Clean The Print Head Nozzles (Windows)

The following contains instructions to check the nozzles for poor print quality and perform print head nozzle cleanings. If print results are faint or streaks are printed, the print head nozzles may be clogged. To improve print quality, perform print head cleanings or print head deep cleanings.

Caution: Only used the approved methods below to clean the print head. Use of other methods may further clog the nozzles on the print head and may cause permanent damage the print head.

Note: It is important to check the cleaning results by printing Nozzle Check Pattern after each cleaning. Cleaning and Deep Cleaning consumes a certain amount of ink. Only perform a cleanings when necessary.

Print a Nozzle Check Pattern

1. Confirm that the printer is connected to the computer and the printer is turned on.
   
   
   
   
2. Complete or cancel any print jobs in progress.
   
   
   
3. Open the Printers folder.
   
   - For Windows XP Home Edition : Click/Select 'Start,' 'Control Panel,' 'Printers and Other Hardware,' and 'Printers and Faxes.
   
   - For Windows XP Professional Edition : Click 'Start' and 'Printers and Faxes.'
   
   - For Windows Vista : Click 'Start,' 'Control Panel,' 'Hardware and Sound,' and 'Printers.'
   
   - For Windows 2000 : Click/Select 'Start,' and 'Settings,' then 'Printers.'
   
   
4. Right-click the printer icon and select 'Properties'.
   
   
   
   
5. Click the Maintenance tab. (The Maintenance window opens.)
   
   
   
   Note: The layout varies depending on the printer and version of Windows you are using.
   
   
6. Insert a piece of letter-sized plain paper in the paper tray.
   
   
7. Select 'Nozzle Check'.
   
   
   
   
   Note: By clicking 'Initial Check Items' before clicking 'Print Check Pattern', you can see the specific confirmation items in Nozzle Check.
   
   
   
   
8. When the confirming message is displayed, click 'OK'. (Nozzle Check printing will start.)
   
   
9. Examine the Nozzle Check output.
   
   
10. Determine whether the pattern is normal or not normal.
    
    When the output is normal
    Black ink: The grid pattern is regular without missing lines.
    Color ink: White streaks are not visible in the pattern.
    
    
    
    
    
    When the output is not normal
    If the following cases can be seen, perform the cleaning of the print head nozzles.
    
    
    <Case A>
    No color is printed. (Nothing appears on the output.)
    
    
    <Case B>
    There is any color which is not printed at all. (In the diagram below, black ink is not printed at all.)
    
    
    
    
    <Case C>
    There are missing lines partially in the pattern for the black ink.
    
    
    
    
    <Case D>
    There are white streaks in one of the color ink patterns.
    
    
    

• Click here if the pattern is normal.
  
  
• If the pattern is not normal, perform a Cleaning.
  
  
  Note: Perform this step first to clean the print head.
  
  
• If the pattern is not normal after two Cleanings, perform up to two Deep Cleanings of the print head.
  
  
  Caution: Cleaning consumes a certain amount of ink. Perform cleanings only when necessary.
  

When the output is normal

1. If the print head is performing as normal cleaning is not required. Click 'Exit' to return to the Maintenance window.
   
   
2. Click 'OK' to finish and exit the Properties window.
   

Perform a Cleaning of the print head nozzles:

Caution: Cleaning consumes a certain amount of ink. Perform Cleaning only when necessary.

Note: The pattern varies depending on the printer and version of Windows being used.

1. Click 'Cleaning' to perform print head cleaning from the Pattern Check window and proceed to step 3 of the print head cleaning instructions. If the Pattern Check window is closed, skip this step and proceed to step 2.
   
   
   
   
   
2. To perform a print head cleaning from the Maintenance window, click 'Cleaning'.
   
   
   
   
   
3. At the Print Head Cleaning dialog box, select the appropriate color to clean.
   
   1. To clean all colors, confirm radio button All Colors BK, C, M, Y is selected and then click 'Execute'.
      
      
      
      
   2. To clean specific colors, select from the following three radio buttons and then click 'Execute'.
      
      
      
      Caution: Although the Nozzle Check window is displayed, do not perform any other operations until Cleaning is completed.. Cleaning will take about 40 seconds.
      
      
4. Print a Nozzle Check Pattern and examine it.
   
   
5. Perform Cleaning again if necessary.
   
   Note: If the pattern is still abnormal after two Cleanings, perform up to two Deep Cleanings.
   

Perform Deep Cleaning of the print head

Caution: Deep Cleaning consumes a larger amount of ink than normal Cleaning. Perform Deep Cleanings only when necessary.

1. In the Maintenance window, click 'Deep Cleaning'.
   
   
   
   Note:
   * Selecting Deep Cleaning will allow you to select All Colors BK, C, M, Y or Black BK.
   * The layout varies depending on the printer and version of Windows you are using.
   
   
2. When the Deep Cleaning window is displayed, check the contents, and click 'Execute'.
   
   Note: Cleaning consumes a certain amount of ink. Performing Cleaning often, ink will be consumed quickly. Furthermore, Deep Cleaning consumes more ink than Cleaning; execute Deep Cleaning only if the nozzle condition does not improve even after Cleaning.
   
   By clicking Initial Check Items before clicking Print Check Pattern, you can see the specific confirmation items in Nozzle Check.
   
   
   
   
3. When the confirmation window is displayed, click 'OK'.
   
   
4. When the confirming message is displayed, check the contents, and click 'OK'.
   Do not perform any other operations until cleaning is completed.
   
   
5. Print a Nozzle Check Pattern and examine it.
   
   
6. Perform Deep Cleaning again if necessary.
   
   
7. If the print quality does not improve, turn off the printer and let it sit for 24 hours or more, then perform Deep Cleaning again. The wait time may allow dried ink in clogged print head nozzles to liquify, and resolve the problem.
   
   
8. If the print quality does not improve, replace the ink cartridge(s).