Problem setting up HP printer 7000

[Mooneyl]

Trying to set up HP Smart Tank 7000.  Print carriage will not move to the center.  When I open the lid or manually.  Will not move when unplugged.

[Garp_senchau]

@Mooneyl, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Check for Packaging Material

HP Smart Tank printers often ship with:

Orange plastic clips

Blue tape

Internal cardboard

Protective foam near the carriage

Fully open the ink access door and inspect:

Around the carriage rail

Behind and under the printhead area

Both sides of the carriage track

Remove any visible tape or orange plastic restraints. Many printers won't initialize if these are still in place.

Restart Printer with Lid Closed

Close the ink access lid securely.

Plug in the printer.

Power it on using the power button.

Wait 30–60 seconds to see if the carriage attempts to initialize and move on its own.

DO NOT Force the Carriage

If the carriage does not slide freely when unplugged, it may still be locked by a mechanical latch.

Forcing it can break gears or void the warranty.

Listen for Initialization Sounds

When powered on:

Do you hear the normal startup sounds (motor hums, rollers turning)?

If not, it could indicate a hardware lock or firmware hang.

Reset the Printer

Try a basic hardware reset:

Unplug the printer from power while it is ON.

Wait 60 seconds.

Plug it back in and power it on.

See if the carriage now moves.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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Regards,