double vision printing

[Trevor111]

After changing ink cartridges and doing an alignment on a HP Officejet 4500 it started printing double like a shadow. This happens consistently depending on the type of file to be printed and the software used.

Printing a text file from Chrome comes out double but it is fine from Notepad, IE or Firefox.

Printing a word file, standard text is fine but a "text box" is double on the text and the bounding box.

A PDF file that printed fine just before the ink replacement is now printing double from both Chrome and Adobe Acrobat.

After seeing some of the solutions on this forum, I tried:

• removing the cartridges, unplugging for 30 secs, replacing cartridge
• uninstalling/reinstalling the print driver
• realigning
• making a copy works fine
• hard reset (unplug, press # and 6, plug in, go throught setup)
• self test report looks okay

It doesn't seem like an alignment issue because the Word document prints both clear and double on one page.

Using Windows 8.1.
USB connection to printer.

This also happened a few years ago with the same printer and we can't remember what we did to fix it. 

Here is the sample from Word

[asmita6658]

Hi @Trevor111

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

As I understand, there's an issue with the print quality. Don't worry, I'd be happy to help. 

I'd suggest you perform a root un-install of the printer driver - 

1. In the search box, type and open "Uninstall a Program".

2. Look for HP Printer software.

3. Right-click to uninstall.

4. In the search box, type and open “Devices and printers”.

5. In the Devices and Printers, look for your HP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose “Delete” or “Remove Device”.

6. Open 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 Once the software and drivers are removed.

13. Restart the computer.

14. Download and install the software and drivers from here for Windows 8.1 (64-bit).

15. Click on the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions. 

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

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

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Have a great day! 

[Trevor111]

Thanks for the response.  I had gone through pretty much the same steps.  I would try it again and follow through except it was a neighbor's machine and she ended up with another printer.  Sorry we can't work on a solution but I will mark kudus for your response.