# What's wrong with my fax/printer/scanner?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-fax-printer-scanner/332129>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 21, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-fax-printer-scanner/332129 "2005-11-21T19:47:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-fax-printer-scanner/332129/1 "2005-11-21T19:47:38Z")

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I have a new HP (forgot model number) fax/scanner/copier/printer.  
Yesterday, it started getting a line down the middle of all of the copies that I made. This is a new machine and I have only made less than 50 copies, and I may have lost the receipt, so naturally I want it to be something simple enough that I can do it easily by myself, like pushing the correct button or something. My manual doesn’t have a good trouble shooting guide, so can anybody tell me what is wrong?thanks,  
hh

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-fax-printer-scanner/332129/2 "2005-11-21T23:03:23Z")

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Sounds like some dust, lint, or even a bug got onto the scanner head (the part that moves back and forth under the glass. Prints from the PC are good, right?

Hopefully HP has provided instructions for cleaning this. It might involve some fairly significant disassembly. If you come back with the model number, we can find out exactly how to do it.

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**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-fax-printer-scanner/332129/3 "2005-11-21T23:15:03Z")

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Either a fleck of dust is on the scan head or something is in the printing area with ink on it. print a page that is from a word processor. A line would mean that its ink on something in the printing area. No line and it contamination of the scan head. HP always has a comprehensive cleaning procedure on the web site.

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**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-fax-printer-scanner/332129/4 "2005-11-22T03:25:00Z")

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Alright!  
back at home;  
machine is HP officejet 4215v.  
thanks for all the help!  
hh

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**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-fax-printer-scanner/332129/5 "2005-11-22T03:26:47Z")

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also all PC prints are great.  
thanks again  
hh

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-fax-printer-scanner/332129/6 "2005-11-22T05:18:18Z")

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[HP’s cleaning instructions](http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&lang=en&cc=us&product=351112&dlc=en&docname=bpu01831#N449)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-fax-printer-scanner/332129/7 "2005-11-22T13:39:51Z")

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Worked like a charm!  
I had not been opening the machine properly, ergo i could not see the glass properly.  
secondly, when i finally did, i cleaned the wrong side.  
finally, cleaned it!  
thanks again.  
hh