two identical printers, same document, different prints?

Question

We have 2 HP LaserJet 2300 printers both having the same firmware date code hooked up in a network. One of them works fine, but the other printer prints with the printing slightly shifted vertically down and horizontally right. We tested printing the same document to both printers, but the defective one always has the document shifted towards that bottom right corner and the document gets cut off in the non-printable area. The network includes XP and VISTA. I don't think the computers are the problem, but perhaps the network. Although it does print fine in the other 2300 printer, so it could be the printer itself. Anyone got a clue how to fix this?

Answer 1

I don't think it's your computers, and definitely not your network causing this.



As stated previously, you should try printing a self-test page from each printer and see how they compare. If you get the same results - it's definitely the printer.



The HP LJ2300, as do most other lasers, have an internal, adjustable, coordinate system that allows changing the page registration setup for each paper tray. I suspect that this is what is different between the two printers. This setting is accessed through the "Print Quality" control panel submenu of the printer. Check and compare these settings and see what you get and adjust as needed. X1 shift adjusts the left to right setting & the Y shift is the vertical top to bottom (in reference to a portait page view). (NOTE: X2 adjusts the left to right setting for page 2 of a duplex page. This item appears only if the printer includes a built-in duplexer.) They can go from 20 to -20 (Check your User's Manual if needed)



Now it is possible that they may be set the same, but at some point there was service done on one of these printers (most namely the laser unit was replaced) and it was not done properly causing the print to be out of proper alignment on the page. If the settings are the same for both printers, you could try adjusting the one printer that you have problems with to new settings to compensate & see if that will help. If it comes close but not enough, then it may need to have the laser assy adjusted by a trained or knowledgeable technician to correct the problem.



Best of luck.

Answer 2

If it is a word processing doc and prints different from different PC's it could be different default settings for word processing program. But if Windows printer test page, or pdf files print differently from same PC, then there may be a paper feed problem or other issue with the defective printer.



Some HP printers can be notorious for paper feed issues (like HP 5L), but I am not familiar with the 2300 series. We had a 2200dtn that worked for several years of heavy duty printing (except we had to use external JetDirect when its JetDirect card failed). The 2430dtn that replaced it was squeeky and failed with grinding gears just after its 1 year warranty expired. So I bought an optional 3 year warranty for our 3005dtn which is still going strong coming up on 2 years.

Answer 3

Print the printers internal test page on each, if they differ check the paper tray guides are in place and printer is set to correct paper size. If it's mis-set between Letter and A4 margins WILL be wrong



If this test was same, try windows own test page from printer properties to each printer, compare. If THESE are different, uninstall and reinstall driver for the one with issue, AFTER you have checked the default paper size set in the driver properties, again Letter/a4 are NOT the same size