Deskjet 2742 Prints Printer Alignment Page Every Time Power is Restored

[Shrike23]

I live in a rural area and the local power  is a bit unsteady, to put it mildly. It is not unusual for the power to out for a moment or two during calm weather, to flicker on-and-off during windy weather, or to go out for hours during storms.

That I can live with -- what I can't live with is my HP Deskjet 2742 always printing out a new Printer Alignment page every time there's even a brief interruption in power.

Yes, I can hear the most obvious answer -- "Get a UPS." Thanks -- have one, but the battery died and I haven't had time to locate a replacement battery supplier.

The DJ 2742 is not the only HP printer I have here; only this DJ insists on printing useless page after useless page every time the power flickers.

Any advice or suggestions on settings changes?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Shrike23 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for explaining the situation so clearly—and I’m genuinely sorry your HP DeskJet 2742 keeps printing alignment pages after every power flicker. That’s understandably frustrating, especially when you're managing multiple devices in a rural setup. 

Let’s walk through a focused set of steps to help suppress these unnecessary alignment prints and stabilize your printer’s behavior.

Step-by-Step: Stop HP DeskJet 2742 from Printing Alignment Pages After Power Loss

1. Complete the Alignment Process Once

Even if you’ve done this before, completing it fully can help lock the printer’s internal state.

• When the alignment page prints:
  • Place it face-down on the scanner glass.
  • Press the Start Copy Black or Start Copy Color button.
• Wait for the printer to scan and confirm alignment.

This stores the alignment data and may prevent future automatic triggers.

 

2. Use the HP App to Confirm Alignment Status

• Open the HP App on your Windows PC or mobile device.
• Select your printer > Settings > Printer Reports.
• Check for any pending alignment or cartridge setup notifications.

If the printer still thinks setup is incomplete, it will continue printing alignment pages.

 

3. Keep Printer Powered On During Inactivity

• If possible, leave the printer powered on continuously.
• Disable Auto-Off in the HP App:
  • Go to Settings > Preferences > Power Settings.
  • Set Auto-Off to Never or Extended Delay.

This reduces the chance of reset cycles that trigger alignment.

 

5. Check Ink Cartridge Seating

• Open the cartridge access door.
• Remove and reinsert both cartridges firmly.
• Close the door and wait for initialization.

Loose or misaligned cartridges can cause the printer to reinitiate alignment after power loss.

 

6. Update Firmware

Visit: HP DeskJet 2742 Drivers and Firmware

Select your operating system and install the latest firmware.

Firmware updates can improve cartridge recognition and suppress redundant alignment behavior.

Let me know how the printer responds after completing the alignment and adjusting power settings. If needed, I can guide you through checking internal logs or preparing a static IP setup to reduce reconnection delays. 

You're doing everything right—this sequence should help restore calm and consistent printing.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Shrike23]

Hawks-Eye,

Thank you for the response.

As a now-retired IT professional, I followed your instructions but was unable to resolve the problem.

More precisely, here are my results form applying the recommended solutions:

1. Completing the alignment process did not get rid of the issue.
2. Using the HP Smart App (Ver 161.1.1087.0) as instructed, there is no report that indicates the alignment status is for the printer.
3. Using the HP Smart App, the app reports that the AUTO-OFF function cannot be turned off; the printer factory-fixed at a 2 hours shut-off. There appears to be no way for me to force the printer to remain on using the HP Smart app or any printer setting.
4. <Missing Instruction>
5. Ink cartridges were removed, set aside for 1 minute,  and reseated -- no effect on the unending printing of the alignment page.
6. Printer firmware seems to be updated (Reported firmware installed version: TCP1FN2510DR).

None of the suggested instructions work.

PS: Here are some changes or errors that should be reported up-the-chain for improvements to HP Support reports:

• Suggestion #2 is incomplete or inaccurate -- there are THREE (#) different printer reports, yet the indicated instructions does not reference which of the three printer reports to use.
• Suggestion #2 is incomplete or inaccurate: None of the three possible printer reports has any indication of printer alignment status. If it exists somewhere in any of these three printer reports, HP instructions should more clearly indicate precisely what instruction/report/line number the user should reference.

[Hawks_Eye]

Thank you for sharing such a detailed and thoughtful follow-up—and I’m truly sorry the alignment page issue persists despite your thorough efforts. It’s clear you’ve approached this with precision and care, and I appreciate the time you’ve taken to test each step and document the results.

Let’s refine the approach based on your findings and focus on what may still be influencing the printer’s behavior.

Refined Steps: Suppress Alignment Page on HP DeskJet 2742 After Power Loss

1. Confirm Cartridge Type and Status

• Ensure both cartridges are HP original and not refilled or third-party.
• On the printer’s control panel or via the HP App:
  • Go to Settings > Supplies Status
  • Confirm both cartridges are listed as “Genuine HP” and show normal ink levels

Non-original cartridges or low ink can cause the printer to reinitiate alignment after every power cycle.

 

2. Scan Alignment Page Using Control Panel Only

• When the alignment page prints:
  • Place it face-down on the scanner glass
  • Press Start Copy Black (not via the HP App)
  • Wait for the printer to scan and confirm alignment

Scanning via the physical button ensures the printer stores alignment data locally, bypassing app sync issues.

 

3. Check for Persistent Setup Flags

• On the printer’s control panel:
  • Navigate to Settings > Printer Maintenance > Print Reports
  • Print the Status Report and Setup Report
• Look for any lines indicating:
  • “Setup Incomplete”
  • “Alignment Required”
  • “Cartridge Initialization Pending”

If any of these flags appear, the printer will continue triggering alignment until cleared.

 

4. Factory Reset the Printer

• On the printer:
  • Tap Settings > Printer Maintenance > Restore Settings
  • Choose Restore Factory Defaults
• After reset:
  • Reconnect to Wi-Fi
  • Reinstall cartridges
  • Complete alignment once more

This clears any persistent setup flags that may be stuck due to prior power interruptions.

 

5. Firmware Confirmation

You mentioned firmware version TCP1FN2510DR is installed.

Visit: HP DeskJet 2742 Drivers and Firmware

Confirm that this version matches the latest listed for your region and OS

If newer firmware is available, install it to ensure the printer handles power recovery more gracefully.

Let me know what appears in the Setup Report or if the factory reset changes the behavior. 

You’ve done everything right—this refined sequence should help suppress the alignment page and restore calm, efficient printing.

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye