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HP Officejet 4215 All-in-One Printer Troubleshooting

Copying from the Control Panel Is too Slow

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Issue

When making a black or color copy from the control panel, the product copies too slowly.
Click to see the most common causes:
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    Causes
    • Copy Quality setting: Best Mode takes longer to print than Fast mode.
    • Paper Type setting: Selecting Photo paper increases the printing time.
    • Paper Size : Large documents copy more slowly than small documents.
    • Complexity : Graphics and photographs copy more slowly than text.
    • Cartridge Issues : The cartridges are low on ink, clogged, or defective.
    • Dirty Scanner : The scanner glass or lid is dirty.
    • Inadequate Power : The product is connected to a power strip, or the power source is inadequate.

Solution one: Reset the product

Follow these steps to reset the product.

Step one: Reset the product

  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
  2. With the product turned on , disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product.
  3. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
  4. Wait at least 15 seconds.
  5. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.
  6. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
  7. If the product does not turn on by itself, press the Power button ( ) to turn it on.

Step two: Copy a document and time the results

Follow these steps to make sure that you have resolved the issue.

How to copy a document and time the results

  1. Find a document printed on plain white paper containing a mix of text and graphics.
  2. Load the document onto the scanner glass.
  3. Load the paper input tray with plain white paper.
  4. From the Copy screen on the control panel, perform one of these operations.
    • Set the Copy Speed to Fast
    • Set the Copy Quality to Normal
    NOTE:The steps on the control panel to adjust the copy settings vary by model.
  5. Simultaneously, press the button on the control panel to begin copying the document and begin timing the copying process.
  6. Stop timing the copying process when the printed page falls into the paper tray.
  7. Note the amount of time the copying process took.
    • If the copying process takes less than 90 seconds , the product is copying at its specified speed, and you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
    • If the copying process takes longer than 90 seconds , continue to the next solution.

Solution two: Clean the scanner glass and lid

Follow these steps to clean the scanner glass and lid.

Step one: Clean the scanner glass and lid

Before you begin, gather the following materials:
  • Several clean, soft, lint-free cloths
  • Mild glass cleaner
CAUTION:Use only glass cleaner to clean the scanner glass. Do not use cleaners that contain abrasives, acetone, benzene, or carbon tetrachloride. These substances can damage the product. Avoid isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) because it can leave streaks on the glass.
  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn off the product.
  2. Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product.
  3. Open the scanner lid.
    Figure 1: Example of opening the scanner lid of a flatbed scanner
    Graphic: Opening the scanner lid
  4. Spray a clean, soft, lint-free cloth with mild glass cleaner.
    CAUTION:To avoid damaging the scanner, do not spray the glass cleaner directly on the glass.
  5. Clean the scanner glass.
    Figure 2: Clean the scanner glass
    Graphic: Cleaning the scanner glass
    NOTE:Do not use paper-based wipes or tissues that can leave fiber residue.
  6. Dry the scanner glass thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth, or chamois to prevent spotting.
  7. Clean the scanner lid backing.
    Figure 3: Clean the scanner lid backing
    Graphic: Clean the scanner lid backing
  8. Dry the scanner lid backing with a clean, dry cloth, or chamois.
  9. Close the scanner lid.
  10. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
  11. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn off the product.
  2. Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product.
  3. Open the document feeder cover.
    Figure 4: Open the document feeder cover
    Graphic: Open the document feeder cover
  4. Spray a clean, soft, lint-free cloth with mild glass cleaner.
    CAUTION:To avoid damaging the scanner, do not spray the glass cleaner directly on the glass strip.
  5. Wipe the glass strip with the lint-free cloth.
    NOTE:Do not use paper-based wipes or tissues that can leave fiber residue.
    Figure 5: Clean the glass strip
    Graphic: Clean the glass strip
  6. Dry the glass strip thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth, or chamois to prevent spotting.
  7. Close the document feeder cover.
  8. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
  9. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.

Step two: Copy a document and time the results

Follow these steps to make sure that you have resolved the issue.
  1. Find a document printed on plain white paper containing a mix of text and graphics.
  2. Load the document onto the scanner glass.
  3. Load the paper input tray with plain white paper.
  4. From the Copy screen on the control panel, perform one of these operations.
    • Set the Copy Speed to Fast
    • Set the Copy Quality to Normal
    NOTE:The steps on the control panel to adjust the copy settings vary by model.
  5. Simultaneously, press the button on the control panel to begin copying the document and begin timing the copying process.
  6. Stop timing the copying process when the printed page falls into the paper tray.
  7. Note the amount of time the copying process took.
    • If the copying process takes less than 90 seconds , the product is copying at its specified speed, and you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
    • If the copying process takes longer than 90 seconds , continue to the next solution.

Solution three: Plug the product directly into an electrical outlet

Follow these steps to plug the product directly into an electrical outlet.

Step one: Plug the product directly into an electrical outlet

Plug the product directly into an electrical outlet to make sure that the power source functions correctly.
  1. Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product.
  2. Unplug the power cord from any power strips or surge suppressors.
  3. Plug the power cord directly into an electrical outlet.
  4. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
  5. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.

Step two: Copy a document and time the results

Follow these steps to make sure that you have resolved the issue.
  1. Find a document printed on plain white paper containing a mix of text and graphics.
  2. Load the document onto the scanner glass.
  3. Load the paper input tray with plain white paper.
  4. From the Copy screen on the control panel, perform one of these operations:
    • Set the Copy Speed to Fast
    • Set the Copy Quality to Normal
    NOTE:The steps on the control panel to adjust the copy settings vary by model.
  5. Simultaneously, press the button on the control panel to begin copying the document and begin timing the copying process.
  6. Stop timing the copying process when the printed page falls into the paper tray.
  7. Note the amount of time the copying process took.
    • If the copying process takes less than 90 seconds , the product is copying at its specified speed, and you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
    • If the copying process takes longer than 90 seconds , continue to the next solution.

Solution four: Check the ink levels

Sometimes, copies print slowly when the ink levels in the cartridges are too low. Check the cartridge ink levels, and then replace cartridges that are low on ink or empty.
For most products, you can check the ink levels by using the software installed with the product (for example, HP Toolbox, HP Director, or HP Solution Center). If you do not have those programs installed, try printing a self-test page to view the ink levels. If your product has buttons on the control panel (the front of the product), you can print a self-test page using those buttons. You can also try checking ink levels using one of the following methods:

Method one: Check ink levels using the product software

  1. Open the HP software.
    • Windows XP: Click Start , click All Programs , click HP , click the folder for your HP product, and then click the icon for your HP product ( ).
    • Windows Vista: Click the Windows icon ( ), click Programs , click HP , click the folder for your HP product, and then click the icon for your HP product ( ).
    • Windows 7: Click the Windows icon ( ), click All Programs , click HP , click the folder for your HP product, and then click the icon for your HP product ( ).
    NOTE:You can also open the HP product software from your computer desktop: double-click the icon for your HP product ( ).
  2. Double-click Estimated Ink Levels . The Estimated Ink Levels window opens with gauges for each cartridge.

Method two: Check the ink drop icons on the control panel

Some products use ink drop icons ( ) on the control panel to display the estimated ink levels. Follow these steps to check the estimated ink levels on the control panel.
  1. Find the ink drop icons ( ) on the control panel.
    NOTE:The color of each icon corresponds to the cartridge containing ink of the same color. The icons are also in the same order, from left to right, as the cartridges in the product.
  2. Check the estimated ink level in each cartridge.
  • If the estimated ink levels are acceptable , continue to the next solution.
  • If the estimated ink levels are not acceptable , skip to the solution for replacing the cartridges.

Solution five: Clean the cartridge contacts

Follow these steps in the order given to clean the cartridge contacts.

Step one: Clean the cartridge contacts

Depending on whether or not your product has a cartridge latch on top of each cartridge, choose the appropriate method:
  1. Before you begin, gather the following materials:
    • Clean distilled water. Use bottled or filtered water if distilled water is not available.
    • Clean cotton swabs or any soft, lint-free material that will not stick to the cartridges (coffee filters work well).
  2. Open the cartridge access door. The carriage moves into the access area, either in the center or to the right side of the product.
  3. Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product.
  4. Press down on one of the cartridges to release it, and then pull it toward you to remove it.
    Figure 6: Remove the cartridge
    Graphic: removing a cartridge
  5. Place the cartridge on a piece of paper with the nozzle plate facing up
  6. Dip a swab in the clean water, and then squeeze it to remove most of the moisture. The swab should be only slightly damp.
  7. Clean the cartridge contacts.
    CAUTION: Avoid touching the nozzles.
    Figure 7: Clean the cartridge contacts
    Photograph of the cartridge contacts.
    NOTE:Clean the cartridge contacts quickly so that the cartridge is not outside of the product for more than 30 minutes. The ink can dry and clog the nozzles if the cartridge is outside the product for too long.
  8. Clean the contacts in the carriage for the cartridge.
    WARNING:Make sure that you have disconnected the power cord from the product.
    Figure 8: Carriage
    Photograph of the carriage
    Figure 9: The gold-colored contacts in the carriage
    Photograph of the contacts in the carriage
  9. Wait ten minutes to allow the cartridge and carriage to dry.
  10. Place the cartridge in its slot at a slightly upward angle, and then press up and forward until the cartridge snaps into place.
    Figure 10: Install the cartridge
    Illustration of inserting a cartridge
  11. Repeat these steps to clean the other cartridge.
  12. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product.
  13. Close the cartridge access door.
    An alignment page prints after about a minute.
  1. Before you begin, gather the following materials:
    • Clean distilled water. Use bottled or filtered water if distilled water is not available.
    • Clean cotton swabs or any soft, lint-free material that will not stick to the cartridges (coffee filters work well).
  2. Make sure that the product is on.
    WARNING:If the product is off when you lift the cartridge access door, the product will not release the cartridges for changing. Damage might occur to the product if the carriage is not docked safely on the right side when you try to remove the cartridges.
  3. Lift the cartridge access door until it locks into place.
    The carriage is docked on the far right side of the product.
    Figure 11: Open the cartridge access door
    Graphic: Open the cartridge access door
    1 - Cartridge access door
    2 - Carriage docking station
  4. When the carriage is idle and silent, press down, and then lift a cartridge latch inside the product.
    Figure 12: Lift the cartridge latch
    Graphic: Lift the cartridge latch
    1 - Latch for the tri-color cartridge
    2 - Latch for the black, photo, and gray photo cartridges
  5. Push down on the cartridge to release it, and then pull it toward you out of its slot.
    Figure 13: Remove the cartridge
    Graphic: Push down on the cartridge
  6. Place the cartridge on a piece of paper with the nozzle plate facing up.
  7. Dip a swab in the clean water, and then squeeze it to remove most of the moisture. The swab should be only slightly damp.
  8. Clean the cartridge contacts.
    CAUTION: Avoid touching the nozzles.
    Figure 14: Clean the cartridge contacts
    Graphic: The cartridge contacts.
    NOTE:Clean the cartridge contacts quickly so that the cartridge is not outside of the product for more than 30 minutes. The ink can dry and clog the nozzles if the cartridge is outside the product for too long.
  9. Wait ten minutes to allow the cartridge to dry.
  10. Slide the new cartridge into the empty slot until it clicks into place.
    • If the cartridge you are installing has a white triangle on its label , slide the cartridge into the slot on the left.
    • If the cartridge you are installing has a white square or a white pentagon on its label , slide the cartridge into the slot on the right.
    Figure 15: Slide the cartridge into the slot
    Graphic: Slide the cartridge into the slot
  11. Press down on the latch until it stops. Make sure that the latch catches below the bottom tabs.
    Figure 16: Press down on the latch
    Graphic: Press down on the latch
  12. Repeat these steps to clean the other cartridge.
  13. Close the cartridge access door.
    Figure 17: Close the cartridge access door
    Graphic: Close the cartridge access door
  14. If your product prompts you to align the cartridges, follow the on-screen instructions to align them.

Step two: Copy a document and time the results

Follow these steps to make sure that you have resolved the issue.
  1. Find a document printed on plain white paper containing a mix of text and graphics.
  2. Load the document onto the scanner glass.
  3. Load the paper input tray with plain white paper.
  4. From the Copy screen on the control panel, perform one of these operations.
    • Set the Copy Speed to Fast
    • Set the Copy Quality to Normal
    NOTE:The steps on the control panel to adjust the copy settings vary by model.
  5. Simultaneously, press the button on the control panel to begin copying the document and begin timing the copying process.
  6. Stop timing the copying process when the printed page falls into the paper tray.
  7. Note the amount of time the copying process took.
    • If the copying process takes less than 90 seconds , the product is copying at its specified speed, and you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
    • If the copying process takes longer than 90 seconds , continue to the next solution.

Solution six: Replace the cartridges

Follow these steps in the order given to replace the cartridges.

Step one: Replace the cartridges

Depending on whether or not your product has a cartridge latch on top of each cartridge, choose the appropriate method:
Click this link, HP Home & Home Office Store (US only), and then click Ink Toner & Paper to purchase cartridges or check cartridge compatibility for your printer.
If you are located outside of the US, follow these steps to purchase cartridges using HP SureSupply.
  1. Click this link, HP SureSupply .
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and make sure that the country or region location is correct.
Video of replacing cartridges
The following video demonstrates the steps explained on this page. The outside of the product might look different, but the steps are the same for your product.
If you have trouble viewing the video or to view the video in a different size, click here to play the video on YouTube.
Follow these steps to replace the problem cartridge.
  1. Open the cartridge access door. The carriage moves to the access area, either in the center or to the right side of the product.
  2. Press down gently on the top of the cartridge to release it from the carriage, and then pull it toward you to remove it.
    Figure 18: Remove the cartridge
    Graphic: Remove the cartridge
  3. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging, and then remove the protective tape from the cartridge.
    Figure 19: Remove the protective tape
    Illustration of removing the protective tape
    CAUTION:Do not touch the cartridge contacts or nozzles.
    Figure 20: Do not touch the contacts
    Graphic cautioning against touching the cartridge contacts
  4. Place the cartridge in its slot at a slightly upward angle, and then press up and forward until the cartridge snaps into place.
    Figure 21: Install the cartridge
    Graphic: inserting a cartridge
  5. Close the cartridge access door. An alignment page prints within a minute.
  1. Make sure that the product is on.
    WARNING:If the product is off when you lift the cartridge access door, the product will not release the cartridges for changing. Damage might occur to the product if the carriage is not docked safely on the right side when you try to remove the cartridges.
  2. Lift the cartridge access door until it locks into place.
    The carriage moves to the far right side of the product.
    Figure 22: Open the cartridge access door
    Graphic: Opening the cartridge access door
    1 - Cartridge access door
    2 - Carriage docking station
  3. When the carriage is idle and silent, press down on a cartridge latch, and then lift the cartridge latch to see the cartridge.
    • If you are replacing the tri-color cartridge , lift the green latch on the left.
    • If you are replacing the black, photo, or gray photo cartridge , lift the black latch on the right.
    Figure 23: Lift the cartridge latch
    Graphic: Lift the cartridge latch
    1 - Latch for the tri-color cartridge
    2 - Latch for the black, photo, and gray photo cartridges
  4. Push down on the cartridge to release it, and then pull it toward you out of its slot.
    Figure 24: Remove the cartridge
    Graphic: Remove the cartridge
  5. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging, and then gently remove the protective plastic tape by pulling the pink pull tab.
    CAUTION:Avoid touching the nozzles underneath the protective tape.
    Figure 25: Remove the protective tape
    Graphic: Remove the protective tape
    1 - Copper-colored contacts
    2 - Plastic tape with pink pull tab (must be removed before installing)
    3 - Ink nozzles under tape
  6. Slide the new cartridge into the empty slot until it clicks into place.
    • If the cartridge you are installing has a white triangle on its label , slide the cartridge into the slot on the left.
    • If the cartridge you are installing has a white square or a white pentagon on its label , slide the print cartridge into the slot on the right.
    Figure 26: Slide the new cartridge into the slot
    Graphic: Slide the new cartridge into the slot
  7. Press down on the latch until it stops. Make sure that the latch catches below the bottom tabs.
    Figure 27: Press down on the latch
    Graphic: Press down on the latch
  8. Close the cartridge access door.
    Figure 28: Close the cartridge access door
    Graphic: Close the cartridge access door
  9. If your product prompts you to align the cartridges, follow the on-screen instructions to align them.

Step two: Copy a document and time the results

Follow these steps to make sure that you have resolved the issue.
  1. Find a document printed on plain white paper containing a mix of text and graphics.
  2. Load the document onto the scanner glass.
  3. Load the paper input tray with plain white paper.
  4. From the Copy screen on the control panel, perform one of these operations.
    • Set the Copy Speed to Fast
    • Set the Copy Quality to Normal
    NOTE:The steps on the control panel to adjust the copy settings vary by model.
  5. Simultaneously, press the button on the control panel to begin copying the document and begin timing the copying process.
  6. Stop timing the copying process when the printed page falls into the paper tray.
  7. Note the amount of time the copying process took.
    • If the copying process takes less than 90 seconds , the product is copying at its specified speed, and you do not need to continue troubleshooting.
    • If the copying process takes longer than 90 seconds , continue to the next solution.

Solution seven: Service the product

If you have completed all the preceding steps and are still experiencing a problem, service the product.
Determine if your product is in warranty or out of warranty. If you need help determining your product’s warranty status, go to HP’s Warranty Check Tool .
  • If your product is in warranty , contact HP.
  • If your product is out of warranty , click here to view additional printer support options starting as low as $20.

    HP Officejet 4215 All-in-One Printer

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