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- HP Community
- Printers
- Printing Errors or Lights & Stuck Print Jobs
- PDF's printing black boxes instead of text

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01-18-2019 03:37 PM
Help! Trying to print PDF's and sometimes it works fine and other times it prints all the text as little black boxes with jumbled up indistinguishable characters inside. Have tried several troubleshooting things and done product updates and I print the first copy and its fine and I go in and print more and every one is coming out with the little boxes. So frustrated! I've been working on a solution for 2 hours and I feel like I'm right back to square one!
01-20-2019 12:29 PM
@hisplan
Welcome to the HP Support Community.
Are you able to make a copy? Do all the documents print the same or does this happen only with PDF's?
Let's run the HP Print and Scan Doctor, which helps in resolving common printing and scanning problems such as missing or corrupt print drivers, connectivity issues etc.
Use this link for details on using the HP Print and Scan doctor: https://hp.care/2JyaC93
If the issue persists, let's do a root uninstall and reinstall of the software:
Unplug any USB cable, if any, before doing this.
1.) In Windows, search for and open Programs and features
2.) Select your HP Printer
3.) Select Uninstall
4.) In Windows, search for and open Devices and printers
5.) In the Devices and Printers windows look for your HP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose 'Delete' or 'Remove Device'
6.) Open up the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.
7.) Type printui.exe /s and click Ok. (Note: there is a space in between “printui.exe” and “/s”)
8.) Click on the "Drivers" tab
9.) Look for HP Printer driver. If you see it Click on it and click Remove at the bottom
10.) Select Ok
11.) Select Apply and Ok on the Print Server Properties windows
12.) Close Devices and Printers
13.) Open up the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.
14.) Type c:/programdata and click Ok. Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.
15.) Restart the computer.
Once done, please download and install the software from here:
https://support.hp.com/in-en/drivers
Let me know if this helps.
If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution and Kudos buttons, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!
Thanks!
Have a great day!
I am an HP Employee