HP Officejet Pro 6978 (windows 10) prints garbage, symbols, etc

[chandlerdd]

The printer prints garbage - symbols every time I request a document print and of course, the document doesn't print just these odd characters.  

Help 

Donna

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @chandlerdd,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand you are facing an issue with your HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 prints random symbols or garbage characters, it's typically due to a communication issue between the printer and the computer. 

Here are some steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

1. Restart the Printer and Computer

• Turn off your printer and computer.
• Unplug the printer's power cord from the outlet for 30 seconds.
• Plug the printer back in and power it on.
• Restart your computer and try printing again.

2. Check the Printer Driver

• Sometimes the issue arises due to a corrupted or outdated printer driver. Try reinstalling the driver:
  1. Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.
  2. Right-click your HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 and select Remove Device.
  3. Download the latest driver from the HP support website.
  4. Install the driver and set your HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 as the default printer.

3. Check for Software or Firmware Updates Update the firmware on an HP printer

• Visit HP's website to check if there's a firmware update for your printer.
• Make sure that Windows is fully updated by going to Settings > Update & Security and installing any available updates.

4. Clear Print Spooler

• If print jobs are stuck, they can cause your printer to print gibberish.
  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Scroll down and find Print Spooler. Right-click and select Stop.
  3. Go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS, delete all files in the folder.
  4. Go back to the Print Spooler in the Services window, right-click, and select Start.

5. Try a Different Connection

• If you are using a USB connection, try using a different USB cable or port.
• If you're printing via Wi-Fi, try restarting your router and reconnecting your printer to the network.

6. Test Printing in a Different Application

• Try printing from a different application (e.g., Word, Notepad, or a PDF reader) to see if the issue persists.

7. Print a Test Page

• Print a test page to check the printer's performance.
  1. Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.
  2. Right-click your printer and select Printer Properties.
  3. Go to the General tab and click Print Test Page.

Refer to this document: HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 All-in-One Printer User manual 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.