all the HP printer drivers listed there if any.
  • Delete all the instances of your printer listed in devices and printers.
  • Restart the PC.
  • Once the PC is on the desktop, press Win + R, it would bring a Run dialog box,
  • Type %temp% in the run box and click Ok or hit the Enter button.
  • It would bring up the temporary files folder. Delete the files in the folder (You might not be able to delete all the files).
  • If possible, delete the printer from the registries using Regedit or using any other 3rd party application.
  • Ignore the Regedit option if it cannot be done.
  • Restart the PC again.

Then download the latest full feature driver https://hp.care/2KeSEVE

 and install it on the computer after selecting the correct operating system.

Connect the printer to your computer only when the setup prompts for the printer.

This should fix the issue.

  •  
  • If this does not do the trick, please download the Windows Built-in drivers by following instructions from this link: https://hp.care/2o3acvH
  • This should resolve the issue for you.

If it fails to copy correctly, then follow all the relevant steps from this link:  https://hp.care/2g3NbXJ (HP Officejet 4500 Printers - Fixing Poor Print Quality)

Now check if the issue gets fixed. if it still continues, then contact Hp phone support to replace the faulty cartridges and this should fix the issue as long as the printer has no hardware issues.

 

Please contact HP phone support via this link: https://hp.care/2moMFSc

Then follow the on-screen instructions to get this done if such a situation crops up.

 

Perform all these steps patiently as it is critical to resolving the issue. Good luck to you. I will keep a watch for your response.

Let me know how it goes and you have a great day!

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help. If this helps, please mark this as Accepted Solution as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles.

Take care and have a blessed week ahead. 🙂

DavidSMP
I am an HP Employee

View solution in original post

2 REPLIES 2
HP Recommended

@Cathyj1973,

 

 

Good Day. Thank you for taking an interest in the HP community. I understand that you require assistance regarding issues with printing. A test page prints correctly while regular printing has issues. I will be really glad to assist you here. 🙂

Fabulous description and superb diagnosis of the issue before posting. Kudos to you for that. 🙂
To assist you with accurate information I would require more information regarding this:

  • Did you make copies directly from the printer and check if it copies correctly?
  • Did you run HP print and scan doctor and check again?

For now, try these steps:

Perform a hard reset on the printer from this link: https://hp.care/2kcz5os (Step 1: Reset the printer)

Now run HP print and scan doctor from here https://hp.care/2b4bUIM  and check if the issue gets fixed.

If the issue continues, make 2 copies directly from the printer without any communication from the computer to eliminate hardware issues with the printer.

If it copies correctly please uninstall and reinstall the printer drivers at the root level by following these steps:

  • Uninstall the printer from "programs and features" which can be accessed by doing a right-click on the Windows button (Please have the printer Off and disconnected during uninstallation.)
  • Check in device manager, if the printer is listed there, please delete it. (Right click on the Windows button to access device manager)
  • Go to devices and printers, in control panel and select any printer listed there and you will get some options on the top.
  • Click on print server properties.
  • You will get a popup, click on the drivers tab and delete all the HP printer drivers listed there if any.
  • Delete all the instances of your printer listed in devices and printers.
  • Restart the PC.
  • Once the PC is on the desktop, press Win + R, it would bring a Run dialog box,
  • Type %temp% in the run box and click Ok or hit the Enter button.
  • It would bring up the temporary files folder. Delete the files in the folder (You might not be able to delete all the files).
  • If possible, delete the printer from the registries using Regedit or using any other 3rd party application.
  • Ignore the Regedit option if it cannot be done.
  • Restart the PC again.

Then download the latest full feature driver https://hp.care/2KeSEVE

 and install it on the computer after selecting the correct operating system.

Connect the printer to your computer only when the setup prompts for the printer.

This should fix the issue.

  •  
  • If this does not do the trick, please download the Windows Built-in drivers by following instructions from this link: https://hp.care/2o3acvH
  • This should resolve the issue for you.

If it fails to copy correctly, then follow all the relevant steps from this link:  https://hp.care/2g3NbXJ (HP Officejet 4500 Printers - Fixing Poor Print Quality)

Now check if the issue gets fixed. if it still continues, then contact Hp phone support to replace the faulty cartridges and this should fix the issue as long as the printer has no hardware issues.

 

Please contact HP phone support via this link: https://hp.care/2moMFSc

Then follow the on-screen instructions to get this done if such a situation crops up.

 

Perform all these steps patiently as it is critical to resolving the issue. Good luck to you. I will keep a watch for your response.

Let me know how it goes and you have a great day!

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help. If this helps, please mark this as Accepted Solution as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles.

Take care and have a blessed week ahead. 🙂

DavidSMP
I am an HP Employee

HP Recommended

@Cathyj1973,

 

It has been a fabulous experience working with you. 🙂 I thank you greatly for accepting this as a solution.  You've been simply amazing with your technical expertise and thanks again for giving me the privilege to share this platform with you. 🙂

 

I hope the unit works great and stays healthy for a long time.

 

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help.

 

Please take care, stay healthy, keep smiling big and do have a blessed year ahead. 🙂

DavidSMP
I am an HP Employee

† The opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of the authors, not of HP. By using this site, you accept the <a href="https://www8.hp.com/us/en/terms-of-use.html" class="udrlinesmall">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="/t5/custom/page/page-id/hp.rulespage" class="udrlinesmall"> Rules of Participation</a>.