Printers Flashcards
A user reports that a printer is leaving streaks on printed pages. The paper type and the toner have been replaced.
Which of the following should the technician check NEXT to resolve the issue?
a. System board
b. Paper tray
c. Memory
d. Fuser
D. Fuser
Correct Answer:
Fuser: The fuser heats and bonds toner to the paper. If it’s malfunctioning, it can cause streaks or smudges on printed pages. Issues like damaged fuser rollers, incorrect temperature settings, or debris buildup often lead to such problems.
Incorrect Options:
A. System Board: The system board (motherboard) is less likely to cause streaks, as it manages overall printer functions, not the final printing process handled by the fuser.
B. Paper Tray: While misalignment can lead to feeding problems, it doesn’t typically cause streaks if the paper is fed correctly.
C. Memory: Printer memory issues may lead to errors or incomplete jobs but are unlikely to affect the print quality, as streaks are usually due to mechanical components like the fuser.
A printer technician receives a support request for a laser printer that sometimes cuts off the bottom of the print job. During troubleshooting, the technician notices that affected jobs are set for 8.5in x 14in (216mm x 356mm) paper and only print from a particular paper tray. Which of the following actions should the technician perform NEXT?
A. Verify that the printing trays are correctly set
B. Swap printer trays until the print jobs complete as expected
C. Replace the tray rollers to ensure proper paper alignment
D. Reset the default to use 8.5in x 11in (216mm x 279mm) paper
A. Verify that the printing trays are correctly set
Explanation: Since the issue occurs only with print jobs set for 8.5in x 14in paper from a particular paper tray, it’s essential to verify that the printing trays are correctly configured. Incorrect tray settings may lead to misalignment or improper paper handling, resulting in the bottom of the print job being cut off. By ensuring that the printing trays are correctly set, the technician can eliminate tray configuration issues as a potential cause of the problem.
Incorrect Answers:
B. Swap trays: May not solve the problem.
C. Replace rollers: Unlikely cause, not immediate.
D. Reset default paper size: Temporary fix, not root cause.
A technician is troubleshooting an issue involving lines appearing down copied pages, but printed pages sent directly to the copier render as intended.
Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?
A. Empty imager drum
B. Overheaded system fuser
C. Scratched scanner glass
D. Third-party toner
C. Scratched scanner glass
If copied pages show lines or streaks, but printed ones don’t, the scanner glass may be dirty or scratched, affecting only the scanned (copied) pages.
Incorrect choices:
A. Empty imager drum: This would affect both printed and copied pages, so it’s unlikely the cause.
B. Overheated system fuser: This would also impact both printed and copied pages, ruling it out.
D. Third-party toner: Issues with toner would affect both printed and copied pages, not just copies.
Every time a user sends a print job, the user must walk over to the printer and press OK before the job will print. The same issue is occurring for multiple users.
Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?
A. The wrong network printer queue is being used.
B. The network printer is on the wrong VLAN.
C. The default paper type has been changed.
D. The print server has outdated print drivers.
C. The default paper type has been changed.
Printers have sensors to detect paper type, and a mismatch between the default type and loaded paper prompts the printer to wait for confirmation before printing.
Here’s why the other options are less relevant:
Wrong network printer queue: Choosing the wrong queue may prevent printing but doesn’t require user interaction for confirmation at the printer.
Wrong VLAN: This may cause connectivity issues but won’t cause jobs to pause for paper type confirmation.
Outdated print drivers: These can cause print failures or quality issues but don’t result in jobs being held for paper type confirmation.
A technician is replacing a ribbon on a printer that produces faded text and images when printing.
Which of the following types of printers is the technician working on?
A. Impact
B. Inkjet
C. Laser
D. Thermal
A. Impact
Impact printers, like dot matrix printers, use a ribbon and striking mechanism to print. When the ribbon wears out, it causes faded or incomplete prints. Thus, a technician replacing a ribbon due to faded output is likely working with an impact printer.
Here’s why the other options don’t apply:
Inkjet: Uses ink cartridges, not ribbons. Faded prints usually mean low ink or clogged print heads.
Laser: Uses toner and a drum, not ribbons. Faded output here often indicates low toner or drum issues.
Thermal: Uses heat-sensitive paper, not ribbons. Faded prints usually stem from the thermal print head or poor-quality paper.
A user that works in sales is reporting that the output on each page printed from a laser printer has duplicate images.
Which of the following should be performed FIRST to eliminate the ghost images?
A. Change the paper weight setting.
B. Replace the printer’s fuser.
C. Upgrade the printer firmware.
D. Clean the toner drums and rollers.
D. Clean the toner drums and rollers.
Ghost images on printed pages are typically caused by residual toner on the imaging drums or rollers. Cleaning these components should be the first step to eliminate ghost images, as it removes excess toner buildup that affects print quality.
Here’s why the other options are incorrect:
A. Change the paper weight setting: While adjusting the paper weight setting can address issues like paper jams or wrinkling, it is unlikely to resolve ghost images on printed pages.
B. Replace the printer’s fuser: The fuser melts and bonds toner to paper, and while a faulty fuser can cause issues like smudging, it is not usually responsible for ghost images. Thus, replacing it shouldn’t be the initial troubleshooting step.
C. Upgrade the printer firmware: Firmware upgrades can improve performance and fix bugs, but they are unlikely to directly resolve ghost image issues. Upgrading firmware is better suited for general maintenance rather than specific print quality problems.
A technician installed new firmware on the company’s laser printers and has since been receiving multiple calls that information is garbled and looks like code. Only printers with the new firmware are having this issue.
Which of the following steps should the technician complete NEXT?
A. Change the language settings on the printers.
B. Reboot all the machines having the issues.
C. Reboot all the printers.
D. Install an updated printer driver on the print server.
D. Install an updated printer driver on the print server.
If only printers with the new firmware are producing garbled and code-like output, it likely indicates a compatibility issue between the new firmware and the existing printer drivers. Installing an updated printer driver on the print server can resolve this issue by ensuring compatibility.
Now, let’s analyze the incorrect choices:
A. Change the language settings on the printers: This is unlikely to fix garbled output, as the problem is more related to compatibility between firmware and drivers.
B. Reboot all the machines having the issues: While rebooting might provide a temporary fix, it won’t resolve the underlying compatibility problem.
C. Reboot all the printers: This may offer a temporary solution, but if the issue is with firmware-driver compatibility, it won’t be permanent and could disrupt services for other users.
An end user contacted a technician about a laser printer that was no longer printing images on the left side of the page. The technician replaced the toner cartridge, but the issue has persisted.
Which of the following should the technician perform NEXT?
A. Replace the imaging drum
B. Realign the pickup rollers.
C. Clean the duplexing assembly.
D. Calibrate the printer
A. Replace the imaging drum
If replacing the toner cartridge didn’t resolve missing images on the left side, the next step is to replace the imaging drum, as it transfers toner to the paper. A worn drum can cause missing or distorted images.
Incorrect Options:
B. Realign the pickup rollers: This addresses paper feeding, not print quality issues.
C. Clean the duplexing assembly: Important for preventing jams but unrelated to missing images.
D. Calibrate the printer: Useful for color accuracy, but not for fixing one-sided image loss.
Which of the following cable types is the standard connector on printers?
A. DVI
B. eSATA
C. USB
D. Lightning
C. USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is the standard connector type for printers, offering broad compatibility for data transfer between printers and computers.
Incorrect Options:
A. DVI: Used mainly for video connections between computers and monitors, not for printers.
B. eSATA: Primarily connects external storage devices, not printers.
D. Lightning: Proprietary to Apple devices, such as iPhones and iPads, and not used for printers.
Documents are not printing out correctly from a laser printer at a conference. Some of the print is missing, and the pages come out unreadable.
Which of the following should a technician do to fix this issue?
A. Exchange the transfer roller.
B. Recalibrate the printer.
C. Clear the jam.
D. Replace the fuser assembly.
A. Exchange the transfer roller.
In a laser printer, the transfer roller transfers toner from the drum to the paper. If it’s worn or damaged, it can cause missing or unreadable printouts. Therefore, replacing the transfer roller is the appropriate action.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
B. Recalibrate the printer: This may improve print quality but won’t fix issues caused by a faulty transfer roller, as recalibration adjusts settings rather than mechanical components.
C. Clear the jam: Necessary for obstructions, but not relevant for missing or unreadable printouts linked to a transfer roller issue.
D. Replace the fuser assembly: This component fuses toner onto the paper and typically causes smudging rather than missing printouts. Replacing it wouldn’t directly address the problem described.
A department sends in a ticket to report a printer is not working. The responding technician sees paper stuck to the fuser, which is much hotter than normal. The fuser was just installed a few weeks ago, as indicated by the service history.
Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?
A. Disable the printer for repairs.
B. Install a printer roller kit.
C. Remove the paper and let the fuser cool down.
D. Replace the paper with thicker paper stock.
A. Disable the printer for repairs.
When the technician finds the fuser overheating and paper stuck to it, disabling the printer for repairs is essential. This action stops operations, prevents further damage, and allows a thorough inspection and repair to fix the issue.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
B. Install a printer roller kit: This may help if rollers are at fault, but the primary concern is overheating and paper stuck to the fuser.
C. Remove paper and let the fuser cool: Cooling down temporarily helps but doesn’t address the underlying cause, making repairs necessary.
D. Use thicker paper stock: This change won’t resolve overheating or paper sticking issues and doesn’t address the root problem.
The help desk received a ticket regarding issues with a laser printer. The printer has had repairs previously for scanning issues. Currently, the printed text is not adhering properly to the paper.
Which of the following should be replaced to resolve this issue?
A. Fuser
B. Waste container
C. Roller
D. Toner
A. Fuser
The fuser unit in a laser printer applies heat and pressure to fuse toner onto paper. If text isn’t adhering, there’s likely an issue with the fuser, possibly with the roller, heating element, or other components.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
B. Waste container: The waste container holds excess toner and wouldn’t cause text to not stick to the paper.
C. Roller: Rollers feed paper but don’t impact toner adhesion directly.
D. Toner: Low or poor-quality toner affects print quality but not adhesion if the fuser is working properly.
A user sends a print job to a network printer, and the print job uses double the amount of paper as expected.
Which of the following should the user configure to get the expected result?
A. Duplex
B. Collate
C. Landscape
D. Transparency
A. Duplex
Duplex printing allows a printer to print on both sides of the paper automatically. If a print job uses twice the expected amount of paper, duplex printing may be enabled when it shouldn’t be. Disabling duplex printing will ensure only one side is printed, using the expected amount of paper.
Why other options aren’t correct:
B. Collate: Organizes printed copies in order but doesn’t affect paper usage.
C. Landscape: Changes print orientation but doesn’t influence paper usage.
D. Transparency: Refers to printing on transparent sheets and is unrelated to paper usage in regular print jobs.
A technician installs a new printer for a workstation and tries to print a test page, but the page does not print. The technician looks at the print queue and notices that the printer is called “Generic Printer”.
Which of the following BEST describes what the technician should do to fix this issue?
A. Connect the printer with a USB cable rather than over the network.
B. Install the appropriate printer drivers for the OS.
C. Install the correct toner in the printer.
D. Set the printer trays to allow duplex printing.
B. Install the appropriate printer drivers for the OS.
The issue of the printer being identified as a “Generic Printer” in the print queue indicates that the correct printer drivers have not been installed. Without the correct drivers, the printer cannot communicate effectively with the workstation, causing print jobs to fail.
Here’s why the other options aren’t the best solutions:
A. Connect the printer with a USB cable: This changes the connection method but doesn’t solve the missing drivers issue.
C. Install the correct toner: Toner installation is important for print quality, but it doesn’t address the issue of missing drivers.
D. Set the printer trays to allow duplex printing: This only affects printing on both sides and doesn’t fix the driver problem.
A user reports that printed receipts have black smudges over the entire image. The text is still present but is very dark and sometimes illegible.
Which of the following are the MOST likely cause and solution for the printer issue?
A. The ribbon is jammed and is rubbing on the paper. Clear the bad ribbon and feed it through properly.
B. The printhead is too hot. Adjust the temperature down and retry printing.
C. The printer is loaded with the wrong type of paper. Replace the receipt paper with carbon paper.
D. The blue ink cartridge was loaded with black ink. Put in the correct ink and clean the printhead.
B. The printhead is too hot. Adjust the temperature down and retry printing.
In thermal printers, the printhead heats specific parts of the thermal paper to create images or text. If the printhead temperature is set too high, it can cause excess heat transfer, resulting in smudges and dark, unclear prints. Lowering the printhead temperature can prevent excessive heat, producing more legible and cleaner prints.
Why the Other Choices Are Less Likely Causes:
A. Ribbon Jam: Thermal printers don’t use ribbons; this issue applies to dot matrix or ribbon-based printers.
C. Wrong Paper Type: The wrong paper could reduce print quality but wouldn’t typically cause smudging. Carbon paper isn’t compatible with thermal printers.
D. Incorrect Ink Cartridge: Thermal printers don’t use ink cartridges; this option doesn’t apply to thermal printing issues.
