1.MOST COMMON PRINTER PROBLEMS - Printer doesn't Print
a.Check that the printer is turned on.
b.Check that printer on-line button is lit.
c.Check that printer cable is connected to both the printer and the computer.
d.Check that paper is properly setup in the printer.
e.Try printing a printer self test without the computer. There may be a problem with the cartridge.
f.Check that computer is setup with the correct printer driver software.
g.Check that the printer parallel port is correctly setup in CMOS. Parallel port setting options could include ECP or EPP mode.
h.Check that Windows recognizes a printer port in Control Panel / System / Device Manager / Ports.
i.The printer could require a bi-directional printer cable.
j.Try a print a TEST PRINT page in Windows.
k.Make sure the tape wrapped on a new inkjet cartridge from drying out is removed and the cartridge is properly installed.
l.Try running the printer cartridge cleaning utility. Run the cleaning utility three times in a row before attempting to test print.

2.Printer prints garbled text.
1.Run a printer self test to verify that the problem is between the computer and printer.
2.Make sure the correct printer driver is installed.
3.If printer isn't listed under Windows, refer to manual for other printer drivers that may work.
4.Try different drivers as suggested by the printer manual.
5.Reinstall the printer driver.
6.Try a different printer cable.
7.Try a bi-directional printer cable.
8.Check the printer connection port.
9.If printer selects font cartridges, make sure the proper cartridge is selected when choosing printer options.

3.Print quality is not good.
1.Try printing at a higher resolution. To change resolution:
Select CONTROL PANEL / PRINTERS.
Click on the TYPE OF PRINTER icon being used with the computer.
Select FILE / PROPERTIES.
Select GRAPHICS.
Click the DOWN ARROW near RESOLUTION.
Select a new resolution option.
2.Try a higher quality paper.
3.Run the printer print cleaning utility.
4.Run the printer cleaning utility at least 3 times consecutively before reprinting the document.

4.Print is not clear.
1.Try printing on other side of paper.
2.Adjust paper thickness lever.
3.Print head may need cleaning. Run printer-cleaning utility 3 times consecutively prior to testing again.
4.Using correct cartridge and not a re-filled cassette.

5.Printer seems to print slow.
1.Is the printing process slow prior to the information being sent to the printer or after the information is received by the printer? If the answer is prior to the printer, the bottleneck may be with the computer. Check system configuration, may need more memory or free drive space.
2.Print in DRAFT mode instead of LETTER QUALITY mode.
3.Try printing at a lower resolution (360 dpi instead of 720 dpi).
Select CONTROL PANEL / PRINTERS.
Click on the TYPE OF PRINTER icon being used with the computer.
Select FILE / PROPERTIES.
Select GRAPHICS.
Click the DOWN ARROW near RESOLUTION.
Select a new resolution option.
4.Try printing a different font.
5.Try adjusting the memory manager in Windows / Printer Setup.
6.Check the printer setup in CMOS.
7.Try a bi-directional printer cable.
8.Add memory to a laser printer or computer memory for an inkjet printer.

6.Printer prints too slow in DOS.
1.If printer has a smoothing mode, disable it.
2.If printer has a high quality mode, change to low quality.

7.The printer appears to be printing, but nothing appears on the paper.
1.The print cartridge may be clogged. Clean the print cartridge.
2.Remove the cartridge from the printer and check that all paper is removed from where the ink exits from the cartridge.
3.Run a printer self-test to see if the problem is with the printer or the computer / printer setup.
4.Try a different cartridge.

8.Printer dialog box does not have any printers listed.
1.Verify that the printer INF file exists. Check for file PTRUPD.INF file in the Windows\Inf directory.
2.File copy error may have occurred during printer installation. Retry the printer installation.

9.Printer model not listed in Windows Setup when installing.
1.Select HAVE DISK during the printer installation when selecting the type of printer. Then insert the manufacturer's diskette and click O.K. If diskettes are missing:
2.Check printer manual to see what alternative printer drivers can be used. Setup an alternative driver.
3.Contact printer manufacturer for an updated printer driver or download driver from the manufacturer's website on the Internet.
4.Try setting up in Windows as a GENERIC / TEXT PRINTER, however this setting will not permit the printer to print different font styles or sizes.

10.Error message "INSUFFICIENT MEMORY" when trying to print a document on the Internet".
1.A laser printer may need more memory.
2.An inkjet printer may need more computer RAM memory.
3.Windows can be adjusted to print with less memory. To adjust the handling of print jobs:
Select PRINTERS from CONTROL PANEL.
Click on the default printer.
Select PROPERTIES from the PRINTER menu.
Select DEVICE OPTIONS.
Move the slider towards AGGRESSIVE.
4. Try to print the document again.

11.Computer stalls while printing.
1.Restart the computer in the SAFE mode and retry printing.
2.Check the printer memory setup if available. Adjust for more memory.

12.Computer indicates a device time-out.
1.Computer sends data to printer but printer does not respond.
2.Check that printer is not turned off or off-line.
3.Check that paper is fed properly and cable is on both ends correctly.
4.Adjust time out timing in Windows printer setup.

13.Error Message: "Printer is not responding".
1.Check if problem with printer like jammed paper.
2.Make sure printer is on-line. On-line button is lit.
3.Check the cable connections.
4.Printing high-end graphics, printer may be taking too long. Increase the retry setting time.

14.Page prints but is formatted incorrectly.
1.Check printer manual or software READ.ME files for information specific to the printer.
2.Verify correct software page settings:
Number of lines per page
Top of Form
Margins
Adjust these as necessary.
3.Check if printer has hardware switches to set page length. Set them correctly.
4.Try to print the same file twice to make sure problem is consistent. May be port problem.

15.Printer fails to feed paper correctly.
1.Make sure paper is placed correctly.
2.Fan paper before placing in printer.
3.Check paper path to make sure nothing is blocking it.
4.Verify that paper roller (mechanism that advances paper) is moving properly.
5.Check the software setup in the following options:
Adjust Page Setup
Number of Lines Per Page
Top of Form Option

16.Last page of document is left in the printer.
1.Use the printer FORMFEED button to eject the paper.
2.Add another separator page to the end of the document in the word processing program.

17.Printer loses text.
1.Reinstall printer software drivers.
2.Try a different printer cable.
3.Try printing from a different program.
4.Check printer switch settings (if any).
5.Check the printer port.

18.Paintbrush graphics are too small.
1.Increase the SCALING FACTOR in Paintbrush program.

19.Printer prints different resolution than expected.
1.Check printer resolution under PRINTER SETUP in Windows.

20.Ink runs a little using an inkjet / bubblejet printer.
1.Don't touch the paper for 15 seconds after it's printed.
2.Try a higher-grade paper or fast drying paper.

21.Printer prints off the edge of page.
1.Paper may not be aligned correctly in printer.
2.Software settings may be incorrect.

22.Printout does not match the paper size.
1.Paper size selected under printing options may be incorrect.
2.Paper width selected under printing options may be incorrect.

23.Paper Jam.
1.Turn off the printer.
2.Gently remove the paper, moving the paper in the direction of least resistance.

24.Printer has repeated paper jams.
1.Try a different type of paper.
2.Make sure the paper selection lever is in the correct position.
3.Make sure to fan the paper.
4.The printer may need a roller adjustment by a service technician.

25.Printer prints in some programs, but not others.
1.If the printer is setup correctly in Windows, the printer should print in any Windows-based programs.
2.If the problem is printing from a DOS program, the printer may need to be setup to work in the DOS program.

26.The printer won't print the output sideways.
1.Check that the LANDSCAPE OPTIONS is turned on under PRINTING OPTIONS.

27.A print job keeps printing after cancelling the print job.
1.The printer has a buffer that stores information to be printed. Canceling the print job doesn’t clear the buffer, it still has to complete printing. To stop printing quicker, turn off the printer.

28.Cannot run a printer self-test.
1.Most inkjet printers run a self-test holding down either the LF or FF button while turning on the printer. Check the printer manual.
2.Most lasers print a self-test from a menu option.
3.Some printers require being setup with a computer in order to run a print test.

29.Ink does not dry fast enough when printing multiple pages from an inkjet / bubblejet printer.
1.Remove the pages one at a time as they finish printing.
2.Try fast drying paper.

30.Cannot print envelopes correctly.
1.Check for a lever that needs to be switched to the envelope position.
2.May need to adjust paper thickness lever.
3.Fan envelopes before placing through printer.
4.Make sure software is correctly setup to print envelopes.
5.Usually the top of the envelope goes in first.
6.The left side is aligned against the paper guide.

31.Splashed dots on paper.
1.Ink nozzles on print head may be clogged. Clean print head.
2.Paper thickness lever may not be set correctly.

32.Paper edge is soiled with ink.
1.The printer platen in the printer may be soiled with ink. Clean the platen and run sheets through printer.

33.Streaks or missing dots.
1.Ink head nozzle may be clogged or dusty. Run the PRINTER HEAD CLEANING utility at least 2-3 times consecutively prior to printing.
2.Cartridge may be incorrectly installed.
3.Select high quality mode.
4.Print head may be worn out.

34.Output appears jagged.
1.Printing resolution may be low quality.
2.Try a higher-grade paper.
3.Inkjet print will appear jagged on very small text.
4.Try a different font.

35.Blurred or smudged ink.
1.Select a different print mode.
2.Try a higher-grade paper.
3.Adjust paper thickness.
4.Try printing on other side of the paper.
5.Using correct cartridge.

36.Some colors do not print out on the printer self test.
1.Run the printer cleaning utility at least 2 times consecutively and re-try the print test.
2.Check that a black cartridge isn't installed in a single cartridge color printer.

37.Black text appears different when printing from the color cartridge on a single cartridge inkjet printer.
1.Don’t use the color cartridge to print black. The black from a color cartridge may look grayish. Use a black only cartridge.

38.Color cartridge wears out quickly and prints mostly black.
1.A single cartridge that prints both black and color will wears out as quickly as a cartridge that prints black only. Get a black only cartridge and use it when printing text only.

39.Printer prints black only (Printer is color capable).
1.The wrong printer driver may be selected.
2.The printer driver may not be selected for color output.
3.Check that the printer is not a single cartridge printer with a black ink cartridge installed.
4.The color cartridge may not be working properly. Run a printer self-test.

40.Colors are broken or uneven.
1.Run the printer cleaning utility.
2.The print mode may be incorrect. Try changing the printing setup in software.
3.See if the same problem occurs with different colors. May be a bad cartridge.

41.Colors print incorrectly.
1.Wrong print driver may be selected.
2.The software may not be setup for color print.
3.Check all options under the printer setup.

42.Colors in a line are uneven or different from previous lines.
1.Printer was taken off-line and then placed back on-line during printing.
2.The print mode does not match the data pattern. Change media type of paper.

43.Color images are missing some detail.
1.Change from media type plain paper to coated paper.
2.Run the print cleaning utility.

44.Cannot print in condensed mode.
1.Condensed mode could be controlled by the following options:
The font itself.
Windows Control Panel settings.
Condensed printing option from the printer.
Try each individually, making sure the other options are off.
2.If each individual option doesn't work, try two options together.

45.Printing is becoming lighter.
1.The printer cartridge or toner needs to be replaced.
2.If the cartridge is new, the print head may need to be cleaned.

46.Dots are missing in graphics or intermittent lines appear in printouts.
1.The print head nozzles may be clogged. Clean the print head.

47.The ejected paper is wrinkled.
1.Fan the paper before placing in the printer.
2.The paper may be too thin or damp.

48.Error light comes on and printer beeps.
1.Check for a paper jam.
2.Check that the paper is lined up correctly. Could be a paper sensor warning.
3.Check that the ink cartridge isn’t completely empty.
4.Check that the housing on the ink cartridge isn't damaged.