How you should troubleshoot printing problems depends on which printer model you are using. Your first port of call should always be the instructions that came with your printer, either in the manual or online at the manufacturer\’s website.

However, some manuals are better than others, and sometimes the manual will not be available, so here are some general guidelines you can follow.

1. Is it plugged in? This may sound like a stupid question, but you would be surprised at how many hours of helpdesk time are spent on problems as basic as that.

2. Is it switched on? Most printers have a light or lights to indicate whether they are on.

3. Is it connected to the computer? Is it connected using the correct kind of cable to the correct port? Is the cable working? If possible, a different (compatible!) cable to see whether that makes a difference.

4. Do you need new printer cartridges? Sometimes a display on your computer will tell you if this is the problem. If you are using a laser printer, try taking out the toner cartridge and shaking it gently from side-to-side to redistribute the toner.

5. Is there paper? Make sure that the paper is in the right place and that there enough of it.

6. Is there a paper jam? This is one of the most common problems. Try opening all the doors of the printer and looking carefully for paper: there shouldn\’t be any except in the feed trays or drawers.

Sometimes there will be more specific instructions for how to deal with paper jams printed on labels inside the printer, but if in doubt, carefully and gently try to pull the paper out. You can make the paper harder to remove, or even damage the printer itself if you pull too hard. Also pay attention to your own safety: some parts of the printer may be hot enough to burn you.

One specific kind of jam is caused by an address label that has come loose from its backing sheet. These can be particularly difficult to remove because they are sticky, and because they are so small, and may not therefore be visible. If this has happened, try feeding through a piece of cardboard the same size as the paper the printer normally takes. This may dislodge the label.

7. Try turning the printer off and then off again. This can work if the problem is due to the printer\’s memory being full, or another kind of fault with the printer software.

8. Does a test print work? Most printers have a built-in testing facility that you can initiate with a button on the printer. If the test print works correctly, the problem is likely to be with your computer or with the connection between the computer and the printer.

Good luck with sorting it out. If the steps above don\’t help you discover the problem with your printer, computer or printer cartridges, then try searching the internet for your printer\’s model and a description of the problem you\’re having. You may find that others have been there first and found the solution.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Cartridge World, the UK\’s leading specialist in printer cartridges, including toner cartridges and ink cartridges.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Cartridge World (http://www.cartridgeworld.co.uk), the UK\’s leading specialist in printer cartridges.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Cartridge World, the UK\’s leading specialist in printer cartridges, including toner cartridges and ink cartridges.

Category: Advice
Keywords: inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges, printer cartridges