PrinterHelp

Poor print quality

August 19, 2007 – 5:35 pm
This means that the paper feeds and printing action occurs, but the print is bad or even blank. Possible causes: Ink or toner tank empty Print head partly blocked. Print head electrically defective. Fault on print carriage loom (service fault) logic board damaged (service fault). Any combination of the above. If you think you have an electrically defective print head, be aware that it IS possible for the print head and logic board to engage in mutual damage, (A blows B and then B blows A') - a situation that can cause grief if the owner tries to solve the problem cheaply by buying a new print head! The safe option is to take the printer for service and let a technician sort it out. If you suspect that the print head could be partly blocked, you can check this out by getting the printer to perform a test pattern. Most printers can do this, either from the printer ...

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User-solvable faults

August 19, 2007 – 5:31 pm
User-solvable fault: Out of paper, out of ink, cover not shut, off-line, print head not fitted properly, object dropped inside printer. Printer looks OK but not printing: Offline, not cabled to the PC, PC-related problem: wrong printer selected, software problem, wrong or no printer driver. With USB printers, be aware that (with some manufacturers, e.g. Canon) they all have unique identities, so that you always have to select which actual printer (not what model) you are trying to print to.

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Printer not responding

August 19, 2007 – 5:29 pm
Printer alive but not doing anything useful: Is there a display on the printer that is trying to tell you something? LCD displays can display a text message. If there is a little light flashing, it quite likely is not flashing at random, it\'s a code that will convey some meaning if you count the flashes. Is there a message on the computer screen that is trying to tell you something? You may have to open the printer\'s Properties (in Windows that\'s Start, Printers and Faxes, (right-click on the relevant icon), Properties, Maintenance, Status Monitor, (or something similar) You need to resolve the fault into: user-solvable fault: Service fault:

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Printer dead

August 19, 2007 – 5:27 pm
Printer completely dead: Check that power is reaching it, i.e. check your mains wiring, the power lead, etc. Did you switch it on? Has it powered itself off after a set time? (yes, they can do that!) Really dead: It could be the printer's power supply module has failed. Did you buy it in the USA and try to use it in the UK? You can't do that unless the printer is designed to work on a 240 volt supply (the US uses 100 volts). The printer could have some other internal fault that causes it to be inert. In all cases you have to take it to a service centre (or buy another printer).

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