no matter what I print ... BW or Color ... I get crazy horizontal and diagonal lines (black) printed

[Chadman24]

No matter if I am printing in BW or Color, I get crazy horizontal and diagonal black lines printed on my documents. I have gone through all 4 levels of cleaning the print heads and was attempting to align things... but with the crazy lines printed on the alignment page, the scan portion to finish that procedure won't scan the alignment page .. I'm stuck please advise asap, trying to print my tax forms.

[Garp_senchau]

@Chadman24, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Power Reset

• Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source > Wait for 2-3 minutes, then plug it back in and turn it on.

Check Ink Cartridges

• Open the printer and ensure all ink cartridges are properly installed.

Inspect Printhead Manually

• Open the printer cover and check for any visible ink buildup or dried ink.
• If found, gently clean it with a lint-free cloth and distilled water (do not use alcohol).

Print a Quality Diagnostic Page

• On the printer control panel, go to Setup > Reports > Print Quality Report > Check for missing colors, streaks, or smudges.

Use HP Print and Scan Doctor

• Download and run HP Print and Scan Doctor from HP’s website > Follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose and fix print quality issues.

Manually Align Printhead

• Control Panel > Printers & Scanners > HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 > Printer Properties > Maintenance Tab > Align Printhead.

Clean the Encoder Strip

• Open the printer and locate the transparent plastic strip behind the ink carriage.
• Gently clean it with a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with water.

Check for Firmware Updates

• Go to HP Support > Software & Drivers and check if a firmware update is available.
• If so, download and install it.

Factory Reset (If Issue Persists)

• On the printer, go to Setup > Printer Maintenance > Restore Defaults.
• This will reset the printer to factory settings.

Also, you may refer this guide: Click here

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

If this reply nailed it, 🔨 mark it as the "Accepted Solution"—it’s like a spotlight for future problem solvers. ✨ And clicking 'yes' under 'Was this reply helpful?' is the cherry 🍒 on top of the solution sundae. Sharing is caring! 💕

Regards,

[Chadman24]

So, before I posted, I completed all of the steps you mentioned, except an alignment as the alignment page also had crazy lines printed on it and therefore, the scan portion of the alignment process was prohibitive. Nonetheless, after all these efforts you mentioned, I decided to send the printer to e-waste and purchase a replacement. So although the specific issue wasn't resolved, it is no longer relevant. Thank you for your assistance though.

[Garp_senchau]

@Chadman24,

I appreciate you taking the time to update us, and I completely understand your decision. When a printer reaches a point where even alignment isn’t possible, replacing it is often the best path forward. While I wish we could have found a resolution, I’m glad you explored all possible solutions before making your decision.

If you need any assistance setting up your new printer or have any questions in the future, we’re always here to help. Thank you for your patience and for being a valued HP customer. 

Wishing you a smooth and hassle-free printing experience ahead! 😊

Regards,