I get an cartridge alignment error. How do I fix it.

It could be due to cartridges in the printer. Try the steps below to identify and fix the problem:

1. Make sure the printer is on.
2. Open the printer cover. The print cartridge carrier moves and stops at the loading position, unless the All-In-One is busy. Note: If the carrier does not automatically move to the center, turn off the printer or unplug the printer from the power source and then carefully slide the carrier to the center.
3. Remove both cartridges from the carrier.
4. Close the printer cover.
5. Re-brick your printer by pulling out the power supply - black box behind the printer where the power cord is plugged in to, and re-plug after 30 seconds.
6. When the printer turns on, reinsert one cartridge first. Close the printer cover and check for any errors.
7. If no error appears, reinsert the other cartridge. Close the printer cover.
8. Replace whichever cartridge is causing the error to appear with a new genuine Lexmark cartridge. Try to print a document again to verify that the problem is fixed.

If that doesn't help, try this approach:

Try to re-seat the cartridges in the printer. Open the printer cover > remove the cartridges > close the printer cover > re-brick you printer by pulling out the power supply - black box behind the printer where the power cord is plugged in, and re-plug after 10 seconds. When the printer turns on, reinsert the cartridges and close the cover. Try to print a document again to verify that the problem is fixed.

If that doesn't help, the problem could be due to a clogged print cartridge nozzle. Please follow the steps below to fix print quality issues with your model:

1. On your computer, go to Start menu.
2. Go to Programs.
3. Go to Lexmark 4200 Series folder.
4. Select Lexmark Solution Center.

From the Maintenance tab, select Align to fix blurry edges. Your printer will then print a page that will help align the cartridges.

Please follow the steps below to identify and fix the alignment problem:

1. Open the printer cover and remove the cartridges.
2. Check the cartridge area for the encoder strip - transparent strip found behind the cartridge carrier. Make sure it's not unseated from its position.
3. Make sure there are no foreign objects blocking the cartridge carrier path.
4. If area is clear, close the printer cover.
5. Rebrick the printer by pulling out power supply, black box where the power cord is plugged in at the back of the printer, and put it back after 30 seconds. This will reset the printer.
6. When the printer turns on, re-insert one cartridge first.
7. Close the cover and check for errors.
8. Reinsert the other cartridge.
9. Close the cover and check for errors again.
10. Replace whichever cartridge is causing the error to appear.
11. If no error appears, try to print a document to verify that the problem is fixed.

If problem continues, please contact Lexmark Technical Support Center for additional assistance.

The error could be due to the cartridges in the printer. Please follow steps below to identify and fix the problem:

1. Make sure the printer is on.

2. Open the printer cover. The print cartridge carrier moves and stops at the loading position, unless the All-in-One is busy.

3. Remove both cartridges from the carrier. Check the encoder strip (transparent strip behind the cartridge carrier) and make sure it is not unseated from its position.

4. Close the printer cover.

5. Unplug and re-plug the printer into the power outlet to reset it.

6. When the printer turns on, check for any errors. If alignment error is displayed on the screen, please contact Lexmark Technical Support Center for additional assistance. If no error appears, reinsert one cartridge first.

7. Close the printer cover and check for any errors.

8. If no error appears, reinsert the other cartridge. Close the printer cover.

9. Replace whichever cartridge is causing the error to appear with a new cartridge. You can also try to insert a different known working cartridge to determine if the other is faulty.

If problem continues, please contact Lexmark Technical Support Center for additional assistance.

The prompt to do an alignment could be due to the cartridges in the carrier. Please follow the steps below to fix the problem:

1. Make sure the printer is on.

2. Open the printer cover. The print cartridge carrier moves and stops at the loading position, unless the All-in-One is busy.

3. Remove both cartridges from the carrier.

4. Close the printer cover.

5. Unplug and re-plug the printer into the power source to reset it.

6. When the printer turns on, reinsert one cartridge first.

7. Close the printer cover and check for any errors.

8. If no error appears, reinsert the other cartridge. Close the printer cover.

9. Replace whichever cartridge is causing the error to appear with a new cartridge.

You could also try a different known working cartridge to determine if the other cartridge is faulty.

Usually the problem is not the printer but the paper or cartridge.
Try skipping the alignment.And when your ready to tackle the alignment issue do this. Check the paper first, if theres anything written in the paper , if theres any color other than white or if the brightness level isnt atleast 85, you cannot use the paper for alignment.
If the problem isn't the paper, the problem is most likely the cartridge. The cartridge problem maybe, Low in Ink, defective cartridge, suffering from clogged nozzles or past their shelf life (Hp cartridges include a use-by date on the box. The dates tend to be conservatice, but if the deadline is long since past, the cartridge could be all but useles.) Run the cartridge-cleaning routine, then try aligning the cartridges again.if the problem was clogged-nozzles, the cleaning routine might fix it. if it doesnt fix the problem,try cleaning the cartridges and contacts in the printer. If you want a simple instruction on how to do that you can read this. CLICK ME. Once you finished the cleaning and still it fix the problem i suggest you buy a new set of cartridge. But before doing that. Skip the alignment and use up all the remaining ink first.
hope it helps. Goodluck . Please give me feedback regarding my solution.

You can run into a problem aligning print heads on almost any HP All-in-One. Fortunately, the problem is usually with the paper or cartridges, not the printer itself.
The quick and dirty fix is to skip the alignment. With the HP printer, you can do that by holding the Enter button down and pressing Setup.
When you're ready to tackle the alignment issue, check the paper first. If there's anything written or printed on the page, if it's any color but white, or if its brightness level—which should be on the package—isn't at least 85, you can't use it for alignment.
If the problem isn't the paper, it's almost certainly the cartridges, which could be low on ink (if you replaced only one cartridge), defective, suffering from clogged nozzles, or past their shelf life.cartridges include a use-by date on the box. The dates tend to be conservative, but if the deadline is long since past, the cartridge could be all but useless.
Run the cartridge-cleaning routine, and then try aligning the cartridges again. If the problem was with clogged nozzles, the cleaning routine might fix it. If it doesn't, the next step is to try cleaning the cartridges and the contacts in the printer. Once you've cleaned the cartridges, try the alignment routine again. If it still fails, and you feel rich enough, you might want to try a new set of cartridges. Or, you might want to bypass the alignment again and use up the ink in the current cartridges first.

HP F2480
Align Cartridge:
If you have just installed a new cartridge it is recommended that you align it. Click on "Align" to align your new cartridge

Press the OK button.
- If paper is being fed at error occurrence, the
error is indicated after the paper is ejected.
- If the error occurs, the print head alignment
values are not changed.
- After exit from the error by the OK button,
the automatic print head alignment will not
be re-done.
The error will occur when the print head
alignment pattern is not printed due to no ink
or non-ejection of ink.

This means one of the cartridges is defective, they cant align if they cant print.  What i did to fix this problem is insert 2 working cartridges and get it to align properly, even if they are low on ink, then lift the cover and the cartridges will move to the center.  When this happens pull the power cable out, then insert the full non functioning cartridge. Plug the power cable back in.  I tried this with a color cartridge, the color cartridge was non functioning but i was able to print in black.
Basically you align the cartridges and then swap them so the printer thinks they are still aligned.
The color still doesnt work and it is probably a defective color cartridge.

There is no doubt in my mind it Will be the cartridges you are using, alignment will continue to be requested if print out is missing bits do yourself a favour and use HP gen., not trying to plug HP just telling you the facts