This guide explores the common reasons why your HP 2700 printer might not be working and provides solutions to fix them yourself.

Why won’t my HP 2700 print?

There are two main categories of printer problems: software and hardware.

  • Software Issues: These could be related to outdated printer drivers, compatibility issues with your operating system, or disabled printer services.
  • Hardware Issues: These could involve faulty cables, clogged printer heads, paper jams, or even tiny pieces of paper stuck inside the feeder mechanism.

The Solutions: Troubleshooting Steps

Here are some basic steps you can take to troubleshoot your printer:

  1. Check the Print Spooler Service: This service needs to be running for your HP 2700 printer to function. Go to your computer’s services menu and locate the “Print Spooler” service. Ensure it’s set to “Running” and the startup type is set to “Automatic.”
  2. Verify Printer Connection and Default Status:
  • Open the “Devices and Printers” menu (you can access it through the “Services” menu or by searching for it).
  • Locate your printer in the list.
  • Ensure your printer is listed and has a green checkmark next to it, indicating it’s the default printer.
  • If it’s not listed, you’ll need to add the printer again.

Tips:

  • Double-clicking on your printer in this menu might also allow you to set it as the default and access further troubleshooting options.
  1. Set Default Printer and Check Compatibility:
  • In the “Devices and Printers” menu, right-click on your printer and select “Set as default printer” to ensure you’re printing to the correct device.
  • If your printer isn’t listed, you’ll need to add it again. You can usually do this through the same menu.

Additional Tips:

  • Double-clicking on your printer in this menu might also allow you to set it as the default and access further troubleshooting options.
  1. Check Printer Compatibility:
  • Visit your printer manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers specifically designed for your Windows 10 version.
  • Incompatible drivers can cause printing issues.
  1. Update or Reinstall Printer Driver:
  • If your printer isn’t detected in the “Devices and Printers” menu or Device Manager, the driver might be faulty or missing.
    • Manual Driver Update:
      • Open the “Device Manager” by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting it.
      • Expand the “Print queues” section (if your printer isn’t listed there, continue to the next step).
      • Right-click on your printer and select “Update driver.”
      • Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software” and follow the on-screen instructions.
      • If Windows can’t find a suitable driver, you’ll need to download one from your printer manufacturer’s website.
    • Driver Reinstallation:
      • If updating the driver doesn’t work, try reinstalling it.
      • Right-click on your printer in Device Manager and select “Uninstall device.”
      • Check the box to “Delete the driver software for this device” (if available) and click “Uninstall.”
      • Restart your computer.
      • Windows will usually attempt to automatically reinstall the driver upon restart.
      • If not, you can download and install the driver manually from the manufacturer’s website.
    • If automatic driver updates fail, you can browse your computer for the driver or install it manually:
      • In Device Manager, right-click on your printer and select “Update driver.”
      • Choose “Browse my computer for driver software.”
      • Navigate to the location where the downloaded driver is saved (usually from the printer manufacturer’s website).
      • Select the driver file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
  • Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Driver:
    • As mentioned earlier, corrupted drivers can cause printing issues. Here’s how to reinstall the driver:
      • In Device Manager, right-click on your printer and select “Uninstall device.”
      • Check the box to “Delete the driver software for this device” (if available) and click “Uninstall.”
      • Restart your computer.
      • Windows will usually attempt to automatically reinstall the driver upon restart.
      • If not, you can download and install the driver manually from the manufacturer’s website.
  • After reinstalling the driver, check if your printer is listed and set as default in the “Devices and Printers” menu.

6. Troubleshooting with Built-in Tools:

  • If the previous steps haven’t resolved the issue, you can use the built-in Windows troubleshooter to diagnose and potentially fix the problem:
    • In the “Devices and Printers” menu, right-click on your printer and select “Troubleshoot.”
    • Follow the on-screen instructions provided by the troubleshooter.
  • Using Built-in Troubleshooter
    • Right-click on your printer in the “Devices and Printers” menu and select “Troubleshoot.”
    • The troubleshooter will diagnose and attempt to fix any issues with your printer, printer settings, or setup.
    • It checks various components like the print spooler service.
  • Troubleshooting USB Connectivity:
    • The provided text identifies a potential problem with the USB connection:
      • The troubleshooter may report a “USB composite device” error.
      • This error might occur if an older printer is connected to a USB 3.0 port.
      • Solution: Try plugging the printer’s USB cable into a USB 2.0 port on your computer. USB 2.0 ports are usually black, while USB 3.0 ports are often blue or have a special symbol next to them.

7. Checking Printer Details and Print Jobs:

  • Right-clicking on your printer in the “Devices and Printers” menu allows you to view detailed information about any errors or issues detected by the troubleshooter.
  • Note: This information might not be printable if the printing problem persists.
  • Managing Print Jobs:
    • Double-clicking on your printer icon opens the print queue.
    • Here, you can:
      • Check for any pending print jobs that might be causing issues.
      • Clear the print queue by deleting any unwanted jobs.
      • Ensure the “Use printer offline” option is unchecked for the printer to function properly.

8. Cleaning and Maintaining Your Printer:

  • For some printing issues, the problem might lie with the printer itself. This section covers steps related to printer maintenance:
  • Cleaning Print Heads:
    • Many printers offer a cleaning function through their software. This can help remove clogs and improve print quality.
    • Access the printer properties or settings (usually through a double-click on the printer icon in “Devices and Printers”).
    • Locate the “Maintenance” tab and look for options like “Cleaning” or “Deep Cleaning.” Follow the on-screen instructions to run a cleaning cycle.
  • Print Head Alignment:
    • Misaligned print heads can cause blurry or uneven printing.
    • After cleaning the print heads, it’s recommended to run a print head alignment.
    • The option for alignment might be located within the same “Maintenance” tab in the printer software.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the alignment process.
  • Nozzle Check:
    • A nozzle check can help identify clogged nozzles or other print quality issues.
    • The option for a nozzle check might also be located in the “Maintenance” tab of your printer software.
    • Running a nozzle check will usually print a test page that allows you to visually inspect for any printing problems.

9. Reinstalling Drivers from Manufacturer’s Website:

  • If the previous steps haven’t resolved the issue, consider reinstalling the printer driver with a fresh download from the manufacturer’s website.
  • Locate the support section for your specific printer model on the manufacturer’s website (e.g., Canon website for Canon printers).
  • Identify your printer model number (usually printed on the front of the printer). In this example, the model number is MG6851.
  • Download the latest driver compatible with your Windows 10 version.
  • Uninstall the existing driver (if necessary) following the steps mentioned earlier (Device Manager > Right-click printer > Uninstall device).
  • Install the downloaded driver following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • The previous section explained how to download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website. Here’s how to uninstall the existing driver (if necessary):

Option 1: Uninstall from Device Manager

  1. Open Device Manager (right-click Start button and select it).
  2. Expand the “Print queues” section.
  3. Right-click on your printer and select “Uninstall device.”
  4. Check the box to “Delete the driver software for this device” (if available) and click “Uninstall.”
  5. Restart your computer.

Option 2: Uninstall from Control Panel

  1. Open Control Panel (search for it in the Start menu).
  2. Go to “Programs and Features” (or “Uninstall a program”).
  3. Locate your Canon driver in the list (might be named similarly to the downloaded driver from the manufacturer’s website).
  4. Right-click on the Canon driver and select “Uninstall.”
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
  • The previous section covered how to download the downloaded driver. Here’s how to uninstall the existing driver (if necessary) using Device Manager:
    1. Open Device Manager (right-click Start button and select it).
    2. Expand the “Print queues” section.
    3. Right-click on your printer and select “Uninstall device.”
    4. Optional: Check the box to “Delete the driver software for this device” (if available) and click “Uninstall.” This ensures a clean removal of the old driver.
    5. Restart your computer.

10. Checking Event Viewer (Optional):

  • The text also mentions Event Viewer as an optional step for advanced users.
  • Event Viewer can show logs and error messages related to your printer.
  • While not covered in detail in this guide, some users familiar with computer troubleshooting might find Event Viewer helpful in diagnosing complex issues.

Hardware Troubleshooting

Checking Hardware:

  • After exploring software troubleshooting steps, let’s move on to potential hardware issues:
    • USB Cable:
      • Verify that the USB cable connecting your printer to the computer is functional and securely plugged into both ports (computer and printer).
    • Cartridges:
      • Ensure all cartridges are properly inserted into the printer.
      • Remove any protective tape or packaging materials that might prevent proper operation.
      • Check the ink levels in the cartridges and replace any empty or low cartridges.
      • For older printers, clean clogged nozzles or debris from the cartridges using appropriate cleaning solutions (refer to your printer’s manual for specific instructions).

Additional Tips:

  • Consult your printer’s user manual for specific instructions on cartridge replacement and cleaning procedures.
  • For printers with replaceable print heads:
    • Clean the print head with appropriate cleaning solution according to the manufacturer’s instructions (refer to your printer’s manual).
  • Paper Jams:
    • Check for paper jams in the following locations:
      • Paper tray feeder
      • Output tray (where printed paper exits)
      • Inside the printer itself (consult your printer’s manual for specific instructions on how to access and clear internal jams).
    • Remove any jammed paper carefully to avoid tearing.

Additional Tips:

  • Look for visual signs of damage on the cartridges or print head that might indicate a need for replacement.
  • Consult your printer’s manual for specific instructions on how to replace cartridges and troubleshoot paper jams.

This guide compiles troubleshooting steps to address various reasons why your printer might not be printing.

Software Troubleshooting:

  1. Verify Printer Connection and Default Status:
    • Ensure your printer is listed and set as the default printer in the “Devices and Printers” menu.
  2. Check Printer Compatibility:
    • Visit your printer manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers specifically designed for your Windows 10 version. Incompatible drivers can cause printing issues.
  3. Update or Reinstall Printer Driver:
    • If your printer isn’t detected or has a faulty driver, update or reinstall the driver using Device Manager.
  4. Using Built-in Troubleshooter:
    • The Windows troubleshooter can diagnose and potentially fix issues with your printer, printer settings, or setup.
  5. Checking Printer Details and Print Jobs:
    • Right-click on your HP 2700 printer in “Devices and Printers” to view detailed information about errors or manage print jobs (e.g., clearing queues, ensuring the printer is not offline).