HP Photosmart printer 3180 prints alignment page at start up

Hi,

Your printer is printing alignment pages, because the cartridge alignment was not completed since you replaced them. Follow the below steps to complete alignment.

1. Turn the printer OFF and then turn back ON.
2. Wait until the alignment sheet prints out fully.
3. Place the alignment test page over the scanner glass.
4. Press start color scan button.
5. The printer "power" light will start flashing, indication the alignment process.
6. After the printer stops flashing, turn off and then ON the printer.It will not print any test pages further.

We need to run alignment test every-time while we replace ink cartridges.

Regards
Riztech

scan that alignment page

Hi! Have you tried to test print your device? You can do that by pressing the print button on the device if it would test print. You may also check the device manager (click Start > right click My Computer > Properties > hardware > device manager) if the HP printer driver is installed properly.. if not, then contct HP for further help. You may also remove and reinstall the toner (use manual for the instructions) so that the alignment in printing would be fine,,,

1. Turn on the HP all-in-one.
2. Disconnect the USB cable from the all-in-one.
3. Press the sequence of front panel buttons below to initiate the print cartridge alignment process. The button-press sequence must be completed within ten seconds. It might take several tries to complete the sequence within ten seconds.

a. Press and hold Cancel.
b. While holding Cancel, press On.
c. When the Check Paper and Check Print Cartridge lights begin to blink simultaneously, release both buttons.
d. Press Cancel again.
e. Press Copies.
f. Press Paper Type.
g. Press Color Start Copy.
h. The alignment page will begin printing. If the alignment page does not print, repeat the button-press sequence in this step.

4. Once the alignment page is printed, place the page face down on the scanner glass and press Scan. The alignment is complete when the On light stops blinking. 5. Reconnect the USB cable.

when you giving printout that time choose the option in printer properties fit to page.

every time u switch on the printer it will print the alignment sheet until you scan it.once the alignment sheet is printed ,keep it in the scanner glass and press the scan button.this will scan the alignment sheet.

To align the print cartridges from the HP Photosmart Software
1. Load letter or A4 unused plain white paper into the input tray.
NOTE: If you have colored paper loaded in the input tray when you align the print
cartridges, the alignment will fail. Load unused plain white paper into the input
tray, and then try the alignment again.
2. In the HP Solution Center, click Settings.
3. In the Print Settings area, click Printer Toolbox.
NOTE: You can also open the Printer Toolbox from the Print Properties dialog
box. In the Print Properties dialog box, click the Features tab, and then click
Printer Services.
NOTE: You can also open the Printer Toolbox from the Print Properties dialog
box. In the Print Properties dialog box, click the Features tab, and then click the
Printer Services button.
The Printer Toolbox appears.
4. Click the Device Services tab.
5. Click Align the Print Cartridges.
When prompted, ensure plain white letter or A4 paper is loaded in the input tray, then
press the button next to OK.
NOTE: If you have colored paper loaded in the input tray when you align the print
cartridges, the alignment will fail. Load unused plain white paper into the input
tray, and then try the alignment again.
The product prints a print cartridge alignment sheet.
7. Load the page print side down on the right front corner of the glass, and then press
the button next to OK to scan the page.
When the On button stops flashing, the alignment is complete and the page can be
removed. Recycle or discard the page.

Can I use another cartridge which last more with my Photosmart 3180, like for example cartridge 95 and 98?

Thank you

Okay, just chatted online with an HP tech, and she helped me solve the problem!

She said: the printer prints an alignment page everytime you turn on due to incomplete initialization process.

Turn off the printer and Turn on.
Please unplug the usbcable.

1. Lift the scanner lid of the product.
2. Place the top of alignment page face down in the left front corner of the glass.
3. Place the alignment page face down
4. Close the scanner lid of the printer.
5. Press the Scan button.
6. The On/Resume light will blink during the alignment process.
7. After the On/Resume light stops blinking, alignment is complete.
8. Turn off printer and Turn on.

It shouldn't print the alignment page any more! :)
Hope this helps!

I just got off the HP help line.  After changing my black ink cartridge a test page was printing each time I turned the machine on.  This is very costly, in both time and ink as the cartridges themselves for this machine hold very little ink.  I tried to learn from HP tech how to turn off the test-print while keeping my color cartridge empty.  It turns out that you cant do it.  HP requires you to keep buying and using cartridges whether you need them or not.If you buy the color ink it will use it up in its testings.  And if you dont buy the color cartridge it will use up your black ink by printing the test each time you turn on the printer.  The printer was inexpensive sure, but I'm paying for it in wasted ink.