Why does my HP printer keep malfunctioning?

What happens is, I'll go to print a word document. About half of the time, the document says "error-printing". Sometimes, deleting it will remove it from the printer menu; at other times, it perpetually says it is deleting. The only way to remove it is by shutting the computer down and unplugging the printer (all the lights will be flashing on the printer). If I don't remove it, I can't print, because it takes priority over anything new I try to print.

I have 100% ruled out a physical problem with the printer, or an issue with the computer. I have two questions, essentially:

1.) Can I prevent this from happening?
2.) If not, is there a way I can delete the document without shutting the computer down?

Here is a picture of the printer menu when the document won't delete.


It's an HP deskjet.

Hi,

The solutions in the following document address the issue of print jobs getting stuck in the print queue: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02205477&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&lc=en&product=57835#N4827

Hope this helps.