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HP DeskJet 1280 Manual — Setup, Troubleshooting & Print Quality Guide

The HP DeskJet 1280 is a wide-format color inkjet printer capable of printing up to 13x19 inch media, delivering up to 14 ppm in black and 11 ppm in color. This page covers setup guidance, print quality troubleshooting, cartridge maintenance, and full specifications sourced directly from the official HP DeskJet 1280 manual.

USB Connectivity Color Inkjet Print Speed: 14 ppm Black
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Product Setup

1

Connect the Power Cord

Plug the power cord firmly into the back of the HP DeskJet 1280 and into a working wall outlet. Press the Power button on the front panel to turn the printer on. The Power light should illuminate steadily to confirm the printer is receiving power.

2

Secure the Rear Panel

Locate the removable panel at the back of the printer and push it firmly into its slot. Turn the knob to the lock position — the printer will not function until this knob is fully locked. Confirm the panel is flush and secure before proceeding.

3

Install the Print Cartridges

Open the printer access cover and insert the black (HP 51645 Series) and color (HP C6578 Series) print cartridges into their respective cradles. Press each cartridge down firmly until it snaps into place, then close the access cover. The Print Cartridge light should stop flashing once both cartridges are correctly installed.

4

Connect via USB and Install Software

Connect the USB cable between the HP DeskJet 1280 and your computer when prompted during software installation from the Starter CD. Windows will detect the printer and launch the Found New Hardware wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver installation, then print a test page to verify setup.

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Pro-Tip: Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or the ink nozzles. Touching these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections.

WiFi Connection Guide

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USB Direct Connection

The HP DeskJet 1280 connects to your computer using a standard USB cable, compatible with Windows 98 and USB-enabled Macintosh systems. Connect the cable only when prompted during software installation to ensure correct driver setup. Do not connect both a parallel cable and USB cable simultaneously — use only one connection type at a time.

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Shared Network Printing (Parallel/LPT)

The HP DeskJet 1280 supports shared network printing via a parallel (LPT) port connection using an IEEE-1284 parallel cable, which also enables bidirectional communication for improved performance. Ensure the printer is connected directly to the parallel port and not shared with other devices such as a Zip drive. For network troubleshooting, use the HP Toolbox to print a demo page and verify connectivity.

Troubleshooting FAQ

Printer Is Not Responding or Nothing Printsexpand_more
Check that the power cord is firmly connected and the Power light is on. Verify the rear panel knob is in the lock position, as the printer will not function otherwise. Confirm the USB or parallel cable is securely connected, and that the HP DeskJet 1280 is set as the default printer in your system settings. Try pressing the Resume button — if the Resume light blinks, release it to print a sample page and isolate whether the issue is with the printer or the computer.
Paper Jam or Paper Feed Problemsexpand_more
To clear a jam, open the access cover and gently pull the jammed paper toward you. If unreachable, turn the rear panel knob and remove the panel to extract the paper, then replace and lock the panel. Avoid loading more than 150 sheets (19 mm stack) in the main tray, and load only one sheet at a time in the manual feed tray. Ensure paper width and length adjusters fit snugly against the edges of the paper stack, and avoid using curled, wrinkled, or perforated paper.
Poor Print Quality — Faded, Smearing, or Colors Bleedingexpand_more
Faded output is often caused by low ink or a Fast quality setting — switch to Normal or Best in the printer driver for richer results. If colors are bleeding into each other, verify the correct paper type is selected in the driver and avoid using refilled cartridges, which HP does not support and can damage the printing system. For smearing, allow more drying time after printing, especially on transparencies, or increase the dry time setting in the printer driver. Clean the print cartridges using the HP Toolbox if quality continues to deteriorate.
Printer Lights Blinking — Understanding the Indicatorsexpand_more
A blinking Power light during printing is normal. If the Power light is on and the Resume light blinks, the printer may be out of paper, waiting for a page to dry, or experiencing a paper size mismatch — reload paper and press Resume. If the Print Cartridge light blinks, a cartridge may be missing, incorrectly installed, or incompatible — check that you are using an HP 51645 Series black and HP C6578 Series color cartridge. If both Power and Resume lights blink together, the print cartridge carriage may be blocked — turn off the printer, open the top cover, remove any obstructions or jammed paper, and restart.
Text or Graphics Cut Off at Page Edgesexpand_more
Ensure the document margin settings do not exceed the printable area of the HP DeskJet 1280, and verify that the correct page orientation (portrait or landscape) is selected in both the application and printer driver. Use the print preview feature in your software to check layout before printing. If content is consistently clipped, confirm that the paper loaded in the tray matches the paper size selected in the driver, and that the paper guides are snug against the stack edges.
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Important Safety Instructions

  • Regularly clean the print cartridges using the HP Toolbox (Printer Services tab) whenever print quality noticeably decreases, lines appear broken, or colors seem shifted.
  • Check ink levels frequently via the HP DeskJet 1280 Toolbox — go to Start > Programs > HP Deskjet 1280 > HP Deskjet 1280 Toolbox — and replace the black (HP 51645 Series) or color (HP C6578 Series) cartridge before it runs fully dry to avoid print head damage.
  • Remove the protective tape from the ink nozzles of any new print cartridge before installation, and always snap cartridges firmly into place to ensure proper electrical contact.
  • Keep the paper path clear of debris and avoid loading damaged, curled, or heavily textured paper to prevent jams and roller wear — do not exceed 150 sheets (19 mm stack height) in the main tray.

Replacement Ink Cartridges

The HP DeskJet 1280 printer uses genuine HP 65 / HP 65XL ink cartridges. Select your cartridge below to purchase replacement cartridges on Amazon:

shopping_cart Buy HP 65 on Amazon shopping_cart Buy HP 65XL on Amazon

Technical Specifications

Feature Specification
ModelHP DeskJet 1280
Print Speed — Black (Letter)Up to 14 ppm (Fast), 7.9 ppm (Normal), 6 ppm (Tabloid)
Print Speed — Color (Letter)Up to 11 ppm (Fast), 5.4 ppm (Normal), 4 ppm (Tabloid)
Black Print Resolution300 x 600 dpi (Fast mode)
ConnectivityUSB (Windows 98 and USB-enabled Macintosh), IEEE-1284 Parallel (LPT)
Compatible CartridgesHP 51645 Series (Black), HP C6578 Series (Color)
Max Paper Tray Capacity150 sheets (19 mm stack height) or 15 envelopes in main tray; 1 sheet in manual feed tray
Weight10 kg (22 lb)
Related ModelsHP DeskJet 1200, HP DeskJet 1220c
Operating Systems SupportedWindows 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, XP; USB-enabled Macintosh