Unwanted characters printing

[Howard0305]

Somehow, my CP1518ni is stuck printing miscellaneous characters on one or two lines at the top of blank pages and will continue to print until the paper is used up or replenished.  It will even print these characters when the printer has been disconnected from my computer.

I've reset the CP1518ni defaults, but that made no difference whatsoever.

[Sunshyn2005]

Welcome to the HP Forums @Howard0305, 

I'd like to help you with your CP1518ni. I understand from your description that the printer is continuously printing miscellaneous characters on all of the paper you have in the input tray. Although I am not certain of what is causing the issue, I do have an idea as to what might help. 

I suggest using the following steps to delete the printer from device and printers, and the driver from the server properties.

1. In the ‘Devices and Printers’ folder

2. Choose ‘Print server properties’.

• Win XP – With no printer selected, click ‘File’ then ‘Server Properties’.
• Windows Vista – With no printer selected, press ‘Alt’ then click ‘File’ then ‘Server Properties’.
• Windows 7/8, 8.1, and 10 – Select any printer in the ‘Devices and Printers’ folder and click ‘Print Server properties’ above.

3. Click on the ‘Drivers’ tab at the top of ‘Print server properties’ window

4. Choose the printer you want to uninstall and click ‘Remove’

5. Choose 'Remove driver only'

6. The next screen will give a warning, letting you know that deleting the driver package will remove it from the system. Click ‘Yes’ to say that you are sure you want to do this.

If documents are stuck in the print spooler, you may see an error, cancel any documents pending in the print queue, or try restarting the print spooler, then try to remove the driver from ‘Print server properties’ again. If it still won’t remove the package, restarting the computer and the printer should resolve this ‘in use’ error and allow the driver to be removed.

• If the you continue to get an 'in use' message follow the steps in the document here; The Specified Printer Driver is Currently in Use

After the driver is removed, open Start > All Programs > HP folder > Printer folder > HP Setup and Software (or the printer icon).

The Setup and software screen will open and you can click on Connect a new printer.

If this resolves the issue, please share what worked for you by clicking the Accept as Solution button below. If you require further assistance, let me know and I will do all I can to help. 

Thanks. 

[Howard0305]

Sunshyn,

I did follow your instuctions, but to no avail.  You may have overlooked the part of my message where I stated that the problem persists EVEN AFTER THE cp1518ni WAS DISCONNECTED FROM MY COMPUTER.

Ergo, the problem must be in the CP1518ni itself.

[Sunshyn2005]

Yes I certainly did over look that, my apologies! Okay, new plan; let's remove the toner, leave the printer on and unplug the power cable. With the printer disconnected hold down the power button for a few seconds to release any residual energy, and then reconnect the power cable. 

Once the printer is on again, let's reinstall the toner and see what happens. 

FIngers crossed! 

[Howard0305]

I followed your directions (the CP1518ni has a rocker switch to turn it on or off).  Unfortunately, after I re-installed the toner cartidges and switched the power on, it resumed printing the miscellaneous characters at the top of as many pages as I'd let it before pulling out the paper tray.

[davidzuts · Accepted solution]

Howard I want to make sure of one thing. When you turn the computer back on is just the power and nothing else connected to the printer or are you reconnecting the network or usb cable.  You could try the NVRAM reset but keep in mind all settings will go back to factory defaults and if you still have the same issue, then that would indicate a formatter issue.

Perform an NVRAM initialization on the HP Color LaserJet CP1510 Series printer
1. Turn the product off.
2. Simultaneously press the Right arrow button and the X button. Keep these buttons depressed
as you turn the product on.
3. When Permanent storage init. appears on the display, release both buttons.
4. When the product has finished the NVRAM initialization, it returns to the Ready state.

[Howard0305]

The printer power supply is independent of my computer.  It is plugged into a separate outlet.  I can power the printer while the computer is completely shut down, and when I do, it begins the same printing of miscellaneous characters at the top of each sheet of paper.

[davidzuts]

Thanks for accepting my post as solution, but is it the solution?  Did you try the NVRAM reset and did it work? Does the printer have a network cable connected to it?  If it does is it possible another computer at you location is trying to print to the printer? If the printer only connects via usb to your computer and when disconnected from your computer and turned on tries to print but you at characters across the top, then the issue will be the formatter. For you information to save paper just leave the paper tray empty as the printer will ask to load paper.

[Howard0305]

Sorry for the confusion.  Yes, I did try the NVRAM reset, and it did solve the problem.

Many thanks.

[Howard0305]

No, there is no other computer connected to this printer.  This is my home system.