In this post learn hoe to troubleshoot laser printer problems. Personal laser printers combine the economy and print quality of their more expensive enterprise counterparts with the price of an inkjet. Personal lasers lack an IT department to keep them running, however. Here's how to solve problems that may plague your laser printer.
The Windows Printing Troubleshooter wizard focuses on basic problems, but it's well worth trying. In Windows XP, choose Start, Help and Support, type list of troubleshooters in the Search box, and press Enter. Click list of troubleshooters in the left pane, select the Printing troubleshooter from the list on the right, and follow the steps. In Windows 2000, click Start, Help, and choose Troubleshooting and Maintenance on the Contents tab. Select Windows 2000 troubleshooters, click Print in the list of troubleshooter wizards in the right pane, and follow the steps. To open the wizard in Windows Me, click Start, Help, type troubleshooter in the Search box, and click Go. In Windows 98, select Start, Help, Contents, Troubleshooting, Windows 98 Troubleshooters, Print, and follow the wizard.
Check the basics: If your printer is plugged in but doesn't power up, look at the fuse or circuit breaker on the surge suppressor that your printer is plugged into. Reseat both ends of the USB or parallel cable that connects your printer to the PC. Many laser printers have an online/offline control on the front panel that may have been bumped inadvertently.
Print a test page: Most printers can run a self-test if you hold down one or more buttons on the control panel while the unit powers up. If the test page looks good, then the problem lies with your data cable, PC, or software. If the printout doesn't look right, see the chart below for a list of common problems and solutions.
Get the latest: Install the newest driver and firmware for your printer. Both should be available from the maker's Web site. To install a new driver in Windows XP, select Start, Printers and Faxes and choose Add a Printer under Printer Tasks on the Explorer bar in the 'Printers and Faxes' window. In Windows 2000, Me, and 98, remove the printer's driver and reinstall it: Select Start, Settings, Printers to open the Printers window. Right-click the printer, select Delete (choose Yes if you're asked to verify the removal), open the Printers window again if it closed, double-click Add Printer, and complete the reinstall.
Stop jam sessions: Always remove any jammed paper by pulling it in its normal direction of motion through the printer. If your printer chronically jams, unplug it, let it cool down, remove its toner cartridge, and examine the interior for any debris that may impede paper movement.
Check your connections: If your printer uses a USB connection, open Device Manager and look for a red X or an exclamation mark in a yellow circle next to any of the USB device listings: In Windows XP, 2000, and Me, click Start, right-click My Computer, and select Properties, Hardware, Device Manager. In Windows 98, right-click My Computer and choose Properties, Device Manager. These icons can signify a problem with your printer's link to your PC. If your printer stops working when your system comes out of hibernate or suspend mode, double-click each root hub listed under USB, select Power Management, and uncheck 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'. If you're using a USB hub, see whether connecting the printer directly to the USB port on the PC solves the problem.
Printer drivers are not responsible for publishing a print queue to Directory Services. The Microsoft Windows 2000 and later print folder creates a print queue object (by calling the spooler's SetPrinter function) during the process of installing the printer.
Print queue properties are published so that a user can search for printers with particular properties by using the Search option on the task bar's Start menu. The print folder publishes some, but not all, of the printer capabilities that are available to it from DriverCapabilities. Only capabilities that are considered useful for browsing purposes are published.
Printer drivers can add or modify a print queue object's property information. The print queue properties that can be published are identified by SPLDS_-prefixed constants, defined in winspool.h. To add or modify printer properties, your driver must use these predefined property name identifiers.
To add or modify a print queue object's property information, carry out the following steps:
1. Add property names and values to the registry, under the SPLDS_DRIVER_KEY, by calling the spooler's SetPrinterDataEx function.
2. Call the spooler's SetPrinter function, with an input structure of PRINTER_INFO_7 (described in the Windows SDK documentation) and an action of DSPRINT_UPDATE, to inform the spooler that it should update the published print queue object. (Drivers should not specify an action of DSPRINT_PUBLISH.)
These steps should be implemented within the printer driver's DrvPrinterEvent function, when the function receives a PRINTER_EVENT_INITIALIZE event.
If a driver must obtain the current values for a printer's published properties, it should call GetPrinterDataEx or EnumPrinterDataEx to obtain the information from the registry, which is spooler-maintained and always up to date. An alternative way is to call GetPrinter to obtain the print queue's object identifier and then to call ADSI functions to obtain the values of the published properties. This technique is not recommended, both because it is more resource intensive and because returned data might not always be current.
Print queue properties are published so that a user can search for printers with particular properties by using the Search option on the task bar's Start menu. The print folder publishes some, but not all, of the printer capabilities that are available to it from DriverCapabilities. Only capabilities that are considered useful for browsing purposes are published.
Printer drivers can add or modify a print queue object's property information. The print queue properties that can be published are identified by SPLDS_-prefixed constants, defined in winspool.h. To add or modify printer properties, your driver must use these predefined property name identifiers.
To add or modify a print queue object's property information, carry out the following steps:
1. Add property names and values to the registry, under the SPLDS_DRIVER_KEY, by calling the spooler's SetPrinterDataEx function.
2. Call the spooler's SetPrinter function, with an input structure of PRINTER_INFO_7 (described in the Windows SDK documentation) and an action of DSPRINT_UPDATE, to inform the spooler that it should update the published print queue object. (Drivers should not specify an action of DSPRINT_PUBLISH.)
These steps should be implemented within the printer driver's DrvPrinterEvent function, when the function receives a PRINTER_EVENT_INITIALIZE event.
If a driver must obtain the current values for a printer's published properties, it should call GetPrinterDataEx or EnumPrinterDataEx to obtain the information from the registry, which is spooler-maintained and always up to date. An alternative way is to call GetPrinter to obtain the print queue's object identifier and then to call ADSI functions to obtain the values of the published properties. This technique is not recommended, both because it is more resource intensive and because returned data might not always be current.
Laser Printer Repair Service & troubleshooting Center for Laser Printer Services, Printer Cartridges, Refurbished Printers and driver. We service and stock parts for Printers, Plotters, Copiers, and Fax Machines. We service and repair HP Printers (Hewlett Packard), Xerox, Lexmark, Epson, and more.
Call Us Toll Free : 1 800 237 3901
iYogi is Laser Printer Repair provides corporations, small businesses and individuals with certified on site, in home, and carry in printer repair services and upgraded printer parts. Our qualified technicians provide services that include printer repair, printer cleanings, original printer repair maintenance kits, fax & officejet repair, large format printer repair and factory printer warranty support.
Call Us Toll Free : 1 800 237 3901
iYogi is Laser Printer Repair provides corporations, small businesses and individuals with certified on site, in home, and carry in printer repair services and upgraded printer parts. Our qualified technicians provide services that include printer repair, printer cleanings, original printer repair maintenance kits, fax & officejet repair, large format printer repair and factory printer warranty support.
If you're getting a Ink cartridge error
If this is a new cartridge, open the front cover and remove all cartridges. Be sure the protective film has been removed from the cartridge prior to printer installation. Inspect the contacts on the new cartridge for damage. Replace the cartridges in the correct place, close the front cover and power the printer down and then up again.
Printer Cannot Be Installed
If you're trying to install a printer and it will not install, be sure to check the Device Manager in the Control Panel for any Unknown Devices. Your printer will be come an Unknown Device if you plug the cable in before installing the driver software. Remove the Unknown Device and then unplug the USB cable. Next, install the software that came with the printer, and when finished, plug the USB cable back in.
Printer Streaks
If your printer is producing a streaked image, you will need to clean the printer heads. To do this, go to Printers in the Control Panel, then right click your Printer then select Properties. A menu with the various settings will appear. You need to select Clean Printer Cartridges. The printer will run in cleaning mode.
Printer Does Not Print Jobs
When you click Print and nothing happens, you may be sending jobs to a printer that is not connected to your computer. For example, if another printer was previously installed, and you install a new printer, the old printer might still be setup as the Default Printer. Go into the Control Panel, then Printers and make sure the new printer is set to Default.
Printer Jams Frequently
If your printer jams frequently, you may be loading too much paper. This can also occur if you've had jams in the past and have a piece of debris still stuck in the printer. Use a flashlight to examine the entire mechanism to ensure no paper is still inside. This can also happen if an internal gear is damaged. You will often notice one side being fed faster than the other. This could me the printer is physically damaged and needs to be replaced or repaired.
Back To Printer Support
If this is a new cartridge, open the front cover and remove all cartridges. Be sure the protective film has been removed from the cartridge prior to printer installation. Inspect the contacts on the new cartridge for damage. Replace the cartridges in the correct place, close the front cover and power the printer down and then up again.
Printer Cannot Be Installed
If you're trying to install a printer and it will not install, be sure to check the Device Manager in the Control Panel for any Unknown Devices. Your printer will be come an Unknown Device if you plug the cable in before installing the driver software. Remove the Unknown Device and then unplug the USB cable. Next, install the software that came with the printer, and when finished, plug the USB cable back in.
Printer Streaks
If your printer is producing a streaked image, you will need to clean the printer heads. To do this, go to Printers in the Control Panel, then right click your Printer then select Properties. A menu with the various settings will appear. You need to select Clean Printer Cartridges. The printer will run in cleaning mode.
Printer Does Not Print Jobs
When you click Print and nothing happens, you may be sending jobs to a printer that is not connected to your computer. For example, if another printer was previously installed, and you install a new printer, the old printer might still be setup as the Default Printer. Go into the Control Panel, then Printers and make sure the new printer is set to Default.
Printer Jams Frequently
If your printer jams frequently, you may be loading too much paper. This can also occur if you've had jams in the past and have a piece of debris still stuck in the printer. Use a flashlight to examine the entire mechanism to ensure no paper is still inside. This can also happen if an internal gear is damaged. You will often notice one side being fed faster than the other. This could me the printer is physically damaged and needs to be replaced or repaired.
Back To Printer Support
Operation could not be completed. The print spooler service is not running.This error occurs because the Spooler service has not been started or has stopped working.This post provide printer support to start the spooler services.
To Start Spooler Services follow the step
1. Click Start , and then click Control Panel .
2. Double-click Administrative Tools , and then click Services .
3. Double-click the Printer Spooler service, and then change the startup type to Automatic . This sets the Spooler service to start automatically when you restart the computer.
4. If you want to start the spooler service immediately, click the Start button under the Service Status field.
For More About this problems go to Print Spooler Service Problem
To Start Spooler Services follow the step
1. Click Start , and then click Control Panel .
2. Double-click Administrative Tools , and then click Services .
3. Double-click the Printer Spooler service, and then change the startup type to Automatic . This sets the Spooler service to start automatically when you restart the computer.
4. If you want to start the spooler service immediately, click the Start button under the Service Status field.
For More About this problems go to Print Spooler Service Problem
For your Hewlett Packard laser printer to run efficiently, you may have to install printer driver. Drivers link the computer and the printer through a common language. Follow these steps to download drivers for an HP laser printer.
Step1Make sure your printer is on before beginning. Log on to the Hewlett-Packard Web site (see Resources below).
Step2Search for “downloading printer drivers” on the HP site. Look through the results, and select the one that corresponds to your printer and computer
Step3Download the program that is appropriate. After the download is complete, install the application.
Step4Use the Installation Wizard or install the new driver manually using the “Settings” and “Printers and Other Hardware” settings
Step1Make sure your printer is on before beginning. Log on to the Hewlett-Packard Web site (see Resources below).
Step2Search for “downloading printer drivers” on the HP site. Look through the results, and select the one that corresponds to your printer and computer
Step3Download the program that is appropriate. After the download is complete, install the application.
Step4Use the Installation Wizard or install the new driver manually using the “Settings” and “Printers and Other Hardware” settings
In this post you get further information about Postscript printer support and how to Windows NT supports PostScript printers that uses industry-standard PostScript Printer Description (PPD) files. Windows NT installs PPD files using PRINTER.INF. This post provides detailed instructions on how to modify PRINTER.INF so that you can install PPD files obtained from print device manufacturers.
Follow the steps to install PPD files from print device manufacturers:
1. Obtain the OEMSETUP.INF from the DDK in the
\WINNT.NT\WINNT351.DDK\DDK\SRC\SETUP\INF\PRINTER directory.
Rename the file to PRINTER.INF.
-or-
Obtain PPDInst.exe from the Microsoft Download Center. http://download.microsoft.com/download/winnt351/driver/11/n351/en-us/ppdinst.exe
2. Create a file called DISK1. The content does not matter. The Setup procedure only checks to make sure it exists. If you perform the installation on a non-Intel (x86) computer, name the file CDROM.W.
3. Copy DISK1 (or CDROM.W), the PRINTER.INF file and your PPD file to a floppy disk or a sub-directory on your hard disk.
4. Copy PSCRIPT.DLL, PSCRPTUI.DLL and PSCRIPT.HLP from an existing Windows NT installation to the floppy disk or the sub-directory on the hard disk. If you install support for Intel-based (x86) computers, look for these files in the following directory:
%SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\W32X86\1
5. The PRINTER.INF file installs support for one particular printer: the HP LaserJet IIISi. To install support for your printer, do the following:
1. Change each reference of RASDD to PSCRIPT and RASDDUI to PSCRPTUI.
2. Modify the following section using a text editor, such as Notepad:
[Files-PrinterData]
hppcl5ms = 1,hppcl5ms.dll , SIZE=999
Change the file name (for example: HPPCL5MS.DLL) to match the name of the PPD file of your printer. HPPCL5MS is an identifier and it does not require any change for your new PPD file name.
3. If you change the identifier, you must also change it in the [Options] section below:
[Options]
"HP LaserJet IIISi" = rasddui, hppcl5ms, rasdd
Change HP LaserJet IIISi to match the name of your printer. To determine the name, open the PPD file for your printer using a text editor and search for the NickName. If you have changed the identifier above, then you must change it in the following section:
[OptionsTextENG]
"HP LaserJet IIISi" = "OEM HP LaserJet IIISi"
6. In the [ProductType] section, make sure that STF_PLATFORM is correctly set for your computer, as follows:
STF_PLATFORM = x
where x is Mips, I386, Alpha or PPC (PowerPC).
7. If you are not installing the PPD file on an Intel-based computer, change the following line in the [Source Media Descriptions] section from DISK1 to CDROM.W:
1 = "OEM Disk (PRINTER)" , TAGFILE = disk1
8. Start Windows NT Print Manager. From the Printer menu, select Create Printer.
9. Enter the printer name and select a port.
10. For Driver, select Other. Enter the drive and path of the printer driver disk (the same directory on step 3 above).
11. In the Select Driver dialog box, select the driver and click OK.
12. In the Windows NT Setup dialog box, enter the drive and path of the printer driver disk (the same directory on step 3 above) and click Continue.
NOTE: If you supply the Windows NT CD-ROM path instead of supplying the driver disk path, the Setup program will successfully copy the PostScript files, and then prompt for the directory where the PPD file is located. At this point, the path cannot be changed back to the disk directory and will only accept the CD-ROM path.
Follow the steps to install PPD files from print device manufacturers:
1. Obtain the OEMSETUP.INF from the DDK in the
\WINNT.NT\WINNT351.DDK\DDK\SRC\SETUP\INF\PRINTER directory.
Rename the file to PRINTER.INF.
-or-
Obtain PPDInst.exe from the Microsoft Download Center. http://download.microsoft.com/download/winnt351/driver/11/n351/en-us/ppdinst.exe
2. Create a file called DISK1. The content does not matter. The Setup procedure only checks to make sure it exists. If you perform the installation on a non-Intel (x86) computer, name the file CDROM.W.
3. Copy DISK1 (or CDROM.W), the PRINTER.INF file and your PPD file to a floppy disk or a sub-directory on your hard disk.
4. Copy PSCRIPT.DLL, PSCRPTUI.DLL and PSCRIPT.HLP from an existing Windows NT installation to the floppy disk or the sub-directory on the hard disk. If you install support for Intel-based (x86) computers, look for these files in the following directory:
%SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\W32X86\1
5. The PRINTER.INF file installs support for one particular printer: the HP LaserJet IIISi. To install support for your printer, do the following:
1. Change each reference of RASDD to PSCRIPT and RASDDUI to PSCRPTUI.
2. Modify the following section using a text editor, such as Notepad:
[Files-PrinterData]
hppcl5ms = 1,hppcl5ms.dll , SIZE=999
Change the file name (for example: HPPCL5MS.DLL) to match the name of the PPD file of your printer. HPPCL5MS is an identifier and it does not require any change for your new PPD file name.
3. If you change the identifier, you must also change it in the [Options] section below:
[Options]
"HP LaserJet IIISi" = rasddui, hppcl5ms, rasdd
Change HP LaserJet IIISi to match the name of your printer. To determine the name, open the PPD file for your printer using a text editor and search for the NickName. If you have changed the identifier above, then you must change it in the following section:
[OptionsTextENG]
"HP LaserJet IIISi" = "OEM HP LaserJet IIISi"
6. In the [ProductType] section, make sure that STF_PLATFORM is correctly set for your computer, as follows:
STF_PLATFORM = x
where x is Mips, I386, Alpha or PPC (PowerPC).
7. If you are not installing the PPD file on an Intel-based computer, change the following line in the [Source Media Descriptions] section from DISK1 to CDROM.W:
1 = "OEM Disk (PRINTER)" , TAGFILE = disk1
8. Start Windows NT Print Manager. From the Printer menu, select Create Printer.
9. Enter the printer name and select a port.
10. For Driver, select Other. Enter the drive and path of the printer driver disk (the same directory on step 3 above).
11. In the Select Driver dialog box, select the driver and click OK.
12. In the Windows NT Setup dialog box, enter the drive and path of the printer driver disk (the same directory on step 3 above) and click Continue.
NOTE: If you supply the Windows NT CD-ROM path instead of supplying the driver disk path, the Setup program will successfully copy the PostScript files, and then prompt for the directory where the PPD file is located. At this point, the path cannot be changed back to the disk directory and will only accept the CD-ROM path.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)