Why does my hp 8600 plus printer spit out an extra (blank) page after printing a single page?

[GaryHammond]

Thank you, Bill. You are a scholar and a genteleman!

I am the originator of this thread, and am most grateful to you for persevering!

All the Best,

Gary

[johnsonchiroj]

Thanks Bill, your directions seemed to fix it! I successfully printed a .13 border printout without the annoying pause and blank page issue.  It will be really nice to not have to keep putting the blank pages that build up in the paper tray back in the printer. 

[michealbeethove]

IT'S BAAAACK!

After a few days of printing normally the Phantom Page Problem returned.

Using the install disk and Programs and Features repair function fixed it again but I am not confident that it will remain that way.

Since my 8600 Pro Plus is under warranty I am sending it back to HP.  That is, if I can get HP to talk straight with me.

[johnsonchiroj]

Its back for me too.  It was fun while it lasted.  I'm guessing I can fix it with the same steps but if I have to do it each time I restart my pc its better to deal with the extra pages:smileymad:

[Bill_3297]

Hmmm, it has stayed gone on our machine.  I am sorry to hear that is not the universal resolution.  I don't have an alternative solution.  I do know that it is a software issue because we have two computers with the 8600 the default (and now only) printer on both systems.  The way I stumbled on the solution was the observation that the files that printed the extra page on Marie's printer did not do so on mine, so I just started trying things that I knew would influence the software.

You might try completely uninstalling the software, shutting down the system (not rebooting), then installing it again.  Also, HP has new drivers and firmware available for the 8600, including software for "advanced users".  I have not done a detailed investigation of what is being updated; it may just allow the printer/software to efficiently use Windows 8.  Still, it may fix your problem, whether it intended to or not. 

I have NOT installed the software because right now Marie's system is printing flawlessly and she has not indicated to me that she needs any additional features that the "Basic" software does not provide.  She does 95% of the complex graphics/text printing in our house, and if her system does not need tweaking, I am not going to "fix" it.

Use this link to get to Software and Driver Downloads:  http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?cc=us&dlc=en&jumpID=ex_r11400_us/en//IPG/_ps_g_8...|13|23716|57eefbaa-90de-a7a9-5394-00002c0fef87&lang=en&lc=en&product=4323659&

From here, once you select your operating system, there are links to software and firmware downloads.  This is the only method I know for software updates.  An alternative to the firmware downloads is to use the device manager.  This is more of a blunt tool, as your computer will download what it wants, not necessarily what you want.  That said, it has worked quite well for me in the past. 

Go to Start.  Right click on computer.  Select "Manage".  Go to "Image Devices">HP Office Jet Pro.  Right click, choose "Update Driver Software".  Or you can choose "Properties", then go to the "Driver" tab and select "Update Driver". 

If you decide, for any reason, that you do not want the firmware, use the above steps to return to the HP Office Jet Pro drivers as above.  Then either double click on the item, which will bring up Properties, or right click, then select Properties.  Select the "Driver" tab, and click on "Roll Back Driver".  This will restore your computer to the previous driver state.

Hope this helps. 

[michealbeethove]

Hello Bill_3297:

I have tried all of the above suggestions, and more.  After spending at least two hours with various levels of HP telephone support they came to the realization that, indeed, there is something wrong with this printer.  They are sending a re-conditioned warranty replacement.  Hope it works.

P.S.  The Phantom Page Problem now has a friend.  Don't know if the printer realized it was being replaced and got jealous but after getting confirmation from HP that they were shipping one to me this "old" 8600 Pro Plus has now revealed new antics.  While printing it chimes several times and error messages flash on the printer display so fast that one cannot read it before they blank.

I shall name it the Phantom Page Phriend.

[gromitswallace]

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@Bill_3297 wrote:

Check up two posts.  I found something that seems to have worked for me.  Hopefully, it will work for everybody

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[gromitswallace]

Why does my hp 8600 plus printer spit out an extra (blank) page after printing a single page? this only happens on pdf docs after every print.

[gromitswallace]

I have the same problem with mine it seems to be after any pdf print.

[mike78]

Mine usually does it with excel! Everything else prints just fine. I tried the repair idea and it never quit doing it. It did quit for a short time when I went from using excel 2010 back to 2007 and then it started up a couple of weeks later. I then went back to excel 2010 and the problem continued.