HP DeskJet 990cxi User Manual

User’s Guide

Table of Contents

Finding Information — What and How . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
For Windows 95, 98, 2000, and NT 4.0 Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
For Windows 3.1x Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
For DOS Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Printing Basics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Paper Trays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
IN Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
OUT Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
How to Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How to Print in Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
How to Print in Windows 3.1x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
HP DeskJet Toolbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Windows 95, 98, 2000, and NT 4.0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Windows 3.1x. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Printer Settings Taskbar Icon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Warning Message Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Determining the Number of Pending Warning Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Opening the Default Print Settings Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Displaying Print Cartridge Warning Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Opening the Printer Properties Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Printer Settings Taskbar Icon Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Automatic Paper-Type Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
How to Use the Automatic Paper-Type Sensor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Automatic Two-Sided Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Printing with the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Infrared (Ir) Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Using Infrared with a Laptop or Notebook running Windows 98 . . . . . . . . 23
Printing using a Palm Pilot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Printing using an HP PhotoSmart Digital Camera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Printing using a Windows CE Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Printer Maintenance Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Beyond the Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Getting the Right Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Printing on Different Types of Paper and Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Manual Two-Sided Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Printing Transparencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Printing Single Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Printing a Stack of Envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Printing Business Cards, Index Cards, and Other Small Media. . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Printing Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Printing Photographs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Printing Greeting Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Printing Iron-On Transfers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Printing Posters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Printing Banners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
1
User’s Guide: Table of Contents
Print Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Print Cartridge Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Replacing Print Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
To Replace a Print Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Storing Print Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Cleaning Print Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
When Do You Need to Clean?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
If You See Missing Lines or Dots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
If You See Ink Streaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Manually Cleaning the Print Cartridges and Print Cartridge Cradle . . . . . 47
Damage Resulting from Refilling the Print Cartridges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Problems? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
HP Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
HP Customer Care Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Printer Software Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
HP Customer Care Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
HP Customer Care by Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Extended Warranty Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
More About Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Language Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Supplies and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Environmental Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Acknowledgments
Microsoft, MS, MS-DOS, and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Pentium is a U.S. registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
TrueType is a U.S. trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Palm, Palm III, Palm V, and Palm VII are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries.
Notice
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Hewlett-Packard Company makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for any errors or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
All rights reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation of this manual is prohibited without prior written permission of Hewlett-Packard Company, except as allowed under the copyright laws.
Edition 1, July 2000
© Copyright Hewlett-Packard Company 2000
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
2
Finding Information — What and How
User’s Guide: Finding Information — What and How

For Windows 95, 98, 2000, and NT 4.0 Users

• For complete information about your printer, view your electronic User’s Guide. Adobe® Acrobat® Reader is required to view your electronic User’s Guide.
- If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, begin
printer software installation process, select View User’s Guide, and follow on-screen instructions to install Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, go to Start
Programs HP DeskJet 990C Series View User’s Guide.
• Consult the Release Notes file in the HP DeskJet 990C Series program group for information about hardware and software compatibility. To access the Release Notes, click on
Start Programs HP DeskJet 990C Series.

For Windows 3.1x Users

• Windows 3.1x specific information is only found in the electronic User’s Guide.
- If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, begin the
printer software installation process and select View User’s
Guide.
- If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer,
begin the printer software installation process, select View
User’s Guide, then follow on-screen instructions to install
Adobe Acrobat Reader. Begin the printer software installation process again, and select View User’s Guide.
Whenever you want to view your electronic User’s Guide, insert your printer software CD, begin the software installation and select View User’s Guide.
• Consult the Release Notes for information about hardware and
software compatibility. Open this file by double-clicking the HP
DeskJet 990C Series Release Notes icon in the HP DeskJet
Utilities program group.

For DOS Users

If you are using DOS, information can be found in a text document (dosread.txt). This document is on the printer software CD in the
\<language code>\djcp\ directory. For example, “enu” is the
language code for English, so dosread.txt is located in the
\enu\djcp directory. For a list of language codes, see page 86.
If you have diskettes, the file is located on the HP DeskJet Control Panel for DOS diskette.
3
Buttons and Lights
Warning

Printing Basics

The HP DeskJet 990C Series printer buttons (shown below) let you turn the printer on and off, cancel a print job, or resume printing. The lights give you visual cues about the state of your printer. The buttons and lights from left to right are:
Cancel Button – Press this
button to cancel the current print job.
Print Cartridge Status Light
When lit, the light above this symbol indicates that you need to check the status of your print cartridges. See “Print Cartridge Status” on page 42 for more information.
Resume Button and Light –
When this light flashes an action is needed such as load paper or clear a paper jam. To continue printing, press the Resume Button. See “What do the flashing lights mean?” on page 62.
Power Button and Light – Use the Power Button to turn the
printer on and off. After the Power Button is pressed, it takes approximately five seconds for the printer to power on. When the green light above the Power Button flashes, printing is in progress.
Infrared (Ir) Lens – Use the infrared lens to print from an
infrared sending device such as a Palm Pilot, laptop, or notebook computer. See “Infrared (Ir) Printing” on page 22. When the light to the right of the infrared lens displays a solid beam, the infrared device is transmitting information to the printer.
Always use the Power Button on the front of the printer to turn the printer on and off. Using a power strip, surge protector, or a wall-mounted switch to turn the printer on and off may cause premature printer failure.
4
Printing Basics: Paper Trays

Paper Trays

IN Tray

To print, place paper or other media types in the IN tray. Pull out the IN tray for easy loading. Be sure to slide the paper guides out of the way before loading the media print side down. Slide all media as far as it will go into the IN tray. Once you insert the media you want to use, slide the paper guides so they rest snugly against the media. Make sure the IN tray is pushed back in.
Load paper in the IN tray.
IN tray pulled out
Paper length guide
Paper width guide
Printed media is sent to the OUT tray.

OUT Tray

The printer sends finished pages to the OUT tray.
OUT Tray Down – This is the typical position for most types of printing. The down position also allows single envelope printing. For information about printing on other media, see “Beyond the Basics” on page 30.
OUT Tray Up – The OUT tray must be in the up position to properly load banner paper and must remain in the up position to print banners.
OUT Tray Extension – The OUT Tray Extension should be pulled out when you are printing a large number of pages. In addition, it must be extended when you are printing in draft mode to prevent paper from falling to the floor. To use the OUT Tray Extension, gently pull out the extension. When your print job finishes, push the OUT Tray Extension back into its storage slot.
Note:
may cause a paper jam.
Do not use the OUT Tray Extension with legal-sized paper. It
Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module (see page 20)
IN tray pushed in
Single envelope slot
OUT tray down
OUT Tray Extension
5
How to Print
Printing Basics: How to Print
The printer is controlled through printer software (sometimes called a “printer driver”) that you install on your computer. The printer software provides a dialog box (like the one shown here) that you use to communicate with the printer. In the dialog box, you select settings such as paper size and type, orientation, and print quality.
HP Printer Properties Dialog Box
• Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT 4.0 users— see “How to Print in Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0” on page 7.
• Windows 3.1x users—see “How to Print in Windows 3.1x” on page 11.
• DOS users—see “For DOS Users” on page 3.
6
Printing Basics: How to Print in Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0

How to Print in Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0

Finding the HP Printer Properties Dialog Box
How you find the HP Printer Properties dialog box depends on the software program and operating system that you are using. Since each software program is different, the dialog box that appears on your screen may differ from those shown here. One of the following methods will surely get you to the HP Printer Properties dialog box.
From your software program, try this:
When you see , it means to find and click the word that
Note:
follows.
1 Click File
Print.
Click click
File
Print
and then
.
2 Your software program opens a Print dialog box, similar to the
previous example. From the Print dialog box, click whichever button you see—Properties, Setup, or Printer. The HP Printer Properties dialog box opens.
Or try this:
1 If you don’t see a Print option in the File menu, click
File Printer Setup or File Print Setup.
Click
Printer Setup
Click
Setup
HP Printer Properties dialog box.
2 From the Printer Setup or Print Setup dialog box, click Setup or
Options.
and then click
File
.
to open the
Click
Properties
the HP Printer Properties dialog box.
to open
7
HP Printer Properties Dialog Box
Printing Basics: How to Print in Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0
There are three tabs located in the Printer Properties dialog box. Once you’ve opened this box, simply click a tab, then choose your settings.
Setup (see page 8)
Features (see page 9)
Advanced (see page 10)
Setup Tab (Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0)
Print Quality
Draft
Normal
Best
Paper Type
Choose from a wide range of paper types. The
Automatic
allows the printer’s optical sensor to detect the type of media that has been loaded and to automatically determine the paper type.
Paper Size
Choose a paper size or enter a custom size.
- Quick printing
- Every day printing
- Highest quality printing
option (the default setting)
Click here to print banners.
Click here to resize an image if it’s too large to fit on the specified paper size.
Right-click on any item shown on these screens to view helpful information.
Look here to see the results of your current settings.
Photo Paper Printing
If you manually select an HP Photo Paper (or any other photo paper), the Photo Paper Printing options become available.
•Click
PhotoREt
configuration of print speed and quality.
•Click
2400x1200 dpi
than 600 dpi. This setting requires 400 MB or more hard disk space and takes longer to print.
If you choose
Photo Paper Printing
to automatically select the best
for source images greater
Automatic
as the paper type, the
options are not available.
8
Features Tab (Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0)
Choose the best page orientation.
•Click
•Click
•Click
Click here to select choose a method:
Book
Tabl et
Click
Automatic
Two-Sided Printing Module.
Click here to print multiple pages per sheet. Choose:
• Two or four pages per sheet.
• To print a border around each page on the sheet.
Click here to print the last page of your document first.
for vertical page layout.
Portrait Landscape Mirror Image
— binding on the side.
— binding on the top.
for horizontal page layout.
to reverse the printed image.
Two-Sided Printing
when using the Automatic
, then
Printing Basics: How to Print in Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0
Look here to see the results of your current
settings.
Click here and choose the size of your poster by selecting the number of pages across and down.
Click here to view the effects of all selected settings for your document before you print. create a graphic file of your document. You can change some print settings, visually see the effects, and print with the new settings.
To preview the document after selecting this option, click OK and then click OK in the Print dialog box.
Show HP Preview
will allow you to print, cancel, or
9
Advanced Tab (Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0)
Choose appropriate color options.
• Click here to print in shades of gray.
-
High Quality
quality for grayscale printing.
-
Black only
printing by using only the black pen (not recommended for use with glossy paper).
-
Optimize for Photocopy or Fax
available when printing in grayscale.
Automatic Image Enhancement
images and provides contrast optimization.
Slide to adjust the amount of ink on the page.
provides optimal print
provides faster grayscale
is only
sharpens
Printing Basics: How to Print in Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0
Look here to see the results of your current settings.
Slide to adjust saturation, brightness, and color tone to meet your needs.
Slide to adjust drying time for the printed media.
Click
Low Memory Mode
printing by using less computer memory (unavailable when 2400 x 1200dpi is selected on the Setup tab).
to enable faster
The standard buttons at the bottom of every Printer Properties dialog box are shown here.
— Returns all of the tab settings to the factory defaults.
— Cancels your changes and
Cancel
closes the dialog box.
— Accepts your changes and closes
OK
the dialog box.
— Applies your changes.
Apply
Factory Settings
— Displays a message telling you to click your
Help
right mouse button for help.
10
Printing Basics: How to Print in Windows 3.1x
How to Print in Windows 3.1
Note:
Use your printer software to control how and what you print. Print quality, paper size and type, and two-sided printing are just a few of the options available to you in the HP DeskJet 990C Printer Properties dialog box.
Note:
and NT 4.0 users are available to 3.1x users.
Windows 3.1x is not supported in Japan.
Not all printing features available to Windows 95, 98, 2000,
x
HP Printer Properties Dialog Box
1 Click File Print from the software program you are using.
Your software program opens a Print dialog box.
2 From the Print dialog box, click whichever button you see—
Properties, Setup, or Printer. The HP DeskJet 990C Series
Printer Properties dialog box opens.
The four tabs located in the HP DeskJet 990C Series dialog box are:
Setup (see page 12)
Features (see page 12)
Color (see page 13)
Services (see page 13)
Simply click a tab, then choose your options.
The standard buttons at the bottom of the HP DeskJet 990C Series dialog box are:
Default – Returns all of the tab settings to the factory defaults.
OK – Accepts your changes and closes the dialog box.
Cancel – Cancels your changes and closes the dialog box.
Help – Displays help information.
11
Setup Tab (Windows 3.1x)
Print Quality
- Highest quality printing
Best
- Every day printing
Normal EconoFast
- Quick printing
Printing Basics: How to Print in Windows 3.1x
Choose a paper size from the menu.
Click here to select from a wide range
of paper types.
Click
Cut Sheet
of paper.
for separated pieces
Features Tab (Windows 3.1x)
Two-sided Printing
— single-sided printing (default)
None
— binding on the side.
Book
— binding on the top.
Ta bl et
Choose the best page orientation.
•Click
•Click
Click
Flip Horizontal
Click here to print the last page of your document first.
for vertical page layout.
Portrait Landscape
for horizontal page layout.
to reverse the printed image.
Click here to print banners.
Click here to choose:
• Number of pages printed per sheet.
• To print a border on each page on the sheet.
Choose the size of your poster by selecting
the number of pages across and down.
Choose the number of copies to print.
12
Printing Basics: HP DeskJet Toolbox
Color Tab (Windows 3.1x)
Choose system’s default ColorSmart II settings.
Choose to adjust color intensity.
Click here to print in shades of gray.
Automatic
Manual
to use the
, then
Options
Services Tab (Windows 3.1x)
Use the perform routine printer maintenance.
Click the button related to the maintenance task you want to do.
Services
tab to

HP DeskJet Toolbox

Windows 95, 98, 2000, and NT 4.0

Use the HP DeskJet Toolbox for cleaning and calibrating your printer, finding information, and printing a test page.
•Click Start
Programs
HP DeskJet 990C Series HP
DeskJet 990C Series Toolbox.
• Right-click the Printer Settings taskbar icon and choose Open
Toolbox. See “Printer Settings Taskbar Icon” on page 16.
The HP Toolbox has four tabs.
Printer Services
• Estimated Ink Level
• Configuration
13
Toolbox Tabs (Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0)
Click the
• Open the electronic User’s Guide.
• Calibrate the printer when color and black ink
• Clean the print cartridges when lines and dots
• Check for clarity after cleaning, by printing a
• Check for printer problems by printing a
Printer Services
aren’t aligned.
are missing from what you have printed.
Test Pag e.
Diagnostics Page.
tab to:
Printing Basics: HP DeskJet Toolbox
If you are using a parallel cable, you can enable hardware ECP on the you check photos may print more quickly.
Click the
• Present a visual display of the black and color cartridge ink level.
• Show the print cartridge part numbers.
• View print cartridge ordering information.
Attempt to Use Hardware ECP
Estimated Ink Level
Configuration
tab. When
,
tab to:
14

Windows 3.1x

Printing Basics: HP DeskJet Toolbox
Note:
Windows 3.1x is not supported in Japan.
Use the HP DeskJet 990C Toolbox for finding information and maintaining your printer. The HP DeskJet Toolbox is installed in the HP DeskJet Utilities group in the Program Manager. The Toolbox has two tabs: How Do I? and Printer Services. You can also access Printer Services from the HP DeskJet 990C Series Printer Properties dialog box (see page 13). Simply click a tab, then choose an option.
HP Toolbox icon
How Do I?
Click a button to read instructions on:
• Replacing the print cartridges
• Loading paper
• Changing print settings
15
Printer Settings Taskbar Icon
Printing Basics: Printer Settings Taskbar Icon
Note:
Windows 3.1x.
Use the Printer Settings taskbar icon to determine the state of the printer, such as print cartridge status, and to adjust print settings, such as default print quality and automatic two-sided printing. The
Printer Settings taskbar icon appears at the end of the taskbar.
The Printer Settings taskbar icon is not available in

Warning Message Indicator

The outline color of the Printer Settings taskbar icon indicates whether or not print cartridge warning messages have been issued.
When the icon is:
• Outlined in yellow and blinking, print cartridge warning messages need to be checked.
• Outlined in yellow and not blinking, previously checked print cartridge warning messages are pending. Once the warning issues are resolved, the icon outline disappears.

Determining the Number of Pending Warning Messages

• Position the pointer over the Printer Settings taskbar icon.
A text box displays the name of your printer and indicates if any warning messages are pending. To view the warning messages see “Displaying Print Cartridge Warning Messages” on page 18.
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Opening the Default Print Settings Dialog Box

Printing Basics: Printer Settings Taskbar Icon
1 Click the Printer Settings taskbar icon.
The Default Print Settings dialog box is displayed. This box allows you to change the default print quality of future documents and to turn on automatic two-sided printing. For information on these topics, see “How to Print” on page 6 or “Automatic Two-Sided Printing” on page 20.
Or try this: Right-click the Printer Settings taskbar icon. In the
shortcut menu that appears, click Change Default Print
Settings.
2 Select from the available options.
3 When finished, click anywhere outside the dialog box.
A dialog box indicates that this feature allows you to change the print settings used every time you print.
Note:
Don’t show me this message again. If you want to redisplay it again later on, open the Toolbox, go to the Configuration tab, and click Display Printer Settings Confirmation. See “HP DeskJet Toolbox” on page 13.
4 Click OK.
If you do not want to see this dialog box in the future, click
17
Printing Basics: Printer Settings Taskbar Icon

Displaying Print Cartridge Warning Messages

1 Click the Printer Settings taskbar icon to open the Default Print
Settings dialog box.
2 At the bottom of the dialog box, click the Warning Information
button.
The HP DeskJet Toolbox is displayed. The Warning Information tab displays any warning messages for your printer.
3 When finished viewing the messages, in the top-right corner of
the Toolbox, click the Close button.

Opening the Printer Properties Dialog Box

1 Double-click the Printer Settings taskbar icon.
The Printer Properties dialog box is displayed. For more information on this dialog box, see “HP Printer Properties Dialog Box” on page 8.
2 When finished with the dialog box, click OK.

Printer Settings Taskbar Icon Shortcuts

1 Right-click the Printer Settings taskbar icon.
A shortcut menu appears.
The menu displays the names of most installed printers. A check mark appears next to the selected printer.
2 If you want to work with a different printer, select that printer
from the menu.
18
Printing Basics: Automatic Paper-Type Sensor
3 Choose one of the following:
Change Default Print Settings to display the Default Print
Settings dialog box.
Open Toolbox to display the HP DeskJet Toolbox. For more
information on this box, see “HP DeskJet Toolbox” on page 13.
Exit to turn off the Printer Settings taskbar icon.

Automatic Paper-Type Sensor

Note:
Windows 3.1x.
When you use the Automatic Paper-Type Sensor, your HP DeskJet 990C can automatically determine the correct paper type for most paper or media placed into the printer’s IN tray. This feature, especially when used with HP paper and media, can help you get the best printing results.
Note:
and media.

How to Use the Automatic Paper-Type Sensor

1 Open the HP Printer Properties dialog box. For more
2 Click the Setup tab.
The Automatic Paper-Type Sensor is not supported in
This feature is not recommended for printed or lined paper
information, see “Finding the HP Printer Properties Dialog Box” on page 7.
3 In the Paper Type box, make sure Automatic is selected.
Automatic is the default paper type setting.
Note:
19
Printing Basics: Automatic Two-Sided Printing
4 Select from the other printer settings as necessary.
When using the Automatic paper type setting, the print
Note:
quality setting is automatically set to Normal. If you wish to use a different print quality, you can manually change this setting. For more information, see “How to Print” on page 6.
5 Click OK.
As the printer begins to pull in the first page, an optical sensor (a blue light) quickly scans the page one or more times to determine the best paper type setting. This takes only a few seconds. After the paper type is determined, printing begins.
Note:
of each new print job.
Note:
non-HP media. However, it is optimized for HP media so your printer can quickly select the appropriate paper type. For a complete list of HP products, see “Paper and Other Media”on page 89.
Note:
Paper Type box of the Setup tab, select a paper type other than Automatic.
The Automatic Paper-Type Sensor only scans the first page
The Automatic Paper-Type Sensor works with both HP and
You can turn off the Automatic Paper-Type Sensor. In the

Automatic Two-Sided Printing

Note:
Windows 3.1x.
The Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module is a special hardware and software feature that enables your printer to automatically print on both sides of the page.
Installing the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module
1 Turn the knob on the printer’s Rear Access Door counter-
The Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module is not supported in
clockwise, and remove the door.
20
Printing Basics: Automatic Two-Sided Printing
2 Insert the module into the back of the printer.

Printing with the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module

1 Load the appropriate paper.
Note:
Printing Module. You can print on plain paper, HP Bright White Inkjet Paper, HP Premium Inkjet Heavyweight Paper, HP Felt­textured Greeting Card Paper, HP Professional Brochure Paper, Glossy or Matte, and HP Photo Quality InkJet Paper, Semi-gloss or Matte. Not all paper weights and sizes can be used with the Automatic Two-Sided Printing Module.
Not all paper types work with the Automatic Two-Sided
2 Open the HP Printer Properties dialog box. For more information,
see “Finding the HP Printer Properties Dialog Box” on page 7.
3 On the Features tab:
a. Check Two-Sided Printing.
The Two-Sided Printing Margin dialog box appears.
b. Make a selection, then click OK.
c. Select Book or Table t as the page orientation.
d. Make sure Automatic is selected.
4 Click OK.
5 Click OK in the Print dialog box.
Note:
the ink dries. Once the ink is dry, the paper is pulled back in, and the reverse side is printed. As each page is finished, the page drops into the OUT tray.
Note:
After one side of the page is printed, the paper is held while
If you have problems with Two-Sided Printing, see page 71.
21
Infrared (Ir) Printing
Printing Basics: Infrared (Ir) Printing
Infrared (Ir) connectivity is a feature that enables wireless connectivity for personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop or notebook computers, and other mobile devices. Use the Infrared feature to print to the HP DeskJet 990C from an infrared device such as a laptop or Palm device without any type of connecting cable. The 990C printer includes an infrared lens that can access and print information sent to it by another infrared device.
Supported Operating Systems
Some of the operating systems supported by infrared include:
• Windows 2000
• Windows 98
• Windows CE
•Palm
Supported Devices
Some of the devices supported by infrared include:
• Laptop or notebook computers with infrared capability (including the HP Omnibook)
• Some Personal Digital Assistants (including the Palm product line)
• Some Windows CE devices (including the HP Jornada)
• Digital cameras with infrared capability and the JetSend program (including the HP PhotoSmart)
• Some cellular phones with infrared capability
Note:
check the manufacturer's reference guide.
To determine if a specific device is supported by infrared,
22

Using Infrared with a Laptop or Notebook running Windows 98

Printing Basics: Infrared (Ir) Printing
Setting up a Laptop or Notebook for Infrared
To configure a laptop or notebook for infrared communication, you may need to make changes to your computer’s BIOS settings. The procedures for configuring a computer for infrared vary, depending on the specific device. For instructions on configuring your particular laptop or notebook, refer to one of the following:
• Reference guide or instructions that came with the device
• Device manufacturer’s web site or support telephone number
• Infrared Data Association (IrDA) web site at: http://www.irda.org
Enabling Infrared
1 Click Start Settings Control Panel.
The Control Panel window is displayed.
2 Double-click the Infrared icon.
The Infrared Monitor dialog box is displayed.
Note:
you must load the Infrared driver and/or configure the computer for infrared. The Infrared driver can be found on the Microsoft Windows 98/2000 software CD or downloaded from the Microsoft web site at http://www.microsoft.com.
Or try this: Click the Infrared icon at the end of the taskbar (if it’s
displayed).
If the Infrared icon in the Control Panel is not available,
23
Printing Basics: Infrared (Ir) Printing
3 Click the Options tab.
4 Click to select Enable infrared communication.
5 Click OK.
Preparing to Print
1 Click Start Settings Printers.
The Printers window is displayed.
2 Right-click the HP DeskJet 990C Series printer.
3 In the shortcut menu, click Properties.
The Properties dialog box is displayed.
4 Click the Details tab.
5 In the Print to the following port box, choose one of the
following:
• LPTx: (Infrared Printing (LPT) Port)
This is typically the LPT3 port.
OR
COMx: (Infrared Serial (COM) Port)
This is typically the COM4 port.
6 Click OK.
The Infrared icon at the end of the taskbar should look like . It indicates that infrared is enabled.
Note:
“Displaying the Infrared Icon on the Taskbar”on page 25.
If the Infrared icon is not displayed on the taskbar, see
24
Printing Basics: Infrared (Ir) Printing
Printing using Infrared
1 Locate the infrared lens on the laptop or notebook.
This is typically found on one of the sides of the computer.
2 Align the computer’s infrared lens with the printer’s infrared lens.
Position the computer up to 3 feet (1 meter) from the printer and within a 30-degree total angle from the printer’s infrared lens.
The path between the two infrared devices must be clear of
Note:
obstacles.
When the two infrared devices are lined up correctly, the infrared light on the printer will begin to blink. This indicates that a connection has been established between the two devices.
3 Send a file to print following the normal printing procedures. See
“How to Print” on page 6.
The infrared light on the printer displays a solid beam during the transfer process. When finished printing, the light will begin to blink again.
If the Infrared Monitor is displayed, the Status tab indicates the progress of the infrared activity as the printer receives and prints the file.
If the laptop or notebook is moved out of range of the
Note:
printer’s infrared lens at any time during the printing process, the infrared light will turn off and the printer may stop printing. If you realign the devices within approximately 3–30 seconds (depending on the laptop or notebook), the print job will resume.
Displaying the Infrared Icon on the Taskbar
The Infrared icon on the taskbar typically appears after your computer is configured for infrared. If the icon is not displayed on your taskbar, you can quickly turn it on.
1 Click Start Settings Control Panel.
The Control Panel window is displayed.
2 Double-click the Infrared icon.
The Infrared Monitor dialog box is displayed.
25
Printing Basics: Infrared (Ir) Printing
3 Click the Preferences tab.
4 Click to select Display the Infrared Monitor icon on the
taskbar.
5 Click OK.

Printing using a Palm Pilot

1 Locate the infrared lens on the Palm Pilot.
This is typically found on the top edge of the Palm Pilot.
2 Align the Palm Pilot’s infrared lens with the printer’s infrared lens.
Position the Palm Pilot up to 3 feet (1 meter) from the printer and within a 30-degree total angle from the printer’s infrared lens.
The path between the two infrared devices must be clear of
Note:
obstacles.
3 Do one of the following:
• Use the Beam command to send a single calendar appointment, or one or more business cards, to-do list items, or memos to the printer.
• Use the Print command to send one or more items (such as calendar appointments, e-mail messages, phone lists, or to-do lists) to the printer.
Note:
program. A printing program can greatly enhance the appearance of your printed information. When printing, follow the specific procedures of the program.
Printing (rather than beaming) requires a printing
26
Printing Basics: Infrared (Ir) Printing
The infrared light on the printer displays a solid beam during the transfer process. When finished printing, the light will turn off.
If the Palm Pilot is moved out of range of the printer’s
Note:
infrared lens at any time during the printing process, the infrared light will turn off and the printer may stop printing. If you realign the devices within approximately 3–30 seconds (depending on the device), the print job will resume.

Printing using an HP PhotoSmart Digital Camera

1 Locate the infrared lens on the digital camera.
This is typically found on the front of the camera.
2 Align the camera’s infrared lens with the printer’s infrared lens.
Position the camera up to 3 feet (1 meter) from the printer and within a 30-degree total angle from the printer’s infrared lens.
Note:
obstacles.
The path between the two infrared devices must be clear of
3 Send a photo to print following the normal sending or sharing
procedures of the camera.
The infrared light on the printer displays a solid beam during the transfer process. When finished printing, the light will turn off.
If the digital camera is moved out of range of the printer’s
Note:
infrared lens at any time during the printing process, the infrared light will turn off and the printer may stop printing. If you realign the devices within approximately 3–30 seconds (depending on the device), the print job will resume.
27
Printing Basics: Infrared (Ir) Printing

Printing using a Windows CE Device

1 Locate the infrared lens on the Windows CE device.
This is typically found on one of the sides of the device.
2 Align the infrared lens of the Windows CE device with the
printer’s infrared lens. Position the Windows CE device up to 3 feet (1 meter) from the printer and within a 30-degree total angle from the printer’s infrared lens.
Note:
obstacles.
3 In the program from which to print, click File Print.
4 In the Printer box, choose either PCL Inkjet or JetSend (if
installed).
Note:
of your printed information. For information on JetSend, go to the following web site: http://www.jetsend.com.
The path between the two infrared devices must be clear of
The JetSend program can greatly enhance the appearance
5 In the Port box, choose IRDA.
6 Click OK.
The infrared light on the printer displays a solid beam during the transfer process. When finished printing, the light will turn off.
Note:
printer’s infrared lens at any time during the printing process, the infrared light will turn off and the printer may stop printing. If you realign the devices within approximately 3–30 seconds (depending on the device), the print job will resume.
If the Windows CE device is moved out of range of the
28
Printer Maintenance Tips
Printing Basics: Printer Maintenance Tips
Because the printer ejects ink onto the paper in a fine mist, ink smudges will eventually appear on the printer case. To remove smudges, stains, and/or dried ink from the exterior of the printer, use a soft cloth moistened with water.
When cleaning your printer, keep these tips in mind:
Do not clean the interior of the printer. Keep all fluids away from
the interior.
Do not use household cleaners or detergent. In the event that a
household cleaner or detergent is used on the printer, wipe the printer’s exterior surfaces with a soft cloth moistened with water.
Do not lubricate the print cartridge support rod. Noise is normal
when the print cartridge cradles slide back and forth.
For information on cleaning print cartridges and the print cartridge cradle, see page 46.
Caution
For maximum performance and reliability, the printer should be handled and stored in an upright, level position.
Do not tip your printer after heavy usage. If the printer is tipped soon after heavy printing, it is possible for excess ink to spill. Clean up spilled ink using the methods previously listed in this section.
29

Beyond the Basics

Getting the Right Paper

Most plain photocopy paper works fine in your printer, particularly paper that is marked for use in inkjet printers. To get the best results, use one of the Hewlett-Packard papers, which were developed especially for HP inks and your printer.
Brightness. Some papers are whiter than others and produce
sharper, more vibrant colors. For photographs, you’ll want to use HP Premium Plus Photo Paper or HP Premium Photo Paper for the best results. For projects that use other colored images, HP Bright White Inkjet or HP Premium Inkjet paper work well.
For a complete list of available HP media, see “Paper and Other Media” on page 89.
For information on supported paper weights and sizes, see “Media Weight” and “Media Size” on page 82.

Printing on Different Types of Paper and Media

Your printer is designed to encompass so many different types of print media that you’re practically set up as a small print shop. This chapter explains how to use the different printing materials.
When asked to open the HP Printer Properties dialog box, refer to the appropriate section for your operating system in this guide:
• Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT 4.0 users— see “How to Print in Windows 95, 98, 2000 and NT 4.0” on page 7.
• Windows 3.1x users—see “How to Print in Windows 3.1x” on page 11.
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