How to Troubleshoot an HP DesignJet 2500cp Printhead Alignment Error

The HP DesignJet 2500cp wide-format printer uses liquid ink housed in print cartridges, like ink jet printers. The printer draws the ink out of the cartridges through the print head assemblies, which contain numerous nozzles to spray the ink onto exact spots on print media. The 2500cp's print heads are separate from the ink cartridges. The printer will automatically align the print heads every time you switch the media you have loaded, but problems can arise with the media, the printer's software or the print heads themselves.

• 1

  Inspect the media you are trying to print on with the DesignJet 2500cp. Replace the media if it has been printed on before or if it is not a white and opaque media. Once the error has cleared, you can then print on different colored media or clear media.

• 2

  Perform a print head alignment on the 2500cp. Press "Image Quality" on the printer's touch screen, then press "Printhead Service," then "Align Now" and wait for the printer to produce an alignment page.

• 3

  Recover the printer's print heads if the error continues to display. Press "Utilities" on the main screen, then "Service Tests" then "Recover Printheads."

• 4

  Perform another print head alignment with the printer as you did before, pressing "Image Quality," then "Printhead Service," then "Align Now." If the problem continues, open the printer's top cover and pull each of the print heads from their slots in the printer.

• 5

  Inspect the print heads to see whether any of the protective tape they ship with is still present. Clean the print heads' metallic contact points with a dry cotton swab, then replace the print heads in the printer.