DeskJet3820 doesn't work all the time

[afoctober2]

I need to print some documents but this printer only works when it wants to. I click print and it just sits there doing nothing. When 5 minutes earlyer I just printed something else. I need this to work right I don't print many papers but when I do I expect it to come out right away I don't want to put up with a printer that only has to print ounce a month and can't even do it. I'm close to bringing this outside and smashing it on the sidewalk.

[noorman]

well,

you 'll have to try out some things to exclude possible culprits;

did you try to print a test page just by using the buttons on the DeskJet yet ? (see manual / I don't know that particular model).

If it prints instantly (or nearly) it 's not a printer HW fault.
If it starts working immediately, you 'll see one led starting to flash first (I saw that in all models I do know) before it physically starts printing (it has to send the data first from an internal memory to the printer processor).

If it 's not the printer, you 'll have to do checks with the Software Tools that HP normally supplies on the CDROM with the printer.
With those tools you can (normally) do a connectivity check: do that. Before you do, make sure your data cable is connected securely and at the same time do the same for the mains (supply) cable.

If that passes, the only thing you can do next, is printing a TESTPAGE from your computer (via the Tools or Printer-Properties-General Tab).

Does your PC display any messages after you demanded a print that doesn't materializes ?

What kind of pages do you print (in the case of the not-printing) ?

If you send a print-job, doesn't the printer data-transmission led start flashing indicating a transfer of data ?

[noorman]

well I downloaded the User's manual and read it up: if you send a print job to the printer, shortly thereafter the power-button light should start blinking to indicate that the printer receives data from your computer ...

(I think it is that way in all HP DeskJets, also in my old DJ710C)

[afoctober2]

Everything I'm printing is same thing there all text documents. Emails, articles, etc.

Its just a random thing one minute I'm printing ten minutes later I can't print that same thing.

When I click on printer icon it says document in queue

[noorman]

didn't you read my post from 11.25 PM with the searches for possible faults ?

did you carry out all those checks ?

was there something wrong ?

try them out please and report back ...

[afoctober2]

Yeah I tried like I said I don't get it when it doesn't print the light doesn't flash I can't print test page. I get no message it just sits there like that for ever if I don't cancel print.

Only thing that works is reinstalling drivers every time this happens but it happens often.

[noorman]

but I started by asking if you could print a test-page on the printer without giving the command from the computer; giving the command through a printer-button (or sequence) ! ?

did that work (to begin with) ?

[afoctober2]

No it doesn't work all the time.

[noorman]

If you can't get a Test-page printed, all the time, using the Printer 's own Control Panel, then there 's something wrong with your Printer hardware ...

That 's what I was trying to find out ... (for you) ...