printed pages have streaks or lines of missing color, especially after not using it for a week or two.

Diagnosis

The appearance of horizontal streaks or missing bands of color on the HP DeskJet 2855e is caused by partial or complete obstructions in the microscopic nozzles of the printhead. Because this specific model utilizes integrated printhead cartridges (where the nozzles are built directly into the ink tank), the ink is exposed to air every time the carriage moves. When the printer sits idle for 7 to 14 days, the ink at the very tip of these nozzles dehydrates and hardens into a crystalline plug, preventing liquid ink from flowing onto the paper. You can confirm this is a nozzle clog by performing a "Print Quality Diagnostic Page." If the resulting pattern shows gaps in the cyan, magenta, or yellow blocks, or if the black block has white horizontal lines, the issue is mechanical blockage rather than a software or driver error. If the streaks are perfectly vertical and consistent across every page, it may be a physical scratch on the printhead surface, but horizontal gaps almost always indicate dried ink residues.

How to Fix It

To resolve these streaks, you must force a high-pressure purge of the nozzles using the internal maintenance system. Follow these exact steps:

1. Load a stack of plain white A4 or Letter paper into the input tray. Ensure the paper guides are snug against the edges to prevent skewed printing, which can cause uneven ink distribution.
2. On the printer's control panel, press the Information (i) button once to wake the device and activate the status lights.
3. Since the 2855e has a limited physical interface, the most reliable way to trigger a deep clean is via the HP Smart App on your connected smartphone or PC. Open the app, select your DeskJet 2855e, and navigate to Printer Settings & Tools.
4. Select Print Quality Tools and then click Clean Printhead. The printer will feed a page and print several blocks of color.
5. Examine the page. If the colors are still streaky, repeat the "Clean Printhead" process a second time. This model often requires a "Level 2" clean (running the cycle twice) to fully dissolve stubborn ink plugs.
6. Once the colors appear solid, run a final Align Printhead command from the same menu to ensure the nozzles are firing straight and not overlapping.

If That Didn't Work

• Manual Nozzle Hydration: Remove the problematic cartridge (Black or Tri-color). Dampen a lint-free microfiber cloth or a coffee filter with distilled water (not tap water). Gently press the gold-colored printhead nozzles on the bottom of the cartridge onto the damp cloth for 30 seconds. Do not scrub; simply hold it there to "wick" the dried ink out. Reinsert and test.
• Hard Reset Power Cycle: With the printer turned on, pull the power cord directly from the back of the machine. Wait 60 seconds. Plug it back in. This forces the carriage to re-initialize and can sometimes clear electronic glitches that cause "stuttering" ink delivery.
• Cartridge Replacement: Because the printhead is integrated into the cartridge (HP 67 ink series), the printhead cannot be replaced separately. If a manual soak and two software cleans fail, the nozzle is permanently scorched or clogged. Replacing the specific cartridge (e.g., the Tri-color cartridge) provides a brand new printhead, which instantly solves the streaking issue.
• Check Vent Holes: Inspect the top of the ink cartridge. Ensure the orange plastic pull-tab was removed completely and that the small vent hole is not blocked by adhesive residue. If air cannot enter the tank, a vacuum forms, and ink will not flow, causing streaks.

Heads Up

• The 2-Week Rule: To prevent this from recurring, print at least one full-color page every 7 to 10 days. This keeps the ink "wet" and prevents the nozzles from crystallizing.
• Avoid Generic Ink: Third-party ink refills often have different viscosities and drying times than genuine HP 67 ink, which can lead to more frequent clogs and streaks on the 2855e.
• Paper Quality: Using high-gloss photo paper for standard documents can cause ink to pool or smear. Ensure you select the correct paper type in the HP Smart App to adjust the ink volume.
• Storage: If you plan to leave the printer unused for a month, keep it in a cool, humid environment. Extreme heat or dry air accelerates the evaporation of ink from the nozzles.