Printer Testing Howto

Epson Inkjet

For Stylus C82

You can run a printer check to determine whether a problem comes from the printer itself or some other source. Follow these steps to run the printer check:

1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off.

2. Disconnect the interface cable from the printer.

3. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.

4. Hold down the Paper button, and turn on the printer. Continue holding down the Paper button until the green power light starts to flash, then release it. The printer prints one page showing its ROM version number, the percentage of ink in each cartridge, and a nozzle check pattern.

If the pattern has gaps in its dots, you need to clean the print head.

5. To end the check, turn off the printer after it prints the check page. Then reconnect the interface cable and turn on your printer and computer. If the check page prints, the problem probably lies in your software settings, the interface cable, or your computer. If the check page doesn't print, you should contact EPSON technical support.

HP Deskjet

For Deskjet 810C an 803C Printers

Method 1: Print a sample page

1. Turn the HP DeskJet 810C and 830C series printer off and remove the cable that connects the printer to the computer.
2. Turn the printer back on.
3. Press and hold the Resume (bottom) button for approximately 5 seconds.
4. The sample page should look like the illustration below (see Figure 1).
5. NOTE: The printouts for the HP DeskJet 830C series printers will look like the following samples, with the exception that they will reflect the different model, driver, and performance specifications of this printer.

Figure 1: HP DeskJet 810C series printer sample page

           example [[Image:]]

Method 2: Print a self-test page

1. Turn the printer off and remove the cable that connects the printer to the computer.
2. Turn the printer back on.
3. Press and hold the Power (top) button. Press the Resume button 4 times and then release the Power button.
4. The self-test page will print with a report containing the printer model name and serial number. It will look like the illustration shown below (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: HP DeskJet 810C series printer self-test page

     example 

The self-test produces the following information:

Printer information Purpose Diagonal Self-Test Pattern Verify that all nozzles on the print cartridge are firing. If a gap appears along the diagonal self-test pattern, one or more nozzles are not firing.

Printer Internal Information Identify the printer and firmware for determining possible problems. Printer model name Serial number Software installation date or "born on date"

Firmware revision

Page count