CompTIA A+ 220-1201 (5.6 - Troubleshooting Printers)

Testing the printer

• 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

Bad output

• 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

Garbled print

• 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

Paper jam

• 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

Multiple prints pending in queue

• 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

Grinding noises

• 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

Finishing issues

• 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 manufacturer has a different removal process

• Incorrect hole punch location

- Verify with the printer driver

- May require a driver update

Incorrect page orientation

• 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

Tray not recognized

• Office printers often have multiple paper trays

- Plain letter, plain legal, letterhead, paper colors, etc.

• The size of the printed page needs to match the size of the paper in the tray

- You can't print a 14" legal page to an 11" letter page

• The definition of the paper tray is part of the driver configuration

- Compare the user's configuration with the installed printer trays

Connectivity issues

• The printer is a network device

- Follows the same rules as any other device

• Confirm the connection type

- Wired, wireless, etc.

• Verify IP address configurations

- IP, subnet mask, default gateway, DNS, etc.

• Check the print server - May be part of the printer

Normal Windows Printer Test Page

A "ghosting" Windows Printer Test Page from a

laser printer with a faulty cleaning subsystem

Windows Printer Test Page from a laser printer

with a scratched photosensitive drum

Printer Test Page printed with the incorrect page

description language or incorrect driver