how to clean print head on C3180

[estewart1443]

My printer won't print in black, only gray. I can't figure out how to clean the printheads as suggested in this forum. I don't have a tab for "Maintenance" or "Services" when I right click on the printer and select Properties. There's no control panel on the machine itself. How do I clean the print head? I have Windows Vista. 

Thanks!

[SuperMario1]

Hello estewart1443. I understand you would like assistance in regards to cleaning the printheads. I have provided an HP document which contains information on two different cleaning methods you can attempt: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00389192

Please inform me when you complete this troubleshooting. Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I'm only here to help!
 

Mario

[estewart1443]

Hi Mario,

Thanks for the reponse but I can't do either of these suggestions. I don't have a

HP printer control panel on the machine or the HP solutions center on my computer. When I search for HP or Hewlett Packard nothing comes up. What am I missing? Someone gave me this printer recently so I have no documentation or CD software relating to it. Is there a way to download this?

Thanks!

Elizabeth

[SuperMario1]

Thank you for the response. To assist you further, I do require the operating system of the computer you are utilizing.

For assistance in locating a Windows operating system, please reference this link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows/which-operating-system

For assistance in locating a Mac operating system, please reference this link: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1633

Please respond as soon as possible so I can assist you.

Mario

[estewart1443]

Windows Vista Home Premium, service pack 2, 64-bit operating system

[SuperMario1]

I'm just re-reading the documents, and I am unsure how you are unable to clean the printheads. What exactly happens when you follow these steps from the document:

1. Make sure that plain paper is loaded in the input tray.
2. Press the 4-way arrow button to select Settings and press OK .
3. Use the arrow buttons or to select Tools and press OK .
4. Use the arrow buttons or to select Clean Printhead and press OK .

Also, what happens when you try these steps:

1. Make sure that the paper is loaded in the input tray.
2. Depending on the operating system, use one of these procedures to open HP Solution Center .
   • Windows Vista: On the Windows taskbar, click the Windows icon ( ), click Programs , click Hewlett-Packard or HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
   • Windows XP: On the Windows taskbar, click Start , click All programs , click Hewlett-Packard or HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
3. In the HP Solution Center, click Settings .
4. Select Print Settings and click Printer Toolbox .
5. Click the Device Services tab.
6. Select Clean the Printhead and click OK .
7. After cleaning, print a self-test page. Follow these steps to print a self-test page.
   1. Press the 4-way arrow button to select Settings and press OK .
   2. Press or to select Tools and press OK .
   3. Press to select Print test page and press OK . The self-test page prints.

Please respond as soon as possible.

Mario

[estewart1443]

Look, I'm sorry to be difficult but I'm repeating myself here. Neither of those steps are working for me. One, there is no 4-way arrow button on my machine. Where is it? I've attached a photo of what buttons are on the printer and I don't see any way to access the Settings and Tools. Am I missing something?

Also, when I search for "HP" or Hewlett Packard on my computer nothing comes up. Like I said, I downloaded the driver from the internet since I was given the printer and don't have any other software or documentation loaded on my computer. Is there a way to download this from the internet?

Thanks

[estewart1443]

[estewart1443 · Accepted solution]

I figured it out. For the record, this is what I needed to do to install the HP Solution Center on my computer.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02463264

[stan1010]

Will cleaning the print heads solve my copying problem. When I try to copy the sheet

comes out blank.