Printer won't complete print job

[NOAABloom]

Sometimes when I try to print a document it will only print the very top of the page (maybe an inch) and then the rest of the page is blank.  This issue has occured several times.  Sometimes I have gotten around it by changing the format of the document to a different type (ex: from pdf to doc) but that doesn't always work.  I have had some success in the past by removing the printer from my Printers and Scanners and re-adding it.  

Either way these fixes are only temporary and do not solve the problem.  I believe the firmware might be outdated, but if I recall correctly the downloaded installer would get 99% complete and then say there was an error and crash.  

I can connect to the printer in two ways, either over a network or by connecting a USB cable.  Both ways fail when this issue arrises.

[Raj1788]

Hi @NOAABloom,

Thank you for joining HP Forums. 

This is a great place to get support, find answers 

I understand that the print jobs are stuck in the queue.

No worries, I'll be glad to help you, that said, I'll need a few more details to dissect your concern & provide an accurate solution: 

Are you facing this issue after an update?

Did you try to change any setting on the computer

Will try the below steps to fix the issue.

Whenever a print job is sent to the printer a file is created in Windows. Sometimes these files become corrupt and cause problems. To properly reset your printing environment, delete these print job files manually.

1. If you have any work open in the software you printing from, save your work. Your current print jobs will be lost and will need to be printed again later.
2. Click on Start menu  to open search or press +S on your keyboard.
3. Type services.msc in the search box and press the enter key

   

4. Select Print Spooler from the services list.
5. Click Restart the service or click the restart button.

   

6. Try printing again.

If the issue persists, click here for further assistance.

Keep me posted, how it goes!

If the information I've provided was helpful.

Give us some reinforcement by clicking the solution and kudos buttons, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

Good Luck! Happy New Year 😉

[NOAABloom]

I do not believe the issues are related to computer updates, although it is something I'll keep in mind.

Restarting the spooler did not seem to be the issue.  Since then I have done quite a few things and I now have a different issue.  I went to the HP website for my printer and downloaded "HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M177 Series Full Software and Drivers", version number 15.0.16259.1230, released Sep 28, 2016.

This did fix the scanning issue I had (at least using the HP Scan App didn't bug out as much as Windows Fax and Scan).  The HP Print and Scan Doctor did seem to work.  I went through the steps and I was able to print a test page via USB and over a network through the Doctors "test print". 

The only issue is that I can't print using any other program.  I have tried printing Word documents and PDFs, and all that happens is the printer will acknowledge that is has received a print request (it states "printing document") and then about 1 minute afterwards of nothing happening it will spit out a single blank page (even if the print job I requested was multiple pages).  

The only times I have had things succesfully print from the printer is when I do a test print from the HP Print and Scan Doctor, or print a report page from the Supplies Status tab from the Printer touchscreen.  One interesting thing the printer will sometimes do is if it is unplugged after a failed attempt at printing is that upon being replugged back in it will complete the failed print job (I had it print out a few documents all at once at one point).  

Do you have any idea how to fix the new issue?

As a side note, the Supplies status report showed plenty of ink.  The lowest was Cyan at 30%, but it printed the three color bars and black bar just fine.

Thanks.

[Raj1788]

Hi @NOAABloom,

Welcome to HP Forums, 

This is a great place to get support, find answers and tips, 

Thank you for posting your query, I'll be more than glad to help you out 🙂

I understand that you have an issue with the print job.

Don't worry I'll be glad to help, however, to provide an accurate resolution, I need a few more details: 

Is copy working fine?

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03922114

Do get back to me as I have a few more tricks up my sleeve. Said that, if I have helped you resolve the issue.

Feel free to give me a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon followed by clicking on 'Accepted as Solution'

Have a great day Ahead!

[NOAABloom]

I am able to copy documents.

I went through the link you mentioned, and I successfully updated the firmware.  However, printing word documents does not seem to work still.  It will say it is printing but still spits out a blank page.

So to recap on what is happening, plus some new things I just found out: 

The Good:

I can print test pages (from HP Print and Scan Doctor).

I can print whole JPEG images.

I can scan.

I can copy.

The Bad:

I can't print word documents.

I can't print txt documents.

Only the top 1-2 inches of PDF documents prints, the rest is blank.

I am really confused on why the file type matters.  A word document that won't print succesfully I can take a snippit of, save as a JPEG, open the JPEG and then print it successfully.  Obviously that is not a permanent fix but maybe it would suggest something is funky with software, either with the printer or how it is being sent to the printer.

[Raj1788]

@NOAABloom,

Thanks for the reply.

Let's try to fix this issue by doing a clean install. 

Follow the steps mentioned below:

First, unplug the USB cable from the printer is present.

Go to Control panel - Programs and feature - Select all the HP Laserjet printer entries and uninstall them.

Now go to Control panel - Devices and printer - Select all the printer entries and remove the device.

Restart your computer.

Click the bottom-left Start button on the desktop, type device manager in the search box and tap Device Manager on the menu.

Once in device manager, click on the view tab in the top & choose "Show hidden devices".

Then from the device manager list, check the entries under "Printer" - If there are any entries, please right click and choose "uninstall" - In the confirm device un-install pop-up, make sure you select the box which says "Delete the driver software for this device".

Also, check the entries under "printer queue" and "imaging devices" and repeat the same exercise. 

Delete any printer entry or any entry which says "Unknown device".

Once done, close device-manger. 

Then press the "windows key" + "r" to get the "Run" window open - Type "printui.exe /s" and press enter.

Under print server properties, go to drivers - remove any entry there as well.Again, go to Run window, type - "c:/programdata" - Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.

Once done you can try cleaning out your temporary files and cached files. 

You can try using automated applications like some cleaner software's that you can download from the internet.

Now restart your computer again.Open the Run window again, type "services.msc" and press ok to get services window.Scroll down to "Remote Procedure Call (RPC)" - right-click and go to properties. 

Make sure the service is started and startup type is "Automatic".

Now scroll up and go to "Function Discovery Provider Host" - right-click and select properties - Change the startup type to "manual" and start the service.

Repeat the same exercise on "Function Discovery Resource Publication" as well.

Click here to download and install the software.

If the issue persists, contact Phone Support.

Please use the following link to create yourself a case number, then call and it may help speed up the call process:

Step 1. Open link: www.hp.com/contacthp

Step 2. Enter Product number or select to auto detect

Step 3. Scroll down to "Still need help? Complete the form to select your contact options"

Step 4. Scroll down and click: HP contact options - click on Get phone number and phone number appear.

They will be happy to assist you immediately.

Keep me posted on any other assistance.

Hope that helps! Let me know 🙂

Please click "Accepted as Solution" on the post that solves your issue to help others find the solution. 

To show appreciation for my help, please click the "Thumbs Up Icon" below!

[skixbumx]

There is a simple solution just download free utility stallprt. It will delete all stalled files without restarts, power down printer, etc. My question is it seems the problem is with HP printers and I would like to know why.