HP Color LaserJet 8550

How to Identify and Fix Common Problems ?

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Sometimes a `Toner Low` message displays on your computer, and the printer does not print. The message is intended as a warning only so you can have a replacement cartridge available and avoid possible printing delays. You do not need to replace the cartridge until print quality becomes unacceptable.
If you look at the back door cover of the printer there is a label that has your model number serial number and also includes the date of manufactuer. Hope this helps. If you look at the back door cover of the printer there is a label that has your model number serial number and also includes the date of manufactuer.
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M183fw (7KW56A) An efficient, wireless MFP with fax for high-quality colour and productivity.
Check ink or toner levels from the printer control panel

Many HP printers display ink and toner levels on the control panel. Look for an Ink drop icon ( or ), a Cartridge icon , an Ink Levels menu, or a Toner Level indicator.

To fix toner streaks, first, print several blank pages to see if it fixes the print quality. Next, try cleaning the internal components of the printer such as the laser scanner/mirrors. If this doesn`t work, re-install the toner cartridge.
How long does HP toner last? HP toner cartridges can last up to two years in their sealed packaging. Even after two years you may still get some use out of the cartridge, so it may be worth trying even after the fact. Your printer will display a “low cartridge” message when a specific cartridge needs to be replaced.
On the control panel, open the Setup, Service, or Settings menu. Select Preferences, Printer Maintenance, or Tools. Select Web Services, Printer Update, or LaserJet Update.
Laser printers, unlike inkjet printers, do not use ink cartridges. Instead laser printers use toner cartridges, so be sure to purchase accordingly depending on your printer. Toner is a fine dye power that is melted onto the paper.
HP LaserJet Pro color MFP M570 – Color printing.
When color ink is expended and black ink still remains, you can continue printing for a short time using only black ink. However, you should replace the expended ink cartridge(s) as soon as possible.
When “Toner Low” is displayed, prepare a new toner cartridge. If you do not have a new toner cartridge at hand and need printing before obtaining it, you can continue printing about 20 pages(*1) by opening and closing the front cover or the output tray. Print quality is not guaranteed.
The most obvious sign of low toner cartridge is poor print quality. Streaking, lines or missed prints are all possible signs that cartridge replacement is imminent. If you have tried rocking the toner cartridge and are still getting poor prints, it is likely time to replace your cartridge.
The answer is, it depends on the type of laser printer you have. But most modern laser printers will not allow you to go ahead to print in this scenario. This is because the other colors are used to give clarity to the black printout to make it more legible.
Another difference between inkjet and laser printers is that for inkjet printers you only need ink cartridges to print, while for laser printers, you need a toner cartridge and a drum unit. Laser printers always come with a drum unit that transfers the toner powder onto paper.
A low ink/toner density setting

Your default setting could be set to low, causing you to get those faint prints. If your printer does have ink/toner density settings, you should be able to find them once you`ve clicked on your printer in `Devices & Printers.

Printer companies price their devices very competitively, in order to entice customers into buying their products. This leads to a nearly microscopic markup, if any, on most printers. And those devices still require investment, time, engineering and resources in order to produce.
Does Toner Expire? One of the good things about using toner is that while it can degrade over time, generally it does not expire (and there is usually no toner expiration date). Toner cartridges certainly last much longer than ink. Its powder structure means it doesn`t dry out like ink cartridges.
Cartridge breakdown – You can only refill your cartridge up to five times. There could be different types of refilled cartridges available in the market, ranging from the ones suitably designed for your printer model to those that claim to be “compatible” with any printer.
To keep your printer lasting longer, we recommend leaving your printer on. If it is off for a long period of time or if you turn it on and off again regularly, the printhead inside the printer will dry out faster. When you leave it on, you may hear the printer start up every once in a while and begin to calibrate.
The difference between leaving your printer on or turning it off is generally insignificant in terms of energy costs. For healthier print heads and more efficient ink consumption, however, it`s better to leave your printer on.
If it suddenly won`t print or has glitches in the print quality, those are pretty clear signs that the wear and tear of printing life may have gotten the best of it. If it now can`t hold the paper capacity that you want, or it can`t print as many pages as you`d like, those are also signs you might want a new one.
They may contain some bug fixes, which makes your device work better, safer, and more efficiently. Every well-known printer manufacturer releases firmware updates several times a year. Yet, it`s only up to you whether to install them or not.
Right-click the product icon, and then click Printing Preferences. On the Services tab, click Print supplies status page from the drop-down list, and then click Go! The Supplies Status page prints.
Inkjet printers typically run at a lower price point than laser printers, and printer ink is cheaper than toner. However, laser printers and toner have a longer lifespan despite their high cost. Meaning laser toner cartridges have a lower cost per printed page than printer ink.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

HP CLJ 8550 does not recognize new Magenta toner
ANSWER : There’s a menu option to tell the printer it has a fresh toner cartridge.

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HP Color LaserJet 8550

HP Color Laserjet 3800 problem when printing color
ANSWER : Do a cold reset

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HP Color LaserJet 8550

Good toner cartridges still available for HP LJ 4V?
ANSWER : Try directpreciseimaging.Com in Calif. Don’t worry about resistance unless there is none.

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HP Color LaserJet 8550

HP LaserJet 500 Color MFP M575 Scanner Calibration
ANSWER : 0512 is service code for m575

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HP Color LaserJet 8550

HP Color Laserjet 500 series M551n Error 98.00.0C
ANSWER : I just ran into one of these on a 4 year old m551. Failed to complete startup at the end of disk check. Followed the above link for troubleshooting.

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HP Color LaserJet 8550

My 2550n Color LaserJet does not want to print in color
ANSWER : That model had issues with the carousel solenoid sticking. That might explain why it works after you let it sit for 10 minutes. The solenoid gets hotter with use which causes the deteriorated foam on it to become sticky and hold down the release plate instead of letting it go. This allows the carousel to spin when it is supposed to stop for each color. The solenoid is located on the right side of the printer. If you open the lid, it is just behind the opening at the top right. You need to remove the top of the printer and scrape off the goo on top of the solenoid body. I put a piece of thin sticky backed felt to replace it. Other people use electrical tape.

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HP Color LaserJet 8550

HP 4700 Color alignment
ANSWER : Thanks much, this method worked for me.

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HP Color LaserJet 8550

Reset HP Color Laserjet 4700 transfer kit
ANSWER : How about the situation when resistor does not reset the transfer belt count and even new transfer belt out of the box is not doing it. Do you have any idea how to solve this problem? I did reset transfer belts and fusing units on several HL 4700 printers with no problem but also I came across few which were not possible to reset even with oryginal parts.

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HP Color LaserJet 8550