HP Color LaserJet 4550DN

How to Identify and Fix Common Problems ?

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You can visually inspect the remaining cartridge levels on your printer. If they are full but you still cannot print properly, check the cartridge`s expiry date. Expired ink cartridges often dry up which causes problems in the print results.
Clean the printheads: Sometimes the issue why you are unable to print in color is because our printheads are clogged with ink. Clean the printheads and then print a document to check if color printing works. Some printers also have in-built programs that can clean themselves so remember to check for that.
Here are the most common causes of a printer printing faded text or images: Low ink or toner levels. Toner sticking to the fuser roller or problems with the transfer roller. Low ink or toner density settings.
Reasons why your HP printer has ink but won`t print

This may seem obvious, but it sometimes happens: first make sure your paper tray has paper in it. Misalignment, clogged printheads, faulty data communication or insufficient ink levels can also be sources of the problem.

Click the Properties button. The Properties dialog box opens. Check the options on the property tabs to make sure that the appropriate color options are selected. If there is a checkmark in the box by Print in Grayscale, click in the box to remove the checkmark, and then click OK.
Replace low, empty or faulty ink cartridges on your printer. Print a test page from your printer and check if the cyan colour is printing from your printer. Try cleaning the printheads with ethanol and check if it helps.
There`s a trick to printing in color: You must select the color printer in the print menu AND make sure the document is set to print in color under “Printer Properties.” (Most of the time, the color printers default to “color” as the output).
This error message is usually the result of a cartridge that is not firmly seated in its designated slot. To troubleshoot the problem, begin by completely removing the cartridge from its port. Reinstall the cartridge by positioning it so that it snaps into place and is securely fastened in its slot.
Ink cartridges can dry out over time. If they are sitting in your machine for an extended period, they will eventually dry up and become unusable. The simplest way to combat this problem is by printing more frequently or running regular cleans and ink tests to ensure the nozzles remain clean.
Click the start menu and search for `Devices and Printers`. Select devices and printers in the search bar. This will allow you to see the printers connected to the computer. Click the printer you want to check, and you`ll see the ink levels at the bottom of the devices and printers section.
Take-home Message

To summarize, all (or almost all) HP`s cartridges are refillable. Not all the chips can be reset or overridden, but HP will always leave a refill solution for you.

Kindly go to Start > Settings > Update and Security > Troubleshoot > Printer > select Run Troubleshooter. You may also check the print settings to ensure that the option for black and white/grayscale is not selected.
The sponge end of a blocked printer head can be cleaned with only one liquid other than water. This liquid is isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol isn`t strong enough to melt the sponge but is still strong enough to dissolve the ink inside the blocked printer head.
Look for the contact points on the print carriage inside the printer and gently wipe them off using a lint-free cloth. Make sure there isn`t any ink left on the printer contacts. Just as on the ink cartridges, if you are having difficulty removing the excess ink, use a cotton swab and mineral water until it is clean.
Replace any low, empty or faulty ink cartridges on your printer. Dust or paper residue on the rollers or separator pad inside the automatic document feeder (ADF) can result in copy quality issues.
View ink cartridge levels from your printer software, or from the printer control panel. Tap the HP Instant Ink icon on the printer control panel to view ink levels. To check page counts and cartridge shipment status, go to HP Instant Ink.
The short answer is YES. Printer ink expires. Ink cartridges can usually last two or three years if properly packaged and stored. But in a standard case, they will eventually dry out and become useless after this period.
As the name suggests, ink cartridges use liquid ink to create images and text on printed pages. Whereas toner cartridges use powder, which is heated to create printed documents. Much like the quality of petrol you put in your car, the ink and toner you use in your printer will help it run better for longer.
Just above the circuit board on most printer cartridges, you`ll find a small button. You`ve seen these tiny buttons before on cell phones, phone chargers, etc. This is your reset button, and the only way to get in there is either with a paper clip or the tip of a pen (which will leave a tiny ink smudge on the button).
If the problem is isolated to one color, set the printer to Disable Cartridge Check and swap cartridges. If the problem disappears, the old cartridge was obviously bad. If the problem persists, something associated with the cartridge is to blame: its high voltage contact, high voltage circuit, or laser scanner.
Print Speed

Compared with inkjets, laser printers can pump out pages, both in color and simple black and white.

What causes the ink to disappear? Carbon dioxide reacts with moisture in the air to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). The carbonic acid caused an acid–base indicator in the ink to turn colorless.
The first method to resolve a clogged ballpoint pen is to apply more pressure and draw scribbles and vertical lines on a piece of paper. If this method does not work, then dip the very tip of the pen in rubbing alcohol. [just the tip] This will dissolve any dried up or ink that has hardened on the tip.
While toner lasts longer than the printing ink used in inkjet printers, a toner cartridge has a finite shelf life and should be used before it goes bad. Using toner after its expiration date has passed can have negative effects on your print jobs and the devices they`re used in.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

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

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HP Color LaserJet 4550DN

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 4550DN

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

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HP Color LaserJet 4550DN

color is not printing true
ANSWER : I changed all toners and drum and it is still doing it.

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HP Color LaserJet 4550DN

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 4550DN

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 4550DN

HP Deskjet 640c wont print??
ANSWER : yes

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HP Color LaserJet 4550DN

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

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HP Color LaserJet 4550DN