New 901XL prints black writing with gray shade despite repeated alignment

[bohne]

Hello!

I inserted a new 901XL (see pictures) into my Officejet 4500.

If I now print pure black and white or in grayscale everything is fine. In all other cases I have grey shadows under the writing. (see picture)

Apart from the cartridge change, nothing has changed in the system. The whole thing happens under Win10 (latest updates installed and various drivers tested) as well as Linux Mint and also from the smartphone (Android 9).

I ran the cleaning and the align program several times without success. The contacts I cleaned as well.

The error does not occur when copying.

A hint that might help: In the (now closing) german forum an user claimed he solved the problem by using the alignment sheet from his old cartridge to align the new one. Sadly I don't store my old alignment sheets 😉

I'm looking forward to answers ideas and solutions!

Roman

[The_Fossette]

@bohne,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

I reviewed your post and I understand that you are facing issues with the print quality after replacing the cartridge.

Don’t worry, I assure you I will try my best to get this sorted.

I recommend you root uninstall the printer and then reinstall it and check if it helps.

Here is how it is done.

1.) In Windows, search for and open Programs and features

2.) Select your HP Printer

3.) Select Uninstall

4.) In Windows, search for and open Devices and printers

5.) In the Devices and Printers windows look for your HP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose 'Delete' or 'Remove Device'

6.) Open up the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.

7.) Type printui.exe /s and click Ok. (Note: there is a space in between “printui.exe” and “/s”)

8.) Click on the "Drivers" tab

9.) Look for HP Printer driver. If you see it Click on it and click Remove at the bottom

10.) Select Ok

11.) Select Apply and Ok on the Print Server Properties windows

12.) Close Devices and Printers

13.) Restart the PC

14.) Download and install the printer software from the below link.

http://hp.care/2nikIQ9

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

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accept as Solution. Your feedback counts!

Cheers!

[bohne]

Thanks for your effort @The_Fossette!

Sadly root uninstalling the driver and reinstalling didn't help.

As you con see in my first post I use the printer from different OS with of course different drivers which worked pretty well till I changed the cartridge.

That is why I'm sure it is not a driver issue. Any other suggestions?

[Riddle_Decipher]

@bohne I suggest you reseat the cartridge and then retry again, and If a full feature driver from HP is not available for your printer, you must install the built-in print driver. A full feature driver for one or more Windows versions is not available for your printer, either from the CD that shipped with your printer or from the HP website.

   NOTE:

Where is the download button? The HP print driver is built into the Windows operating system or is installed through the Windows Update feature on your computer. You do not need to download anything from a website in order to print, scan, or fax.

See the Frequently asked questions in this document for additional information, including how to scan using this driver.

FOR DETAILS & FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, USE THIS LINK: Click here

(By the end of this article all the issues should be resolved)

If you wish to thank me for my efforts, you could click on "Accept as solution" on my post as the solution should help others too.

[bohne]

@Riddle_Decipher also thank you for the try, but please would you read my request carefully? 

It would save you time and work. As you can see, I photographed the cartridge in question. It was also already out of my printer. I took it out several times and put it back in again.

Besides, it's not a driver problem.

Nevertheless thank you very much. I myself am still trying to find a solution, and will write when I have found it.

[The_Fossette]

@bohne,

I recommend you follow the steps in the below article and check if it helps.

https://support.hp.com/in-en/product/hp-officejet-4500-all-in-one-printer-series-k710/4181269/docume...

If you wish to show appreciation for my efforts, mark my post as Accept as Solution. Your feedback counts!

Cheers!

[bohne · Accepted solution]

Here comes the solution:

problem description

After changing the black ink cartridge, all black letters that have somewhere color in the same line are printed with offset gray letters. (Example in the picture) The offset can be up to 3mm.

solution

1. Insert your old cartridge, if enough ink is left in it. Otherwise find any other used but not empty 901 or 901xl cartridge maybe on ebay.
2. print the align sheet
3. change your cartridges again
4. When the printer finished printing the align sheet for your wrong aligned cartridge, throw it away!
5. put the other align sheet on the scanner for alignment

My font looks like that now:

issues

Will the print result be perfect?

No. But better than with an 3mm offset shade.

Why is the look of my font worse than before?

The differences in the orientation of the print heads of both cartridges are too large.

1. Try it with a third cartridge, or
2. try to get a replacement from HP (from my view it's clearly there fault to ship "unalignable" cartridges)

codicil

I know that many had the same problem in the old German forum. Hopefully someone will read my solution and give it a try. Often people by a new printer (also often another brand) when they run into a type of problem that's not mentioned in the FAQs or manuals.

Have a nice day!

bohne

[The_Fossette]

@bohne,

Perfect, I am really glad to hear that the issue is resolved.

If any other questions arise, please feel free to write back to me.

Cheers!