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Post by chris on Dec 26, 2011 14:46:15 GMT -5
I have a dell all in one (A920) printer that came free with my computer. It use to print correctly anything off the Internet but now if I try all comes all comes off printer in a light yellow text...graphics included. (even if I select to print in Black only)
Envelopes don't print in correct color either. Text does if I am printing something in my Word or Excel programs.
Any ideas why this happens and how to correct it. It prints fine other wise. Maybe a driver update needed? Tk U.
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Post by dgriffin on Dec 26, 2011 15:10:05 GMT -5
Does the A920 have BOTH a black and a color cartridge? (If it has only one cartridge, it achieves black by printing all the colors at once. So we would wonder if they're all printing.) Will it print a Word document in black OK?
I have noticed that sometimes stuff I want to print directly from a web page will print a light yellow. And when that happens, I just copy it into Word and change the color to black, but of course you can miss many page elements.
I got so tired of Dell printers that when HP's 3480 came down to $87 at Sam's I happily bought one. And then a second for the basement not long after.
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Post by dgriffin on Dec 26, 2011 15:15:49 GMT -5
The other thing you can do is try to adjust the print properties. File/Print/press the Properties button. The next screen will depend upon your printer model. But somewhere in there see if you can find a choice between Color and Grey Scale and then a Grey Scale choice of "Black Only."
See what you get with any of these choices.
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Post by chris on Dec 28, 2011 1:51:14 GMT -5
thanks Dave...I have done all those things and still some things will print in black, some still come out a light red even though the black only is selected. (like in my word program. if I type a letter it will print in black, if I select envelopes then it prints the address in a faded red even though it is supposed to print it in black. yet if I select the labels option I get correct black printed labels... any website that you are prompted to select print this page...it will come out wrong...very light type in supposed color.
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Post by JGRobinson on Dec 28, 2011 6:03:24 GMT -5
Ok, the cartridges are the problem im pretty sure, likely the 3 color one. Printers print in two ways, Shades of grey-scale and color. I would imagine its the color one thats giving you the issue. probably one of the 3 is low (blue is the suspect), getting a poor mixture. If its a blocked inkjet port, running it through a clean out can unblock it but likely its just low on one color.
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Post by chris on Dec 28, 2011 6:55:48 GMT -5
JGR I just replaced the black as it showed on empty. the color cartridge I replaced a bit earlier and have not really printed in color so it is showing as still full...not that it ever really registered correctly to me in the past. I have also cleaned off the heads. A test page camout correct. This is why I'm stumped.
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Post by JGRobinson on Dec 28, 2011 7:08:59 GMT -5
Hmmm, The test page printing correctly is a bit baffling, did you actually match the page with the picture on your display? It could look good even if the color mix is off, facial pictures usually give up the disparity easily for comparison, text and other images may not. Even a full cartridge can get plugged up and sometimes they cannot be unstopped. Especially if you rarely print in color, the stuff just dries up like an old pen.
If cartridges are not the issue, you need a BFH (Big F'n Hammer), any printer over 3 years old and under $400 to replace is landfill material unfortunately.
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Post by dgriffin on Dec 28, 2011 9:02:08 GMT -5
It's unlikely the problem, but you are using a virus scanner, right? Also, how about reloading the print drivers.
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Post by chris on Dec 28, 2011 15:21:53 GMT -5
Dave I thought about reloading my drivers (1st post) if that doesn't work then the BFH for sure.
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Post by dgriffin on Dec 28, 2011 19:46:19 GMT -5
If the driver is on your hard drive, and with a Dell it should be, you should be able to reload via the panels you get when you select printers from the Control Panel. I just noticed for my HP 3480 that when I took that path to the printer icon, I saw a tab somewhere for "Color Management," and on that panel or another was a check mark to "Let Windows select the colors." Might be interesting if you can do the same on the Dell printer. If you find it, I'd "let Windows select the colors."
Do a system backup before you reload the driver.
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Post by clarencebunsen on Dec 29, 2011 6:17:41 GMT -5
I had to do something similar when I had a computer quit speaking to a printer entirely. I ended up uninstalling then reinstalling the printer. At least I was able to that without digging out the original install disks. After it was uninstalled a message popped up saying "New Hardware Found" & offered to run the New Hardware Installation Wizard. It ran pretty smoothly from there.
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Post by chris on Dec 29, 2011 6:50:59 GMT -5
Dave ...I checked the color management and it had it selected already as automatic...let windows select the colors. But thanks anyway.
CB ...I'll try yours next. Tk U
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Post by chris on Dec 29, 2011 8:25:28 GMT -5
Okay just reinstalled the printer. Ran a test page...failed. Colors don't show true color strip only black and some red. I cleaned the heads on the cartridges and pins. Printed a Word doc ..okay printed an envelope still red print. Went and selected black no color only ...still printed red. So looks like nothing changes so far. I'll have to do some more research when I have the time.
As long as I can send out my job applications correctly all that matters. Seems odd though that in Word if I am printing out a label it will print in black but if I select envelope it prints it in red instead of black.
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Post by clarencebunsen on Dec 29, 2011 9:37:51 GMT -5
OK you've reached the point where, it were me, I would call in my #1 son. His PhD is in what I would call micro-bio-chemistry in the reproduction of cattle but he is quite intuitive in fixing stubborn computers. Unfortunately he only visits about once a year.
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Post by dgriffin on Dec 29, 2011 11:30:03 GMT -5
Maybe Ralph will have a suggestion when he checks in. Chris, you did a virus scan, right? And you don't have another printer around?
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