HP OfficeJet Pro 7220 printing constantly but just a line of random characters

[NormalBloke]

On recently installing new cartridges and firing up the printer, I sent 1 page to print and it promptly emptied my paper tray and printed one row of random characters on the top of each page, not all the same!

I called HP support on Friday afternoon and apparently, this is a common problem.  The techs can fix it I am told but I'm still waiting for a call back from them.  Is there anything I can do rather than wait and wait?  Virtual assistant is typical AU (Artificial Untelligence) and chooses not to understand me, HP Print and Scan Doctor does not fix the issue.

For something that is a common problem, I would expect better support from HP.

[Raj_05]

Hi @NormalBloke,

Welcome to HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

If your HP OfficeJet Pro 7220 printer is constantly printing a line of random characters, it is likely experiencing a communication or driver issue. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the problem.

• Cancel the Print Job: The first thing you should do is cancel the current print job. You can do this by opening the print queue on your computer and selecting the job to cancel it.
• Restart the Printer: Turn off your printer and unplug it from the power source for a minute or two. Then, plug it back in and turn it on. This can sometimes clear out any temporary glitches.
• Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers: Outdated or corrupted printer drivers can cause printing problems. Visit the HP website to download and install the latest drivers for your HP OfficeJet Pro 7220 printer. Make sure you download the correct drivers for your operating system.
• Check Printer Connections: Ensure that the printer is properly connected to your computer. If you are using a USB connection, try using a different USB port on your computer. If you are using a network connection, check the network cables and wireless settings.
• Clear Print Queue: Sometimes a stuck print job can cause issues. Open the print queue on your computer and clear any pending print jobs.
• Reset the Printer: You can perform a factory reset on your printer to restore it to its default settings. Be aware that this will erase any custom settings, so use this option as a last resort.
• Check for Malware: Run a malware scan on your computer to ensure that no malicious software is causing the random printing.
• Print a Test Page: After performing these steps, try printing a test page to see if the issue has been resolved.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue causing your HP OfficeJet Pro 7220 printer to constantly print random characters.

I hope this helps. 
 

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4
HP Support