Repeated request to align the printer

[Pagar48]

My 4650 is quite new and I've had to replace the black cartridge for the 2nd time (Not the problem).  After the 2nd replacement and following all the alignment steps, the printer works beautifully.  However every time I turn it on it wants me to align it.  I did that once (in addition to when I installed the new cartridge) but I'm not going to do it every time I turn in on - it prints and scans perfectly.

What could be the problem?

[greenturtle]

Hi,

Thanks for using the HP Forums.

Spoiler

After the 2nd replacement and following all the alignment steps, the printer works beautifully.

Was the alignment page scanned properly?  If it is not, that is one reason it will print and prompt again for alignment.

Thanks.

[Pagar48]

Thanks Greenturtle:  I'm trying it again.  The printed page is clear and print quality is great.  Does it make a difference if the three squares are to the left or the right side when I put it on the glass? (I put them to the left trying to follow the small printed picture)

When it scanned the page, the screen told me it could not detect the alignment page and push OK to continue.  Before I responded, the screen then changed to telling me it was setting the cartridges to defaul quality and push OK for that. 

In the past attempts I may have missed the message that it could not detect the alignment page - but how to resolve that?

I might add that when I have scanned something, it does so flawlessly so it does recognize a page.

[greenturtle · Accepted solution]

Hi @Pagar48

The alignment page should be place on the edge with an indicator. (it could be top left for Officejet printers or Bottom right for some printers)

The alignment page should be clear with good print quality (as you mentioned)

Alignment page is to set the best quality for the installed cartridges (based off scanning the alugnment page printed by the installed cartridges), hence it does not affect scanning any photos or documents.

Hope that helps!

[Pagar48]

Not at all sure why but without doing anything, the problem seems to have gone away after the 3rd time I turned it on.  I had done all you suggested the first time and it is strange the issue went as mysteriously as it came.  Thanks for your input though.

[greenturtle]

Hi @Pagar48,

Glad to hear that your issue is resolved and all is working well now.

Have a nice day!

[Pagar48]

Hi again;

I think I solved the riddle.  When I first installed the black cartridge and did the alignment procedure (twice), I did not realize the alignment page should have had both black and light blue squares and dashes.  Unnoticed by me (and the printer did not tell me), the colour cartridge was just about empty too so no blue was printed.  Only tonight when I replaced the colour cartridge and the page printed in two colours did I realize.  This time the alignment process went perfectly.  

[greenturtle]

Hi @Pagar48

Thanks again for your feedback and insights.

Have a nice day!