5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers

Question 1

Testing the printer

Answer 1

• Print or scan a test page
  – Built into Windows, not the application
• Use diagnostic tools
  – Web-based utilities built into the printer
  – Vendor specific
  – Generic utilities

Question 2

Bad output

Answer 2

• Lines down the printed page
  – Inkjet: Clean print heads
  – Laser: Check for scratched photosensitive drum
• Faded prints, blank pages - Low toner or ink
• Double/echo images or speckling
  – Laser printer optical drum not cleaned properly
  – Ghost or “shadow” from previous drum rotation

Question 3

Garbled print

Answer 3

• Bad printer driver / wrong model
  – Incorrect page description language
  (PCL or PostScript?)
• Verify the printer functionality
  – Check with a test page
• Bad application
  – Check the output
  – Upgrade the application

Question 4

Toner not sticking to the paper

Answer 4

• Laser printer output smudges everywhere
  – Toner sticks to everything
• Toner not fused to the paper
  – Toner should be permanently melted and pressed
  – May not be hot
• Fuser problem - Replace the fuser assembly

Question 5

Incorrect paper size

Answer 5

• Print a letter size page
  – Accidentally send it to a legal size paper tray
• Printer stops and shows a message
  – Gives you a chance to fix the issue
• Tray selection is provided during the printing process
  – Try printing again
  – Change the defaults in the printer configuration

Question 6

Paper jam

Answer 6

Careful when removing
– Don’t rip the paper
– Don’t damage internal components

• Paper not feeding or misfeeds multiple pages
  – Check the tray
  – Pickup rollers are part of a laser printer maintenance kit
• Creased paper
  – Problems in the paper path
  – Check the paper weight

Question 7

Multiple prints pending in queue

Answer 7

• Corrupted print jobs
  – Print spooler will crash
  – Most spooler configuration will automatically restart
• Problems are logged
  – Windows Event Viewer,Windows-PrintService
• One job may be causing the issue
  – Monitor the queue for details

Question 8

Incorrect color settings

Answer 8

• The output colors aren’t the same as the display
  – Important for publishing and color printing
• Calibrate the monitor
  – A third-party calibration tool will help
• Check the paper
  – Bright white paper provides good color representation
• Calibrate the printer
  – The proper amount of ink and toner

Question 9

Grinding noises

Answer 9

• Never a good sound from your printer
  – The ink is already manufactured
• Something is not operating properly
  – Paper jam - Carriage is stalled or jammed
• Each printer has a different process
  – Check the manuals for removing paper jams
  – Some inkjet printers have a particular process
• May require additional maintenance
  – Or replace the printer

Question 10

Finishing issues

Answer 10

• Finishing happens after the ink or
  toner has been applied
  – Collate, binding, etc.
• Staple jams
  – Larger printers will collate and staple groups of papers
  – Each printer manufacturer has a different removal
  process
• Incorrect hole punch location
  – Verify with the printer driver
  – May require a driver update

Question 11

Incorrect page orientation

Answer 11

• Print a portrait page - Get a landscape print
• Check the settings when printing
  – Controlled by the print driver
  – May require a driver update
• The printer also has a default setting
  – Check the settings on the printer console