Duplex Printers Not Aligning

[HGJen]

HP DeskJet 3700 series

HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 series

I am a graphic design student who after running back and forth to print shops decided to go out and buy a printer that can print 11x17 and on both sides. I got the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740.

It will not align/center when printing front and back no matter what I do, whether I print it from acrobat or the computer, I have wasted a ton of expensive ink trying to figure this out and I am beyond frustrated. It's even more frustrating because last semester, prior to purchasing the 7740 series, the DeskJet 3700 series lined up just fine. I was able to print off an entire menu, it lined up perfectly. This time, when I went to print off a brochure, it is off center by a centimeter. On both printers.

I've aligned my ink catridges multiple times and I've worked on it and researched possible solutions for hours. I bought this printer after the 3700 series one failed to line it up properly. I was hoping it was an issue with only that printer, but it's not.

I have printed from two separate laptops, both with the same result.

Because it's affecting both printers, I thought it might be an issue for my laptop. But because I printed from a second laptop I don't believe that is the case. My laptop is an Acer, the other laptop I printed off from was a HP.

Any solutions? I would love to feel that my investment in the printer and ink wasn't a complete waste.

[atharva_gp]

 @HGJen,

Thanks for reaching out to the HP Support community!

• What happens when you try to make a copy 2 sided, do you face the same issue?

Let's try these steps:

Step 1: Power Reset

• Make sure this printer is plugged into a direct wall, not a surge protector.
• Turn the printer on.
• Wait until the printer is idle and silent before you continue.
• With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet. Wait at least 60 seconds
• Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.
• Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.
• Turn on the printer, if it does not automatically turn on.
• Try to print. If the issue persists, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Align the printer.

• Go to Set Up > Tools > Printer maintenance > Align printhead > continue
• Try to print again, if the issue persists, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Update the printer firmware.

• Go to Set Up > Tools > Printer maintenance > update the printer > Check for Printer Updates Now
• Once the updates are installed, try to print.
• Try to print again, if the issue persists, proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Remove and re-add the printer driver.

• In Windows, search for 'Control Panel' and open 'Programs' or 'Programs and features' and select 'Uninstall a Program'.
• Select your HP Printer.
• Select Uninstall.
• In Windows, search for 'Control Panel' and look for 'View devices and printers'option under 'Hardware and Sound'.
• In the Devices and Printers window look for your HP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose 'Delete' or 'Remove Device'.
• Open up the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.
• Type printui.exe /s and click Ok. (Note: there is a space in between “printui.exe” and “/s”)
• Click on the "Drivers" tab.
• Look for HP Printer driver. If you see it Click on it and click Remove at the bottom.
• Select Ok.
• Select Apply and Ok on the Print Server Properties windows.
• Close Devices and Printers.
• Open up the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.
• Type c:/programdata and click Ok. Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.
• Restart the computer.
• Download the printer driver and install it from this link or manually search for drivers from https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/printers.
• Open the downloaded file, follow onscreen instructions and complete installation
• Try printing from your PC again and check if you can print duplex.

Let me know if this information helps. 

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