Very faint scanned or copied images

[emergncymd]

My HP Officejet Pro 8500A e-All-in-One Printer (A910a) has stopped recognizing anything that is scanned or copied. I am using Windows 7 64 bit and there have been no recent changes to the system (except routine Windows security upgrades). Printing is unaffected. If I maximize the contrast and darken the image, a faint outline of the scanned information with be seen in the scan window. This happens without regard to my scanning into a jpg or PDF file, and copying is similarly affected.  It seems to me that this could be a light-recognition or light-mediated issue, except that it is the same whether I scan on the flatbed or through the document feeder. The units lights up and the light source moves appropriately.  Yes, the glass is clean.  Unplugging and rebooting the printer does not help. Any suggestions about how to solve this issue? Thanks!

[jason_h]

I see you have already done several troubleshooting steps. I have a few questions though.

The image shows up very faint both in a copy (the printout) and in scans (on the computer screen), is this correct?

Or are you printing out the scanned item and this is when it is faint?

The reason I ask is that it could be a hardware issue in the print path and not in the scanner. I want to make sure we are looking at the correct hardware section.

Do regular printouts (from computer or reports from front panel of printer) come out looking okay?

If the problem shows up in both the scanning and in the copying, as in my first question, then see the steps in your inbox (private) messages.

[beechwood]

Printed output to c4400 is excellent but printed output from scanner is very very faint.  Also been reported that scanned image sent as email is also faint. Any solutions please?

[Lil_Lisa27]

Hello beechwood,

I understand that the images that are scanned are very faint. To confirm, does this happen when you make a stand alone copy from the printer? As well to be able to provide specific troubleshooting steps, what version of Windows are you currently running. I have included the following document 'Which Windows operating system am I running?'.

Thank you

[beechwood]

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I'm using Windows 7 and the condition occurs on stand alone and through windows

[Lil_Lisa27]

Hi,

Thank you for the information. To confirm when you are making a copy with the printer, you are placing the page facedown on the glass, then making the copy? This is also where you are having the issue with the copy being faint? Does this also happen when you print a self test report? I have included the steps for printing a self test.
* Load plain white paper in the input tray
* Press and hold the OK and Help buttons on the control panel together, and then release after 5 seconds.

Please let me know if the self test is printing out normal, or if it is faint as well.

Other troubleshooting steps that you can try are:

1. Plug the printer direct to a wall outlet

2. Make sure that there is nothing on the scanner glass. With the printer turned on unplug the power from the back of the unit, and then the wall outlet. With the printer unplugged press and hold the power button for 30 seconds. Plug the power cord into the wall outlet, and then the back of the printer. If the printer does not turn on, please press the power button to turn the unit on.

Please let me know if you are still getting faint copies after this, thank you.

[beechwood]

Hi ,  Printing from MS Word is good but printing from elsewhere ( eg Google maps is very poor). Scanning using Windows to one of my contacts is also very poor. Generally the printer performs well. Have cleaned scanner glass, replaced cartridges with HP original and carried out other recommended functions.

Hope this helps, if not put it in the "unsolved crimes" basket !!  Thanks for your help and interest.  Beechwood 

[Lil_Lisa27]

Hi,

Thank you for the information. The next troubleshooting that I would suggest for this is issue 'Missing, Faded, or Dull Colors'. Please follow through the steps in order for the best results.

Please let me know if you are still getting the faded print outs, and scans. Thank you.

[beechwood]

Hi Kudos(?)

1.    I'm already being dealt with by an HP employee. 2 I don't recognise the date on your reply. 3. This is NOT an urgent issue and I'm quite happy to leave things to my first contact: if that doesn't work, so be it. Thanks for your interest anyway.

Beechwood