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HP Deskjet D2460 Printer Troubleshooting

Aligning Ink Cartridges

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Introduction

Aligning the ink cartridges is necessary to obtain the best possible printing performance. Align the cartridges in the following instances.
  • As a final step in setting up your product
  • Whenever you install a new cartridge
  • When ink does not line up on the printed page

Aligning Ink Cartridges

Use one of the following methods to align the cartridges.

Method one: Print an alignment page using HP Solution Center

  1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product.
  2. Load plain white paper into the input tray.
    NOTE:Do not waste your HP Photo Paper or other specialty papers by using them to align the cartridges.
  3. Double-click the HP Solution Center icon ( ) on the desktop to open it.
    If the HP Solution Center icon is not on the desktop, follow these steps.
    • Windows XP: On the Windows taskbar, click Start , click All Programs , point to HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
    • Windows Vista: On the Windows taskbar, click the Windows icon ( ), click All Programs , point to HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
    • Windows 2000: On the Windows taskbar, click Start , click Programs , point to HP , and then click HP Solution Center .
  4. In HP Solution Center , click Settings , click Print Settings , and then click Printer Toolbox . The Printer Toolbox opens.
  5. Click Align the Print Cartridges .
  6. Click Align , and then follow the on-screen instructions. The product prints an alignment page, aligns the cartridges, and calibrates the printer.
  7. Recycle or discard the alignment page.

Method two: Print an alignment page using the printer properties

  1. Open the Printers folder:
    • Windows 2000 and XP: Click Start , click Control Panel , and then double-click Printers and Faxes .
    • Windows Vista: Click the Windows icon ( ), click Control Panel , and then double-click Printers .
    The Printers folder opens.
  2. Right-click the icon for your product, and then click Printing Preferences .
  3. Click the Features tab, and then click Printer Services . The Toolbox opens.
  4. On the Device Services tab, click Align the Print Cartridges . The Align the Print cartridges dialog box opens.
  5. Click Align , and then follow the on-screen instructions. The product prints an alignment page, aligns the cartridges, and calibrates the printer.
  6. Recycle or discard the alignment page.