My printer won't complete the cartridge alignment function. It only prints the first two bars and then stops. When printing the black cartridge looks faded and half printed lines across even though it is a new black printer cartridge.

Print heads alignment completes after scanning fully printed align page. In this case all colors are not printing due to cartridges faulty.. You need to replace both cartridges at a time to this types of errors..

Step one: Complete the alignment process If you have already installed new print cartridges, follow these steps to complete the alignment process.

1. After installing a new print cartridge, wait at least 20 seconds for the print cartridge alignment process to start.
2. Wait for the print cartridge alignment process to fully complete.
3. Make sure that the alignment page has printed on plain, white paper that has no other printing on it. If you need to create a new alignment page, load the tray with letter or A4 unused plain white paper and turn the product off and on again to create the page.

If an alignment page does not print when the product is turned on or off, the issue is resolved. If an alignment page continues to print when the product is turned on or off, you should replace the cartridges with new HP cartridges. Continue to Step two: Remove the print cartridges. Step two: Remove the print cartridges Follow the steps below to remove the cartridges. NOTE: When you remove and install the same print cartridge, the unit will not align the print cartridge as the unit remembers the alignment values for that print cartridge.

1. Press the Power button to turn the product on. The Power button is lit when the unit is on. Figure 1: Power button lit
2. Make sure that the paper tray is down, and letter or A4 unused plain white paper is loaded in the paper tray.
3. Lower the access door until it stops. Make sure that the print carriage moves to the right side. Figure 2: Lower the access door
4. Wait until the print carriage is idle and silent, and then using your thumb, lightly press down on a print cartridge to release it. Figure 3: Print carriage
   • If replacing the tri-color print cartridge, remove the print cartridge from the slot on the left.
   • If replacing the black or photo print cartridge, remove the print cartridge from the slot on the right.
   Figure 4: Proper position of the print cartridges 1 - Tri-color print cartridge 2 - Black or Photo print cartridge
5. Pull the print cartridge toward you and out of its slot.

Step three: Install the new print cartridge

1. Remove the new print cartridge from its packaging and, being careful to touch only the black plastic, gently remove the plastic tape by using the pink pull tab. Figure 5: Remove the tape 1 - Copper-colored contacts 2 - Plastic tape with pink pull tab (must be removed before installing) 3 - Ink nozzles under tape CAUTION: Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or ink nozzles. Touching these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.
2. Slide the new print cartridge forward into the empty slot. Then gently push on the upper part of the print cartridge forward until it clicks into the socket.
   • If you are installing the tri-color print cartridge, slide it into the left slot.
   • If you are installing a black or photo print cartridge, slide it into the right slot.
   Figure 6: Print cartridge locations 1 - Print cartridge slot for the tri-color print cartridge 2 - Print cartridge slot for the black and photo print cartridges
3. Close the print cartridge access door. Figure 7: Closing the print cartridge door
4. If you installed a new print cartridge, the print cartridge alignment process starts after about 20 seconds.
5. The unit aligns the print cartridges. Recycle or discard the print cartridge alignment sheet.

If you have completed all the steps listed above and are still experiencing a problem, service the product. Cause The product aligns the print cartridges every time at cartridge installation or replacement to ensure the highest-quality prints. The alignment page continues to print when the product is turned on or off, or when a print job is started, for any of the reasons below.

• The automatic alignment process is not complete.
• The ink cartridges are not properly installed.
• One of the ink cartridges is defective.
• One of the ink cartridges is low or out of ink. Black and all three colors must be available.
• Protective tape on a new ink cartridge has not been removed.
• Contacts on the ink cartridge are not meeting the contacts in the carriage correctly.
• Cartridge is remanufactured or refilled. Refilled or remanufactured ink cartridges may have been damaged during the refilling process or have clogged ink nozzles.
• The product needs to be serviced.

Try this approach:

1. On the printer operator panel, on Copy mode, press Options.
2. Select Maintenance.
3. Select Clean Cartridges

Your printer will then print a test page forcing ink through the cartridge nozzles and clean them.
Try to print your document again to verify that Copying is properly functioning now.

Hi,

The printer prints alignment page; after enter button.
Place the printed page in scanned glass properly.
Press the scan button and wait untill the ON light stops blinking.
Now alignment is completed.

Regards,
Riztech

Hello,

Ink Cartridge Maintenance Replacing an Ink Cartridge

1. Turn on your printer.
   
   
2. Lift the printer unit, and position the scanner support between the tabs to hold it open.
   
   

The ink cartridge carrier moves and stops at the loading position unless the printer is busy.

1. Press down on the ink cartridge lever to raise the ink cartridge lid.
   
   

1. Remove the old ink cartridge.
   
   

1. Dispose of the old cartridge properly.
   
   
2. If you are installing a new ink cartridge, remove the sticker and transparent tape from the back and bottom of the ink cartridge.
   
   

1. Insert the new ink cartridge.
   
   

1. Snap the lid closed.
   
   

1. Lift the printer unit, and hold the scanner support up while lowering the printer unit until it is completely closed.
   
   

Aligning an Ink Cartridge You may need to align the ink cartridge when characters are not properly formed or are not aligned at the left margin, or when vertical or straight lines appear wavy.
To align the ink cartridge:

1. Load plain paper. For more information, see Loading Paper.
   
   
2. In Windows XP, click Start® Control Panel® Printers and Other Hardware® Printers and Faxes.
   
   

In Windows 2000, click Start® Settings® Printers.

1. Right-click the Dell AIO 810 icon.
   
   
2. Click Printing Preferences.
   
   

The Printing Preferences dialog box opens.

1. Click the Maintenance tab.
   
   
2. Click Align Print Cartridge.
   
   
3. Click Print.
   
   

A blue and black alignment page prints.

1. After the alignment page has finished printing, place the page face-down on the scanner glass. Make sure the upper left corner of the front of the page aligns with the arrow on the printer.
   
   

1. Press the Scan button .
   
   

The page is scanned. When the scan is complete, the cartridge is aligned. You may discard the alignment page when the alignment is complete.

Please download the manual from the link below and go to chapter Ink Cartridge Maintenance:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/PRN810/en/ug/ug_en.zip

Hope it helped.

For alignment complete you need both print cartridges printing all colors.If you have empty cartridge or clogged cartridge alignment will not complete.Look which color missing and replace cartridge.

Problem Solved --- Agree with the comment about "not buying the cheap ink". Stick with the Canon PiXMA (PGBK 5) and (BK 8) black ink refills. The printer can be cleaned and/or deep cleaned using the Menu Button to find this function.

Put a teeny tiny bit of oil (3 in one on fingertip) all over the slide (chrome bar that you see looking into the printer from the front) and retry. Just a thin film, NOT enough to drip.

The self test and align 'scan and print' procedure is timing out.

Solution The product aligns the print cartridges every time that print cartridges are installed or replaced to ensure the highest-quality prints. The alignment page will continue to print every time that the product is turned on or off until the alignment process is completed. NOTE: If you remove and install the same print cartridge, the unit will NOT align the print cartridges. The unit remembers the alignment values for that print cartridge, so you do not need to realign the print cartridges. Follow the steps below, in the order presented, to correctly complete a print cartridge alignment. Step one: Remove the print cartridges

1. If the On/Resume button is not lit, press the On/Resume button to turn the product on. Figure 1: Press the On/Resume button to turn the product on
2. Make sure the paper tray is down and there is letter or A4 unused plain white paper loaded in the paper tray.
3. Lower the access door until it stops. Figure 2: Lower the access door Make sure the print carriage moves to the center. Figure 3: Print carriage in the center of the printer
4. Wait until the print carriage is idle and silent, and then, using your thumb, lightly press down on a print cartridge to release it. Figure 4: The print carriage
   • If replacing the tri-color print cartridge, remove the print cartridge from the slot on the left.
   • If replacing the black print cartridge, remove the print cartridge from the slot on the right.
   Figure 5: The print cartridges in the proper position 1 - Tri-color print cartridge 2 - Black print cartridge
5. Pull the print cartridge toward you out of its slot.

Step two: Install the new print cartridge

1. Remove the new print cartridge from its packaging and, being careful to touch only the black plastic, gently remove the plastic tape by using the pink pull tab. Figure 6: Remove the tape 1 - Copper-colored contacts 2 - Plastic tape with pink pull tab (must be removed before installing) 3 - Ink nozzles under tape CAUTION: Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or ink nozzles. Touching these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.
2. Slide the new print cartridge forward at a slight upward angle into the empty slot. Using your index finger, push the print cartridge forward until it clicks into place. Figure 7: Insert the print cartridge
3. Close the access door.

Step three: Align the print cartridges If you are installing a new print cartridge, the product begins to print a print cartridge alignment sheet. This may take a few minutes.

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

Have you try replacing your cartridge ???