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Take a look at all HP Support has to offer! Thank you for your purchase. Along with your product, you receive a variety of support services from Hewlett-Packard and our support partners designed to give you the results you need, quickly and professionally.
Online Services: for 24-hour access to information over your modem, we suggest these services. World Wide Web URL--Printer drivers, updated HP printer software, and product and support information may be obtained from http://www.hp.com, or in Europe from http://www2.hp.com. In Japan printer drivers may be obtained from ftp://www.jpn.hp.com/drivers/. Korea: www.hp.co.kr. Taiwan: www.hp.com.tw, with a local driver website of www.dds.com.tw. HP Bulletin Board Service--Our electronic download service provides convenient access to HP printer drivers, updated HP printer software, product information, and troubleshooting hints. Dial (208) 344-1691 (U.S. and Canada) and set your communication software to N,8,1. European Bulletin Board Service numbers are listed at http://www2.hp.com. Taiwan: (886-2) 923-3233. Korea: HITEL or CHOLIAN (Go HPK). Australia: (613) 9890 0276. New Zealand: (649) 356-3660. America OnLine--(America OnLine/Bertelsmann available in France, Germany, and UK)--Printer drivers, updated HP printer software, and support documentation are available to help you answer your HP product questions. Use Keyword HP to start your tour. CompuServe--Printer drivers, updated HP printer software, and interactive sharing of technical information with other members are available on CompuServe's HP User's forums (GO HP), or call (800) 524-3388 and ask for representative #51. (CompuServe is also available in the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.) Obtaining Software Utilities and Electronic Information: U.S. and Canada
Asia-Pacific Countries/Regions

Phone: Fax:

(970) 339-7009 (970) 330-7655

Mail:

Hewlett-Packard P Box 1754 .O. Greeley, CO 80632 USA

Fulfill Plus (65) 740-4477 (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong SAR). Call (612) 565-6099. Call (800) 538-8787 (U.S.) or (800) 387-8164 (Canada). This support tool offers a comprehensive online information system designed to provide technical and product information on HP products. To subscribe to this quarterly service in the U.S. or Canada, call (800) 457-1762. Fulfill Plus, (65) 740-4477 (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong SAR). To locate HP-authorized dealers, call (800) 243-9816 (U.S.); (800) 387-3867 (Canada). Call (800) 446-0522 (U.S.); (800) 268-1221 (Canada).

Australia/New Zealand HP Direct Ordering for Accessories and Supplies HP Support Assistant CD-ROM

HP Service Information HP Service Agreements

HP FIRST: HP FIRST Fax will deliver detailed troubleshooting information on common software applications and troubleshooting tips for your HP product. Call from any touch-tone phone and request up to three documents per call. These documents will be sent to the fax of your choice. Australia Austria Belgium (Dutch) Belgium (French) Canada China Denmark English outside of UK Finland France Germany Hong Kong SAR India Indonesia Italy Japan (03) 9272-2627 0660-8128 0800-1-1906 0800-1-7043 (800) 333-1917 (86 10) 6505 5280 800-10453 (31 20) 681-5792 9800-13134 05-905900 0130-810061 (852) 2506-2422 (011) 622-6420 (21) 352-2044 1678-59020 (81 3) 3335-8622 Korea Malaysia Netherlands New Zealand Norway Philippines Singapore Spain Sweden Switzerland (German) Switzerland (French) Taiwan Thailand United Kingdom United States (02) 769-0543 (03) 298-2478 0800-22-2420 (09) 356 6642 800-11319 (65) 291-7951 (65) 275-7251 900-993123 020-795743 0800 55-1527 0800 55-1526 02-719-5589 (02) 661-3511 0800-960271 (800) 333-1917

Customer Support Options Worldwide In addition to the phone numbers listed below, appendix A, "Warranty and Support Information" contains worldwide sales and service addresses and phone numbers for countries/regions not listed here.

U.S. and Canada: Customer Support & Product Repair Assistance (Please refer to the warranty chapter of this manual for additional product repair information.)

Call (208) 323-2551 Mon-Fri 6 am to 10 pm and Saturday 9 am to 4 pm (Mountain Time) free of charge during the Warranty Period; however, your standard long-distance phone charges still apply. Please have your serial number ready when calling. Post-warranty telephone assistance is available to answer your product questions. Call (900) 555-1500 ($2.50* per minute, U.S. only), or call (800) 999-1148 ($25* per call, Visa or MasterCard, U.S. and Canada) Mon-Fri 7 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm (Mountain Time). Charges begin only when you connect with a support technician. *Prices subject to change.

European Customer Support Center Language and In-Country/RegionOptions Available Open Monday-Friday 8:30-18:00 CET

HP provides a free telephone support service during the warranty period. By calling a telephone number listed below, you will be connected to a responsive team waiting to help you. If you require support after your warranty has expired, you can receive support for a fee through the same telephone number. The fee is charged on a per-incident basis. When calling HP please have the following information ready: · Product name and serial number Date of purchase Description of the problem Dutch English Belgium: Netherlands: Ireland: UK: International: France: Belgium: Switzerland: Germany: Austria: 02 626 8806 020 606 8751 01 662 5525 0171 512 5202 44 171 512 52 02 04 50 43 9853 02 626 8807 084 880 1111 0180 5 25 81 43 0660 6386 Norwegian Danish Finnish Swedish Italian Spanish Portuguese Norway: Denmark: Finland: Sweden: Italy: Spain: Portugal: 22 11 6299 3929 4099 0203 47288 08 619 2170 02 26410350 902 321 123 01 441 7199

French

German

In-Country/RegionSupport Numbers

If you require support after your warranty has expired or additional product repair services, of if your country/region is not listed below, please refer to the Worldwide Sales and Service Offices in appendix A. Africa/Middle East Argentina Australia Brazil Canada China Czech Republic Greece Hong Kong SAR Hungary India Indonesia Japan Korea (41 22) 780-7111 (54 1) 781-4059/69 (03) 9272 8000 (55 11) 709-1444 (208) 323-2551 (8610) 6261-4174; 6261-4175; 6261-4176; 6262-5666 (42 2) 471 7321 (30 1) 689 64 11 800-7729 (36 1) 252 4505 (011) 6472366 (21) 350-3408 (31 20) 581-3318 (82 2) 3270-0700; outside Seoul, call 080-999-0700 Malaysia Mexico D.F. Mexico Guadalajara Mexico Monterey New Zealand Philippines Poland Portugal Russia Singapore Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey (603) 295-2566 (52 5) 326-4600 (52 3) 669 95 00 (52 83) 378 42 40 (64 9) 356-6640 (63 2) 894-1451 (48 22) 37-5065 (351 1) 301 7330 (7 095) 923-5001 (65) 272-5300 (41 1) 753 7111 (02) 717-9609 (662) 661-4011; 661-4012 (90 1) 224-5925

HP LaserJet 6L Printer

User's Manual

Copyright Information © 1997 Hewlett-Packard Company All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws. Part number: C3990-90901 First Edition, May 1997 Documentation Warranty Statement The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Hewlett-Packard makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damage in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this manual. Trademark Credits Microsoft®, Windows® and MS-DOS® are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) The Toner Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) can be obtained by calling HP First at (800) 333-1917 or (208) 344-4809. International customers should refer to "Hewlett-Packard Services Worldwide" at the front of this manual for appropriate numbers and information.

FCC Regulations This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: · Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. · Increase separation between equipment and receiver. · Connect equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult your dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician. Note: Any changes or modifications to the printer not expressly approved by HP could void the user's authority to operate this equipment. Use of a shielded interface cable is required to comply with the Class B limits of Part 15 of FCC rules.

Canadian DOC Regulations Complies with Canadian EMC Class B requirements. <>.>>

CONTENTS
1 Set Up
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Identifying Your Printer's Parts . . . . . . . Installing the HP LaserJet Toner Cartridge Connecting Your Printer's Cable and Cord Attaching the Label to the Printer . . . . . Loading Paper into the Printer . . . . . . Printer Software Information . . . . . . . Minimum System Requirements . . . . Installation Considerations . . . . . . . Installing Your Printer's Software . . . . . Standard Installation for Windows 3.1x . Standard Installation for Windows 95 . Custom versus Typical Installation . . . Alternative Installation for Windows 3.1x Alternative Installation for Windows 95 . Using Online Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing Memory Cards (DRAM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 . 1-1 . 1-2 . 1-3 . 1-4 . 1-5 . 1-6 . 1-6 . 1-6 . 1-7 . 1-7 . 1-7 . 1-8 . 1-8 . 1-8 . 1-9 1-10

2 Printer Control Panel
Using the Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 The Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

3 Printing
Selecting Print Media . . . . . . . . . . Selecting Media Types . . . . . . . . Selecting Media Sizes . . . . . . . . Selecting the Output Paper Path . . . . Using the Single-Sheet Input Slot . . . . Printing on Letterhead and Envelopes . Printing Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printing on Both Sides (Duplexing) . . Pausing Your Printer Between Pages Resetting Your Printer . . . . . . . . Stopping a Print Job . . . . . . . . . Printing on Special Media . . . . . . . . Additional Tips for Custom Sizes . . . Additional Tips for Transparencies . . Additional Tips for Printing Labels . Managing HP LaserJet Toner Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 3-1 3-1 3-2 3-3 3-4 3-5 3-5 3-6 3-6 3-6 3-7 3-7 3-7 3-7 3-8

4 Troubleshooting
Solving Common Problems Printing a Self-Test Page Clearing Paper Jams . Paper Will Not Feed . . Cleaning Your Printer .
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4-1 4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4

Contents-1

Solving Printer Problems . . . . Solving Print Quality Problems . Solving Software Problems . . . Solving Hard-to-Resolve Problems Networks and Switchboxes . . . . Out of Memory . . . . . . . . . .

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. 4-5 . 4-7 4-12 4-13 4-15 4-15

A Warranty and Support Information
HP Limited 1-Year Warranty Statement . . . . . Hardware Service during the Warranty Period Hardware Service after the Warranty Period HP LaserJet Toner Cartridge Warranty . . . Accessories and Supplies Information . . . . . HP Software License Agreement . . . . . . . Worldwide Sales and Service Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1 A-2 A-2 A-2 A-3 A-4 A-5

B Printer Specifications
Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . Regulatory Information . . . . . . . VCCI Statement (Japan) . . . . . Laser Statement for Finland . . . Environmental Product Stewardship Laser Safety Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1 B-2 B-2 B-2 B-4 B-6

2-Contents

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1
Set Up
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the HP LaserJet 6L printer. The following items are required to set up your printer:

· HP LaserJet 6L Printer · HP LaserJet Toner Cartridge · IEEE-1284 Compliant Parallel
Cable (not included)

· Power Cord · Sheet of Printer Labels · HP LaserJet 6L Printer Software Disks

Identifying Your Printer's Parts
Before using your printer, make sure you can identify the following parts:
Figure 1-1

A = Front Output Slot B = Paper Path Lever C = Front Panel Button D = Indicator Lights E = Paper Output Bin F = Paper Output Support

G = Paper Input Support H = Single-Sheet Input Slot I = Paper Input Bin J = Paper Guides K = Printer Door

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Set Up

1-1

Installing the HP LaserJet Toner Cartridge
It is recommended that you use HP LaserJet toner cartridges. HP has designed the printer, toner cartridges, and toner formula to work together to give you optimal image quality from your printer.
Caution To prevent damage, do not expose the toner cartridge to light for more than a few minutes. For extended periods outside the printer, place the cartridge in a closed drawer, return it to the original packaging, or cover it completely with a cloth.

To install your HP LaserJet toner cartridge, you will need to first remove the toner cartridge from its packaging. (Save the packaging for possible cartridge storage and recycling.)
1 Open the Printer Door by pulling it

toward you in a forward motion using both hands. 2 Roll the toner cartridge back and forth briskly to distribute the toner evenly inside the cartridge. 3 Grasp the end of the clear sealing tape on the side of the cartridge and pull firmly to remove the entire length of the tape. Once removed, the tape should measure twice the length of the toner cartridge or 490 mm (19.3 inches). 4 Hold the cartridge by the handle (so that the arrows are facing the printer) and slide it down and back into the printer. The ends of the cartridge slide into the black plastic grooves in the printer. Push it firmly into place and close the printer door.
Note If toner gets on your clothing, wipe it off with a dry cloth and wash clothing in cold water. Hot water sets toner into fabric.

1-2

Set Up

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Connecting Your Printer's Cable and Cord
Note For best results, it is imperative that you use a high-quality IEEE-1284 compliant parallel cable, such as the HP LaserJet cable, between the printer and computer. This cable supports all of your printer's advanced printing capabilities. If you experience problems with your computer not being recognized by your printer, you may have a faulty cable.
1 Connect a parallel cable to your

1
Set Up

printer. Be sure not to force the cable on upside down. 2 Secure the cable by snapping the two wire clips from the printer to the cable. A secure cable helps prevent communication problems between the computer and printer. 3 Connect the other end of the cable to a parallel port on your computer. Secure the cable by tightening the attached screws.
Caution Be sure to connect the cable to a parallel port on your computer rather than a serial port. Connecting to the wrong port can cause damage to your printer. See your computer's documentation for more information about the computer's ports.
4 Connect the power cord between the

printer and a grounded power strip or wall outlet. Once the power is connected, the indicator lights on the printer's front panel will turn on and then blink in sequence. The Error (top) light will stay on if the Paper Input Bin is empty. You will not find an on/off switch on your printer. After 15 minutes of inactivity, the printer will automatically shift to a powered-down state called SleepMode.

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Set Up

1-3

Attaching the Label to the Printer

A sheet of labels was shipped in the Paper Output Bin of your printer. You will need to attach the label titled "Remove Paper Before Reloading" to your printer.
1 Carefully remove the label from its

backing sheet.
2 Attach the label to the printer's Paper

Input Bin. As the label indicates, always remove and realign all paper before reloading. By doing so, you can reduce multiple paper feeds or paper jams or both.

1-4

Set Up

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Loading Paper into the Printer

1
Set Up

Before loading paper into the printer, you will want to raise the paper supports located behind the Paper Input Bin and the Paper Output Bin. Using paper supports can help prevent unwanted paper curl and paper jams. These supports can be extended for different lengths of paper.
1 Raise the supports on the Paper

Input Bin and on the Paper Output Bin until they snap into place. 2 Insert up to 100 sheets of paper into the Paper Input Bin. Be careful not to overfill the bin. The Ready (bottom) light will come on. 3 Center the paper using the paper guides on the Paper Input Bin. If you want to test your printer, you can print the self-test page. To do so, make sure the Ready (bottom) light is on and all other indicator lights are off. Press and release the Front Panel button. (If the printer is in SleepMode [all lights are off], you will need to press the Front Panel button twice.) The Data (middle) light will come on and the Ready (bottom) light will blink. The self-test page prints.
Note When adding paper to an existing stack in the Paper Input Bin, always remove and realign all paper to avoid multiple paper feeds or paper jams or both.

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Set Up

1-5

Printer Software Information
Before you can use your printer with any software programs, you must first install the printer's software. Your printer's software includes two printer drivers that support both Windows® 3.1x and Windows 95. The printer's software will automatically select the optimal printer driver based on the requirements listed below.

Minimum System Requirements
PCL Driver Host-Based Driver

· 386 processor · 4 MB RAM (Windows 3.1x) or
16 MB RAM (Windows 95)

· 486 processor · 8 MB RAM (Windows 3.1x) or
16 MB RAM (Windows 95)

· 5 MB free disk space

· 10 MB free disk space · DOS 5.0 · Bidirectional communication

Installation Considerations
Some devices (such as a switchbox, zip drive, or software key) connected between the printer and the computer may prevent the printer from sending data back to the computer. If you are using one of these devices, some of your printer's features will not be available to you, such as the status window. During installation, if you get the message "HP LaserJet 6L printer has not been found," check the following:

· · ·

Check the power cord connections and power source. Make sure you are using a high-quality IEEE-1284 compliant parallel cable. Ensure that any devices connected between the printer and the computer (such as a switch box or zip drive) have bidirectional capabilities. If, after checking the items listed above, you still see the "HP LaserJet 6L printer has not been found" message, click Continue to proceed with the PCL driver installation. If the installation could not be successfully completed, see the Alternative Installation instructions later in this chapter.

1-6

Set Up

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Installing Your Printer's Software
The following section lists several different methods of installation. Use the method that is appropriate for your computer system.

1
Set Up

Standard Installation for Windows 3.1x
This setup installs the printer software for Windows 3.1x.
1 Connect your HP LaserJet 6L printer to your computer using a 2 3 4 5 6 7

high-quality IEEE-1284 compliant parallel cable. Ensure the power cord is connected to the printer. Insert Disk 1 into Drive A: (or B:). Select File from the Program Manager and choose Run. Type A:SETUP (or B:SETUP) and click OK. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the installation. Remove the disk when the installation is complete.

Standard Installation for Windows 95
This setup installs the printer software for Windows 95.
1 Click Start, select Shut Down, choose Shut Down the Computer, and

click Yes.
2 Turn off your computer. 3 Connect your HP LaserJet 6L printer to your computer using a

high-quality IEEE-1284 compliant parallel cable.
4 Ensure the power cord is connected to the printer. 5 Turn on your computer and restart Windows 95. The "New Hardware

Found" screen appears.
Note

If your computer does not display the "New Hardware Found" screen, you will need to follow these instructions: 1) Insert disk 1 into Drive A: (or B:), 2) Select Start, then select Run, 3) Type A:SETUP (or B:SETUP) and click OK, then 4) Follow the instructions on your screen.
6 7 8 9 10

Select "Driver from Disk Provided by Hardware Manufacturer." Click OK. The "Install From Disk" screen appears. Insert Disk 1 into Drive A: (or B:) and click OK. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the installation. Remove the disk when the installation is complete. If after installing the software and restarting Windows 95 your computer displays the screen "New Hardware Detected" and lists the HP LaserJet 6L printer, you will want to select "Do not install a driver (Windows will not prompt you again)" and click OK.

Note

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Set Up

1-7

Custom versus Typical Installation
During installation, you may see a dialog box asking if you prefer a Typical or a Custom installation. The Typical installation installs all of the HP recommended software. If you choose to do a Custom installation, you will be asked whether you want to install the host-based driver or the PCL driver. (See the system requirements for the PCL driver and the host-based driver.) If you meet the system requirements and your printer is connected directly to your computer, select the host-based driver. If you meet the system requirements and you are going to access the printer across a network, select the PCL driver. You will also need to select or clear the HP LaserJet 6L Help files. Select this option if you want to include online help files for your printing software. Finally, you will be asked to select or clear TrueType Fonts. Select this option if you want to install TrueType fonts.
Note

By following the Alternative Installation instructions below, the PCL driver files and some help files will be installed. This setup will not install the status window. Make sure that you quit all software that is currently running, such as Microsoft® Office Manager, virus checkers, and fax utilities.

Caution

Alternative Installation for Windows 3.1x
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Quit all software that is currently running. From the Program Manager, open the Main group. Open the Control Panel and Printers. Click Add. A list of printers will appear on your screen with Install Unlisted or Updated Printer highlighted. Click Install. Insert Disk 2 and click OK. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the installation. Remove the disk when the installation is complete.

Alternative Installation for Windows 95
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Quit all software that is currently running. Click Start, then select Settings/Printers. Double-click on Add Printer. Click Next until you come to the List of Printer Manufacturers. Click Have Disk. Insert Disk 2 and click OK. The name of the printer driver will appear. Click Next. Then click Next again. Remove the disk when the installation is complete.

1-8

Set Up

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Using Online Help
When you installed your printer software, you also installed online help. Online help contains detailed procedures that guide you through any task you want to perform with your printer. It provides information that is specific to the current printing task. You can access online help by selecting Help in your HP LaserJet 6L program group. Online help is also a troubleshooting tool. When problems occur, the quickest way to find a solution is to access your online help. Online help supports the following software topics:

1
Set Up

· · · · · ·
Note

Installation--provides installation information. Overview--summarizes information about the printer driver, the status window, and accessing online help. Driver Software--describes options available for your printer, such as number of copies and paper size. Status Window--describes options and features of your printer and gives detailed descriptions of status window messages. Troubleshooting--leads you through a question and answer troubleshooting scenario to determine and resolve problems. How Do I--provides information on printing tasks. Online help will not be available if you followed the Alternative Installation instructions.

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Set Up

1-9

Installing Memory Cards (DRAM)

Your HP LaserJet 6L printer is capable of accepting any 70ns or faster (such as a 50ns), 5V, DRAM memory card meeting JEIDA specifications. Hewlett-Packard offers 1-, 2-, and 4-MB DRAM memory cards.
Note Some printer drivers have an adjustable memory setting. After installing or removing a memory card, this setting may require an adjustment to reflect the new memory total.
1 Unplug the power cord from the

printer.
2 Open the Printer Door, remove the

toner cartridge, and close the Printer Door. Protect the toner cartridge from light while working on the printer. 3 Gently tip the printer onto its side so that the memory cover is on top. 4 Remove the Memory Expansion Cover by placing a finger through the hole and pulling away from the printer. 5 Align the memory card with the corner notch so it is positioned as shown. Push it firmly into the printer. Replace the Memory Expansion Cover, set the printer upright, reinstall the toner cartridge, load the paper, and plug the power cord back into the printer. Print a self-test page to ensure that the printer recognizes the additional memory you have added. Your Total Memory in the "Printer Configuration" section will show the new memory total.

1-10

Set Up

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2
Printer Control Panel
Using the Front Panel
The Front Panel consists of one button and three indicator lights.

· Error (Amber) · Data (Green) · Ready (Green)

The lights will be in one of the following states:

On

Off

Blinking

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Printer Control Panel

2-1

The Front Panel
Use the Front Panel to determine the status of your printer and to accomplish the following tasks:

Status

Condition

Cause

Action
If you wish to print, press and release the Front Panel button or send the job to print. If no response, check the power cord. No action is necessary. However, if you press and release the Front Panel button, a self-test page will print. No action is necessary.

No lights are on or blinking. Printer is in SleepMode or power has been disconnected.

Ready light is on steadily.

Printer is ready to print.

Data light is on steadily and the Ready light is blinking.

Printer is receiving or processing data.

Data light and Ready light both remain on.

Unprinted data is in the printer.

Press and release the Front Panel button to print the remaining data.

Data light is blinking.

Printer is in Manual Feed mode.

Check that you have loaded the correct paper. Then, press and release the Front Panel button to print. Load paper. Clear the paper path. Install the toner cartridge. Close the printer door. See Chapter 4, "Troubleshooting."

Error light remains on.

Printer is out of paper. Printer has a paper jam. No toner cartridge. Printer door is open.

Error light is blinking.

Page may be too complex for the printer's memory capacity.

All lights are on.

Printer is indicating an internal problem.

See Chapter 4, "Troubleshooting."

All three lights are flashing simultaneously.

The memory card may be slower than 70 ns.

See Chapter 4, "Troubleshooting."

2-2

Printer Control Panel

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3
Printing
Selecting Print Media
The type of media you select will affect printer performance and print quality.

Selecting Media Types
If available in your area, it is recommended that you use HP LaserJet or HP Multipurpose paper (since it has been designed specifically for use with your printer) or paper meeting HP's specifications. You can also use recycled paper when the paper meets HP's requirements. To order HP paper or the HP LaserJet Printer Family Paper Specification Guide, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A.

Selecting Media Sizes
The Paper Input Bin can hold up to 100 sheets of 75 g/m2 (20 pound) print media. The Single-Sheet Input Slot is designed to hold one sheet. Both can be adjusted to hold media measuring from 76.2 x 127 mm (3 x 5 inches) to 215.9 x 355.6 mm (8.5 x 14 inches). This includes, but is not limited to, the following paper and envelope sizes:
· Letter (8.5 x 11 in) · A4 (210 x 297 mm) · C5 Envelopes (162 x 229 mm) · Other Custom-Sized Media · Legal (8.5 x 14 in) · COM10 Envelopes (4.125 x 9.5 in) · B5 Envelopes (176 x 250 mm) · Executive (7.25 x 10.5 in) · DL Envelopes (110 x 220 mm) · Monarch Envelopes (3.875 x 7.5 in)

Note

Insert all media lengthwise (vertically) into the printer. If you want to print horizontally (landscape), make this selection through your software. Do not print on paper smaller than 76.2 x 127 mm (3 x 5 inches).

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Printing

3-1

Selecting the Output Paper Path

Caution To avoid paper jams, do not switch the Paper Path Lever once printing begins.
1 Set the Paper Path Lever to the

upper position to use the Paper Output Bin. By doing so, the sheets will stack in the correct order. 2 Set the Paper Path Lever to the lower position to use the Front Output Slot. This straight-through path is the best output option to print postcards, transparencies, labels, envelopes, and heavy paper (100- to 157-g/m2 [28- to 42-lb] bond weight).
Caution Do not allow more than one transparency, 20 sheets of paper, or other media to stack up in front of the Front Output Slot. A paper jam could result.

Adding Paper
When adding paper to an existing stack in the Paper Input Bin, always remove and realign all paper before reloading to avoid multiple paper feeds.

3-2

Printing

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Using the Single-Sheet Input Slot

You can print one sheet of print media at a time without unloading the Paper Input Bin. To do so, you will need to load one sheet into the Single-Sheet Input Slot. The printer will take from the Single-Sheet Input Slot before it takes from the Input Bin.
Note The Single-Sheet Input Slot is helpful when the first page of your job is different from the rest. For example, you may want the first page of your print job on letterhead, or you may want to print an envelope first.
1 Center the paper guides to the

approximate size of the sheet you are using. 2 Insert one sheet of print media, print side forward and top side down, into the Single-Sheet Input Slot. 3 Readjust the paper guides to center the sheet.

3
Printing

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Printing

3-3

Printing on Letterhead and Envelopes

Letterhead
1 If you are printing a sheet of

letterhead followed by regular sheets of paper, place a sheet of letterhead into the (A) Single-Sheet Input Slot and regular sheets of paper into the (B) Paper Input Bin. If you are printing several sheets of letterhead in succession, fill the Paper Input Bin (B) with the letterhead. 2 Insert the letterhead with the print side forward and the top side down.

Note If printing on embossed or pre-printed paper, make sure the paper meets HP's paper specifications. To order the HP

LaserJet Printer Family Paper Specification Guide, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A.

Envelopes
If you are printing one envelope followed by regular sheets of paper, place the envelope into the (A) Single-Sheet Input Slot and regular sheets of paper into the (B) Paper Input Bin. If you are printing several envelopes in succession, fill the Paper Input Bin (B) with up to 10 envelopes, depending on envelope construction and operating environment. (In some cases, you may only be able to load up to 7 envelopes, such as if you live in an area with high humidity.) If you are printing only one envelope, use the Single-Sheet Input Slot.
3 Insert the envelopes print side

forward as shown.
4 Set the Paper Path Lever to the

Lower position to reduce wrinkling and curling.

3-4

Printing

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Printing Tasks
Your HP LaserJet 6L printer's capabilities include duplex printing, pausing between pages, and stopping a print job. You can also reset your printer if necessary.

Printing on Both Sides (Duplexing)
When you print on both sides of a sheet, you may notice a difference in the way the printer performs. When printing on the second side, you may experience some difficulties such as getting the sheet to feed into the printer, or multiple feeds. In addition, the print quality may be different on the second side of the sheet. To minimize these problems, you will want to use paper meeting HP's paper specifications. To order HP paper or the HP LaserJet Printer Family Paper Specification Guide, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A.
1 Print the first side of the sheet as you normally would. Some software

programs include options that are useful when duplex printing such as printing just the "odd pages" or the "even pages." Consult your software user's manual. 2 Allow the sheet to cool and flatten before printing on the second side to get the best possible print quality. 3 Print the second side by placing the sheet back into the Paper Input Bin or the Single-Sheet Input Slot. Make sure the side that has already been printed is facing the back of the printer and the top edge of the paper is down, as illustrated in Figure 3-1.
Figure 3-1

3
Printing

Tips for Duplex Printing
· · ·
EN

To avoid paper curl, set the Paper Path Lever to the Lower position and use the Front Output Slot for a straight-through paper path. To print one page at a time, select the Manual Feed option in your software to pause the printer between pages. Make certain that the sheet's leading edge is not bent or curled. Printing 3-5

Pausing Your Printer Between Pages
Occasionally, you may need the printer to pause so that you can load special media, such as letterhead. If you specify Manual Feed in your software, the printer will pause before the first page and between each page you print. This will give you time to load the special media. To resume printing, press and release the Front Panel button.
1 In your software's printer menu or bin/tray selection, select the Manual

Feed mode.
2 From your software, print the document. 3 The Data light will blink when the page is ready to print, indicating that

the printer is paused and waiting.
4 After inserting the correct medium, briefly press and release the Front

Panel button to print the page. The printer will take media from the Single-Sheet Input Slot first. If it does not find media in the Single-Sheet Input Slot, it will take media from the Paper Input Bin.

Resetting Your Printer
Resetting the printer accomplishes the following:

· · · ·

Clears all data from the printer's memory (including unprinted data, downloaded fonts, and macros). Finishes printing the current page. Removes some error conditions. Resets the printer to its factory default settings.

To Reset the Printer:
Press and hold the Front Panel button until the three indicator lights begin to blink in succession (about 5 seconds), then let go of the button. After resetting, the Ready light will remain lit if no printer errors are found.

Stopping a Print Job
If the file you send to the printer is only one or two pages long, you can stop the print job by resetting the printer as described above. If you want to stop a large print job, follow the steps below:
1 Remove the media from the Paper Input Bin except for any sheet that is

currently being fed into the printer.
2 Stop and delete the print job through your software. 3 Reset the printer.

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Printing on Special Media
Your printer is designed to print on a variety of media, including transparencies, envelopes, and custom-made paper. It is recommended that you use HP media or media meeting HP's specifications. See appendix A, "Accessories and Supplies Information" to order HP's special media or the HP LaserJet Printer Family Paper Specification Guide.
1 Set the Paper Path Lever to the Lower position to use the Front Output

2 3 4 5 6

Slot for a straight-through paper path. This is important when printing media such as postcards, transparencies, labels, envelopes, and heavy paper (100- to 157-g/m2 [28- to 42-pound] bond weight). Adjust the paper guides to the approximate size of media you are using. Insert the media print side forward and top side down into the Single-Sheet Input Slot or the Paper Input Bin. Readjust the paper guides to center the media. Set the correct margins, paper size, and orientation in your software. Choose Print in your software.

Additional Tips for Custom Sizes

3

· · ·

Do not print on media smaller than 76.2 mm (3 inches) wide or 127 mm (5 inches) tall. Set margins of at least 6.4 mm (.25 inches) in your software. Always insert media lengthwise (vertically) into the printer. If you want to print in landscape mode, make this selection through your software.

Printing

Additional Tips for Transparencies
To avoid transparency curl, remove the transparency as it comes out of the printer and set it on a flat surface to cool.

Additional Tips for Printing Labels
· · ·
Do not use labels that are separating from the backing sheet or that are wrinkled or damaged in any way. Do not use any sheet of labels that has spaces in it where some of the labels have been removed. Do not feed a sheet of labels through your printer more than once.

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Printing

3-7

Managing HP LaserJet Toner Cartridges
It is recommended that you use HP LaserJet toner cartridges. HP has designed the printer, toner cartridge, and toner formula to work together to give you optimal image quality from your printer. To order an HP LaserJet toner cartridge, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A. You can expect a toner cartridge to print approximately 2500 pages when you are printing typical business letters with text covering about 5% of the page. A page containing graphics uses more toner and shortens the life of the cartridge.

Extending Toner Life through EconoMode
An excellent way to extend the life of your toner cartridge is by using EconoMode. EconoMode uses approximately 50% less toner than normal printing. The printed image is much lighter, but is adequate for printing drafts or proofs. You can set the EconoMode option through your software (refer to online help for more information).

Extending Toner Life by Redistributing Toner
Areas of faded print are often an indicator that the toner cartridge is near the end of its toner life. You can temporarily reestablish print quality by redistributing the remaining toner in the cartridge. (This is typically successful only one time.)
1 Open the Printer Door and remove the toner cartridge. 2 Hold the toner cartridge by the handle and pull it toward you so that it

slides out of the plastic grooves. (Remember to protect the cartridge from light.) 3 Briskly roll the toner cartridge back and forth to redistribute the toner evenly inside the cartridge. 4 Reinsert the toner cartridge and close the door.

Recycling Toner Cartridges
To reduce landfill waste, HP has adopted a recycling program for empty toner cartridges. A postage-paid shipping label can be found inside your HP LaserJet toner cartridge box. Up to 95% of each returned toner cartridge is recycled for use as raw materials in the manufacture of new cartridges and in other industries. To join this recycling effort, follow the instructions provided in the toner cartridge box.

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Printing

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4
Troubleshooting
Solving Common Problems
This chapter helps you solve common problems you may experience while using your printer. If you cannot resolve a problem, contact HP Customer Support for assistance. Phone numbers are listed on the support pages at the front of this manual.

Printing a Self-Test Page
A self-test page can be useful in identifying your printer's configuration and to ensure that your printer is working properly. To print a self-test page:
1 Make sure that the Ready light is on and all other lights are off. If

necessary, wake up the printer by briefly pressing and releasing the Front Panel button. 2 Now briefly press and release the Front Panel button again. The Data light will come on and the Ready light will blink. Please wait for a self-test page to print. If the self-test page does not print, try the following:
1 Ensure that paper is loaded in the printer. 2 Check the printer indicator lights to determine the status of your printer

(See "Solving Printer Problems" later in this chapter).
3 Contact Customer Support for assistance (refer to the support pages at

the front of this manual for support options).

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Troubleshooting

4-1

Clearing Paper Jams

Occasionally, paper can become jammed while printing. The following list shows some possible causes:

· The paper was loaded improperly. · The Paper Path Lever was adjusted · The Printer Door was opened while a · The paper being used does not meet · The paper being used was smaller
than 76.2 x 127 mm (3 x 5 inches). To clear a paper jam:
Caution Do not touch the black sponge roller inside your printer. Touching it may reduce the print quality on your media.
1 Open the Printer Door and remove

while a job was printing. job was printing.

HP's specifications.

2 3

4

5

the toner cartridge. Be sure to protect the toner cartridge from light while you work on the printer. Press the Paper Release Lever. If your paper jam is in the printer's input area, reach inside the printer and carefully pull the sheet toward you. If your paper jam is in the printer's output area, grasp the sheet and carefully pull it upward. After removing all sheets and fragments of paper, replace the toner cartridge and close the Printer Door.

The printer should return to a Ready state as soon as you reload the paper.

4-2

Troubleshooting

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Paper Will Not Feed

If your print media does not feed into the printer, briefly press and release the Front Panel button. The printer will again attempt to feed the media. If this is unsuccessful, try the following procedure:
1 Remove the print medium from the

Paper Input Bin, realign the media, and reload it into the printer.
Note Be sure to center print media with the paper guides. Also, verify that the guides are not adjusted too tightly or too loosely against the media.
2 Open the Printer Door. 3 Remove the toner cartridge, making

sure you protect it from light, and check for a paper jam. 4 Replace the toner cartridge and close the door. The printer will automatically resume printing.

4
Troubleshooting

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Troubleshooting

4-3

Cleaning Your Printer

To prevent excessive wear and preserve print quality, keep the printer free of excessive dust and debris.
Note If you are noticing excessive amounts of toner inside your printer, your toner cartridge may be defective. It is recommended that you use HP LaserJet toner cartridges to insure high quality printing and to reduce incidents of excessive toner in your printer. WARNING! Before cleaning the printer, disconnect it from the power source. Caution Using ammonia-based cleaners on or around the printer can cause damage to the printer. Also, do not touch the black sponge roller inside the printer. By doing so, you can reduce the print quality of your media.
1 Clean the outside of the printer with a

slightly damp cloth (use only water).
2 Clean the inside of the printer with a

dry, lint-free cloth. Remove all dust, spilled toner, and particles of paper.
Note If toner gets on your clothing, wipe it off with a dry cloth and wash clothing in cold water. Hot water sets toner into the fabric.

4-4

Troubleshooting

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Solving Printer Problems
Use the following table to help pinpoint and solve printer problems.
Symptom Possible Cause The printer may be paused. Solution(s) Resume printing from the status window or Print Manager. Press and release the Front Panel button.

The printer isn't responding after "print" is selected in the software.

The printer may be in Manual Feed mode (Data light blinking). The parallel cable between the printer and the computer is not connected properly.

Disconnect and reconnect the parallel cable between the printer and the computer.

The parallel cable is defective. If possible, attach your cable to another system and print a job that you know works. You may also try using a different parallel cable (IEEE-1284). The wrong printer was selected in your software. The software for your printer is not configured for the correct printer port. Check your software's printer selection menu to see if you selected the HP LaserJet 6L printer. Check your software's printer selection menu to make sure it is accessing the correct printer port. If your computer has more than one parallel port, make sure the parallel cable is connected to the correct one.

The power cord is not Check the power cord connection and the power source. connected to the printer or Try a different outlet. the power source is not active. The printer is connected to a switchbox that is not set up correctly. The printer is malfunctioning. Check the switchbox setting. Try connecting the printer directly to the computer. The switchbox may be defective. If all the lights are on, the printer may be signaling a hardware error. See "All the printer's lights are on" on the following page. Add paper or other print media.

The Error (top) light stays on.

The printer is out of print media. The printer door is open. The toner cartridge is not installed completely. Paper is jammed in the printer.

4

Close the door securely. Open the door, reinstall the toner cartridge, then close the door securely. See "Clearing Paper Jams" earlier in this chapter. Briefly press and release the Front Panel button to resume printing. Some data loss may occur. See your printer driver Help for suggestions regarding printer memory usage. Change your page to make it less complex by reducing resolution to 300 dpi, or add optional printer memory (see chapter 1). Briefly press and release the Front Panel button to print the rest of the data.

Troubleshooting

The Error (top) light is blinking.

The page is too complex for the printer's memory capacity, or the printer may not be able to create the image fast enough to keep pace with the printing process.

Both the Data (middle) light and the Ready (bottom) light are on steadily (not blinking).

Unprinted data is in the printer. (Your software did not send an "end of job" or "form feed" command.)

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Troubleshooting

4-5

Symptom

Possible Cause The printer is in Manual Feed mode.

Solution(s) Make sure the correct paper is loaded into the printer. Briefly press and release the Front Panel button to resume printing. Check the power cord connections and power source. Try a different outlet. Refer to the support pages on the inside front cover for support options. Disconnect the printer from the power source for 10 seconds, then reconnect it. If the lights remain on, disconnect the printer from its power source again, this time reconnecting after a 15-minute wait. If all three lights come back on again, contact your HP authorized service representative. If you have added a memory card to your printer, remove it and check the indicator lights. See chapter 1 for adding and removing printer memory cards.

The Data (middle) light is blinking.

All the printer's lights are The printer is unplugged from off and the printer does not the power source. respond after attempts to The printer has wake it up. malfunctioned. All the printer's lights are on.
The printer has a hardware error.

All three printer lights are flashing simultaneously. The printer is feeding multiple sheets or jams frequently.

An incompatible memory card has been installed. Paper guides are not adjusted properly.

Remove the incompatible memory card and replace it with a 1-, 2-, 4-, or 8-MB, 70ns or faster (such as 50ns) memory card. See chapter 1 for adding memory cards. Remove the paper from the Paper Input Bin or the Single-Sheet Input Slot. Tap the sides of the paper stack together, then reinsert the stack. Or reinsert the single sheet into the slot. Slide the paper guides against the sides of the stack in the Paper Input Bin or against the single sheet in the Single-Sheet Input Slot to center the paper. Make sure the guides are not adjusted too tightly.

The Paper Input Bin is too full. Remove some of the sheets. The Paper Input Bin can hold up to 100 sheets of 75g/m2 (20-pound) bond weight paper (less for heavier paper) or up to 10 envelopes (no more than 7 envelopes for areas with climates having high humidity). More than one sheet was added into the Single-Sheet Input Slot. The paper was poorly cut by the manufacturer and is sticking together. The paper does not meet HP's specifications for print media. Add only one sheet at a time into the Single-Sheet Input Slot. If printing more than one sheet of the same type of media, use the Paper Input Bin. "Break" the ream of paper by curving it into an upside-down u-shape; this may effectively decrease multi-feeds. You may also try turning the paper around to feed the opposite end first. Order HP's paper specification guide. To order, see appendix A, "Accessories and Supplies Information."

The output capacity was Do not allow more than 100 sheets of 75g/m2 (20-pound) exceeded in the Paper Output bond weight paper (less for heavier paper) to fill the Bin or Front Output Slot. Paper Output Bin. Do not allow more than one transparency or 20 sheets of other media to stack up in front of the Front Output Slot.

4-6

Troubleshooting

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Solving Print Quality Problems
Use the following table to help pinpoint and solve print quality problems.
Problem Cause The toner cartridge may be getting low on toner. The paper you are using may not meet HP's paper specifications (for example, it may be too moist or too rough). Toner density setting may need to be adjusted. EconoMode may be on. Solution(s) See chapter 3, "Managing HP LaserJet Toner Cartridges." Order HP's paper specification guide listed in "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A. Adjust the setting through your software or printer driver. Turn EconoMode off through your software or printer driver. Order HP's paper specification guide listed in "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A. Remove the paper from the Paper Input Bin and turn it over. (The wrapper on many reams of paper has an arrow indicating the print side.) See "Cleaning Your Printer" in this chapter. Replace it if maintenance procedures do not improve print quality. See chapter 3, "Managing HP LaserJet Toner Cartridges." Replace it if maintenance procedures do not improve print quality. See chapter 3, "Managing HP LaserJet Toner Cartridges."

Print is faded or you notice a block of vertically aligned white streaks.

Stains or smudges appear as small, round, black dots on the front or back of a page. Sometimes inconsistent stains appear.

The paper you are using may not meet HP's paper specifications (for example, it may be too moist or too rough). You may be printing on the wrong side of the paper.

The printer may need cleaning.

The toner cartridge may be damaged.

4

Vertically-aligned The toner cartridge may be damaged. black streaks or smears appear on successive pages.
The printer may need cleaning.

Troubleshooting

See "Cleaning Your Printer" in this chapter.

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Troubleshooting

4-7

Problem

Cause The toner cartridge may not be installed properly.

Solution(s) Remove the cartridge and reinsert it. See chapter 1, "Installing the HP LaserJet Toner Cartridge" for installation information.

Horizontally aligned black streaks or smears appear.

The toner cartridge may be defective and The toner cartridge may still be under warranty. See "HP LaserJet Toner need replacing. Cartridge Warranty" in appendix A. Printer may need repair. See the support pages at the front of this manual for support options. See "Cleaning Your Printer" in this chapter.

Light character shadows or repetitive marks appear on the page.

The printer may need cleaning.

If you are using transparencies, they may For ordering information, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" not meet HP's specifications. in appendix A. The paper's texture may be too coarse. Try changing to a paper with a smoother finish. Replace the toner cartridge. See "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A. Replace the toner cartridge. See "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A.

The toner cartridge may be damaged, causing a repetitive black flaw on every printout. The toner cartridge's photosensitive drum may have been overexposed to bright light, causing repetitive defects (usually a fuzzy black area).

Vertical white stripes appear on the page.

The printer's internal mirror is contaminated.

Contact an authorized HP service representative to replace the printer's internal mirror. See the support pages at the front of this manual for support options.

Character voids appear (white areas within the parts of characters that should be solid black).

If you are using transparencies, they may HP's LaserJet transparencies are designed to minimize character voids. not meet HP's specifications. For ordering information, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A. You may be printing on the wrong surface of the paper. Remove the paper and turn it around. (The wrapper on many reams of paper has an arrow indicating the print side.) Order HP's paper specification guide listed in "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A.

The paper may not meet HP's specifications.

4-8

Troubleshooting

EN

Problem

Cause Background scatter results from bits of toner distributed on the front or back of a printed page. Background scatter often is isolated to a specific area of the page.

Solution(s) Change the paper type, weight, or surface finish. To order HP's paper specification guide, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A. If background scatter occurs on an envelope, try moving the text to an area with no seams. Printing on seams can cause this problem. If this problem occurs on the back of a printed page, it may be caused by spilled toner inside the printer. See "Cleaning Your Printer" in this chapter.

Background scatter appears on a printed page.

The page is The toner cartridge may not be installed completely black. properly.

Remove the cartridge and reinstall it. See "Installing the HP LaserJet Toner Cartridge" in chapter 1.

The toner cartridge may be defective and The toner cartridge may still be under warranty. See "HP LaserJet Toner need replacing. Cartridge Warranty" in appendix A. See the support pages at the front of this The printer may need to be repaired if the problem continues after replacing the manual for support options. toner cartridge.

Characters are only partially printed (also referred to as dropouts).

A single sheet of paper may be defective. Try reprinting the job. The print density may need adjusting. Adjust the print density through your software or printer driver. Use paper from a fresh ream or a different source. To order HP's paper specification guide, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A.

The moisture content of the paper may be inconsistent or the paper may have moist or wet spots on the surface.

4

The paper may have been damaged by inconsistent manufacturing processes.

Try using paper from a different source. To order HP's paper specification guide, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A.

Troubleshooting

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Troubleshooting

4-9

Problem

Cause

Solution(s) Set the resolution to 300 dpi through your software or printer driver. You may need to install additional memory. See chapter 1, "Installing Memory Cards (DRAM)." Check your printer driver's online help for suggestions that are specific to your driver's settings.

The bottom of Your page may be too complex for the the page is blank standard printer memory. or part of a graphic's image is cut off.

Pages are Paper is curled or wrinkled when using coming out of the Paper Output Bin. the printer curled or wrinkled.

Use the Front Output Slot by pushing the Paper Path Lever to the lower position. This provides the straightest paper path. See "Selecting the Output Paper Path" in chapter 3. Use the Paper Input Support located behind the Paper Input Bin. See "Loading the Paper into the Printer" in chapter 1.

Paper may not be stored properly.

Whenever possible, store paper in its sealed ream at room temperature. If you are printing on small paper and your page is blank, try printing on larger paper to see where the image is printing. Adjust the margins accordingly. If you are on a network, try connecting the printer directly to the computer.

Blank Page (Occasional)

Page length and margins are not set correctly for the paper size.

Some sharing devices or networks may generate a blank page as a separator (contact your Network Administrator). Your printer may be feeding two or more sheets of paper at a time because the paper is difficult to separate.

Remove the paper from the Paper Input Bin and align the edges of the paper. "Break" the ream of paper by curving it into an upside-down u-shape; this may effectively decrease multi-feeds. You may also try turning the paper around to feed the opposite end first. Check your software's printing configuration information. If you are using a word-processing program, check for a natural page break and a forced page break that are close to each other.

Your software application may be sending an extra page-eject command.

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Troubleshooting

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Problem

Cause The toner cartridge may be improperly installed.

Solution(s) Make sure you removed the entire length of the sealing tape from the toner cartridge before you installed it. See "Installing the HP LaserJet Toner Cartridge" in chapter 1. Replace the toner cartridge. See "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A. Try printing a self-test page as described earlier in this chapter. If the page is still blank, the printer may need service. See the support pages at the front of this manual for support options. Try removing some of the paper. Be sure to center the paper with the paper guides. Also, verify that the guides are not adjusted too tightly or too loosely against the paper. To order HP's paper specification guide, see "Accessories and Supplies Information" in appendix A.

Blank Pages (All Pages)

The toner cartridge may be completely out of toner.

The printer may need to be serviced.

Print is misaligned on the page (Skewed pages).

The Paper Input Bin may be too full. The paper guides may not be adjusted properly.

The paper's weight or surface finish may not meet HP's specifications.

4
Troubleshooting

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Troubleshooting

4-11

Solving Software Problems
If you are having installation problems, check the following table. Also, you can refer to online help by selecting Help on your menu bar.
Installation Tips Symptoms Solution(s) Quit all software. Remove all software from the Startup group and then restart Windows. Reinstall the printer drivers. Try the Alternative Installation as described in chapter 1. The cable is not bidirectional. Use only a high-quality IEEE-1284 compliant parallel cable. The cable is loose, or not directly connected. In Windows 3.1x open the Control Panel and Printers. Select HP LaserJet 6L and click Connect. Be sure that the correct port has been selected and that "Fast Printing Direct to Port" is checked. Note: If any of the above apply, choose skip and continue installation. Check for the proper floppy drive (e.g., A: or B:). Check the disks for damage. Copy disks to the hard drive; then install from your hard drive.

Window message during installation reads: "File in Use." Cannot install the printer drivers. Bidirectional communication has not been established during installation.

Your computer cannot read the installation disks.

Printing Tips

Printer is printing too slowly (PCL driver only).

In your printer software, select the Print Quality tab, then select Manual Settings. Click Settings, then choose HPGL/2 under the Graphics mode. Select 300 DPI under the Print Quality tab in your printer software. Run HPWPRS.EXE in the directory C:\windows. Then, reboot.

Window message reads: "Out of memory, unable to print" (Host-based only). All Front Panel lights remain on when printing from spreadsheet software.

In your printer driver settings, select the Print Quality tab, then select Manual Settings. Click Settings, then choose HPGL/2 under the graphics mode (PCL driver only). Note: In your spreadsheet software this change must be made under "Page Setup." Free up disk space on your computer or defragment the drive. Enable "Print Manager in Windows 3.1x systems" on your PC. Run fewer software programs at the same time on your PC. Do not perform I/O or processor-intensive tasks on your PC while printing (e.g., sending a fax or playing a video). Check the toner cartridge for proper installation. Make sure the Printer Door is closed. Reset the printer by unplugging the power cord and then plugging it back into the outlet.

Printer is not responding; the system is locked up.

Window message reads: "No Toner or Door Open."

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Troubleshooting

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Solving Hard-to-Resolve Problems
The following instructions will help you troubleshoot Windows printing problems using DOS.
Note

Before troubleshooting from DOS, make sure your printer can print a self-test page. (See "Printing a Self-Test Page" earlier in this chapter.) To establish basic communication to the printer, follow the steps below:
1 Exit Windows 3.1x. If in Windows 95, choose Start, Shut Down, and

Restart the computer in MS-DOS® mode, respectively.
2 At the command prompt (for example, c:\), type: Dir>PRN and press

ENTER. This will send a directory of your hard drive to the printer.
3 See the chart below for recommended solutions.
Printer Status Response Command prompt (c:\) returned. Solution(s) Press the Front Panel button. You will receive a printout of your hard drive's directory. Communication verified; return to Windows. No action is needed. Communication has been verified; return to Windows.

Both the Data light and the Ready light are on steadily (not blinking). Data light comes on; Ready light flashes. Printer is not responding.

Command prompt (c:\) returned.

Flashing cursor; command Verify that the Ready light is on. Hold down CTRL, then press and release Break prompt (c:\) not returned; to free the keyboard. keyboard locked up. Disconnect, then reconnect the cable at both ends. Reboot your computer. Ensure a direct connection to the printer. Try using a different parallel cable (IEEE-1284), parallel port, or both.

4

Printer is not responding.

DOS Message: "Write fault Verify that the Ready light is on. error writing device PRN." Specify the port name when sending directory (for example, LPT1). Verify that the power cord and the parallel cable are plugged into the proper ports. Disconnect, then reconnect the cable at both ends. Ensure a direct connection to the printer. Try using a different parallel cable (IEEE-1284), parallel port, or both. Command prompt (c:\) returned. Disconnect, then reconnect the parallel cable at both ends. Ensure a direct connection t