How to Troubleshoot a Hewlett Packard Deskjet 812C Printer

1. Click the following buttons in order: 'Start, Programs, HP Deskjet 810C Series' and 'HP Deskjet 812C Toolbox.' Click the 'Printer Services' tab. From here you can run some maintenance on your printer.
2. Click 'Align the print cartridges,' and wait for the procedure to finish.
3. Click 'clean the print cartridges,' and allow the printer to clean itself.
4. Now click 'Print a test page,' to see if your problem has been solved.
Check the HP Deskjet Toolbox for Troubleshooting Help
1. Click the 'Troubleshooting' tab from the HP Deskjet Toolbox.
2. From the list provided, select the problem that most resembles the difficulty you are experiencing.
3. Answer a series of questions and the software will provide a diagnosis and solution for most common problems.
Troubleshoot a Failure to Print
1. Check whether or not the power light is blinking. If it is, your computer is still processing a print job. Give it time. If the light is not on at all, make sure the printer is on and receiving power properly.
2. Ensure that the cover of the printer is entirely closed and paper is loaded properly.
3. Make sure both ink cartridge carriers have cartridges installed that match the part numbers for your printer.
4. Check the printer for paper jams. Remove any that you find.
5. Check your screen for a 'Printer Not Responding' message. This indicates that your computer and printer are having a problem communicating. Ensure that the connections are snugly attached. If the problem persists, try using a bi-directional HP IEEE 1284-Complaint Parallel Interface Cable, which is recommended in the product's documentation.
Troubleshoot Printing Blank Pages
1. Ensure that you've removed all packing tape from the ink cartridges.
2. Open the 'Print' dialog box on your computer and ensure that Deskjet 812C is selected from the available printers.
3. If the problem persists install new ink cartridges.
Troubleshoot Text in the Wrong Place
1. Make sure that you've selected 'portrait' if you're trying to print a normal page, or 'landscape' if you want the text to run lengthwise along the page.
2. If the printing comes out slanted, reload paper and ensure that the rear access door is properly locked.
3. If text is running off the page, make sure the margins are set properly in the program you are printing with.
4. Check to see that you've selected the correct paper size in the print settings box. Click the 'Features' tab and verify that 'Poster Printing' is not selected.
Troubleshoot Poor Print Quality
1. Ensure that the printer's banner switch is in the off position.
2. Use only paper intended for printing with inkjet printers.
3. If the ink seems faded or too bold, open the HP Deskjet Toolbox. Select 'Normal' or EconoFast' if the the ink is too dark; select 'Normal' or 'Best' if the ink seems too light.