How to Perform Basic Printer Troubleshooting
There are several ways to troubleshoot printers. You can consult the manufacturer’s Website or user manual for assistance or take the device to a certified repair shop. Sometimes, you can perform diagnostic tests using a computer not connected to the printer. You can also use diagnostic software provided by the manufacturer to identify the problem.
Common printer problems
There are many common printer problems that you may encounter, but fortunately, most of them can be fixed quickly and easily. Some of the most common of these issues involve paper misalignment. If you suspect misalignment, check the user manual or contact a professional to look at the issue. Misaligned or broken rollers can also cause printer problems. Replacing these parts will help you resolve the issue. Other common printer problems may occur when you upgrade the operating system.
While printers are much more advanced than the ones made in the nineties and early 2000s, they are still not perfect devices. Common printer problems, including slow or unreliable printing, paper jams, and low-quality prints, can make printing impossible. To help you fix the most common problems, Internet-ink has compiled a list of the ten most common problems and their solutions.
Common problems to troubleshoot
Several different things can cause a printer’s problem. Sometimes it is a simple misconfiguration of the printer. You should contact your IT specialist for help if this is the case. Other times, it could be a software issue. While these issues are more complicated, you can try to fix them issue yourself by checking your printer’s software and drivers. If that doesn’t work, try disconnecting the printer from the computer and reinstalling it.
Other problems with printers include power failure and paper jams. Ensure the power button is working and the printer is plugged into a working power outlet. If this doesn’t work, you will most likely face a hardware issue.
Fixing a paper jam
Paper jams can occur for several reasons. If you are using the wrong paper size or haven’t installed the correct paper size, your printer may be unable to process the paper. This may require the assistance of an expert repairman to diagnose the problem. In rare cases, you may need to replace some parts or perform routine maintenance.
First, turn off your printer. Doing this will avoid any electrical shocks. Then, you’ll need to remove the jammed paper. Usually, the paper will slide out in a few pieces, but if the paper is pleated in an accordion shape, you may need to cut it into smaller pieces. Be sure not to leave any of the paper stuck inside the printer as it may cause another jam when you try to turn it back on.
Restarting the print spooler
To start the print spooler, open the services dialog box and click services.msc. Once you’ve done this, go to the services tab and change the start type to Automatic. This will ensure that the spooler starts automatically and is ready to receive incoming printing jobs.
Sometimes corrupted printer drivers cause the print spooler to fail. In such a situation, you can try uninstalling the printer, updating the software, or creating a new user account. These solutions will fix and allow you to restart the print spooler service.
A more advanced solution is to reset the spooler’s data using the spooler’s registry keys. Although it is a bit more complicated, this method has been known to fix the issue. The first step is to open the services window and uncheck the box that says, “Allow this service to interact with desktop.”
Resetting the printer’s ink counter
If your printer has stopped working after using up all the ink in a single cartridge, you need to reset the waste ink counter. This can be done by using a tool designed to reset the ink counter of your particular printer model. However, you should note that these tools do not reset the waste ink counter to zero but reverse it by a small percentage. These tools are not for self-service, and you should take the advice of a service engineer before you try this.
First, make sure that the printer is turned on. Once the printer is on, you should click the “maintenance” group and the “Waste ink pad counter” button. Then, click the “Check” button to check the current value of the protection counter. You can also click the Initialization button to reset the counter’s initial value.
