How to Fix the Most Common Printer Problems

fix printer, Ophtek, Printer Security, printer vulnerability, Printers, ,
10
Nov 2020

Times may change, but the humble printer is still an important tool in business. But, as with all technology, printers can fail and need repairing.

Luckily, some of the most common printer problems can be fixed without the help of a technician. However, understanding how to fix these problems is crucial to your success. And humans don’t come pre-programmed with a list of printer malfunction solutions. But, thankfully, you can learn how to solve these printer problems relatively quickly.

All you have to do is take a quick look at our guide on how to fix the most common printer problems.

Fixing Your Printer

It’s always frustrating when you hit the print button and your printer does nothing. The accompanying red error light serves only to compound this frustration. But you don’t need to remain frustrated for long. Some of the simplest solutions can be found below:

  • Paper Jams: There’s nothing worse than the sound of paper scrunching up in a printer. It’s even worse when you’re trying to print something urgently. We’re all familiar with having to carefully remove sheets of jammed paper from printers, but you can do a lot to avoid it in the first place. Start by making sure that your paper tray is not overfilled, in fact, try to always under fill its capacity by 5 – 10%. It’s also vital that your stack of paper is carefully squared as it’s put into the tray, loose sheets can soon cause havoc. 
  • Slow Printing Speeds: A printer which churns out pages at the speed of a sloth is a cause for concern. But it’s a problem you should be able to fix quickly. If you’re printing wirelessly then try moving closer to your router. It’s also possible that your printer simply isn’t able to meet your productivity needs, especially if you’re working with an older printer. However, by printing in draft mode you will be able to speed up the printing process until you have a new printer. 
  • Streaks and Lines on Printouts: It’s irritating when you print out a document only to find that it’s covered in streaks and lines. You want your document to look its best and not like something printed in the 1970s. The most common reason for these defects is down to a blocked print head. Luckily, many modern printers have an in-built ‘head cleaner’ function which can quickly be activated. Just check your printer manual for the best advice on cleaning the head. 
  • Printer Not Connecting to WiFi: The magic of WiFi has meant that wireless printing has never been easier. But when your printer fails to connect it’s enough to make you scream. You don’t have to fret too much though. Firstly, make sure your printer is within range of your router. Secondly, try resetting your devices in order to bring them back online. And, finally, check that your printer drivers are fully up to date. This strategy gives you the best change of solving any connectivity issues.

Not every printer problem can be solved in-house, otherwise there would be no need for technicians. Nonetheless, the advice above should prove invaluable in fixing the most common printer problems.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

 

 

Read More

Microsoft Printers Patch Exposed as Vulnerable

Ophtek, patches, printer vulnerability, Security, Security Threats, Updates, upgrade, , , , , , ,
01
Sep 2020

The importance of installing updates and patches should never be underestimated. However, did you know that even these are not 100% secure?

Microsoft knows a thing or two about computers, but this doesn’t mean they are immune from mistakes and flaws. Accordingly, they regularly release patches and updates to address any vulnerabilities in their software.  A recent investigation, though, has discovered that these updates aren’t quite the safeguard consumers would expect. And, when you consider the amount of applications that Microsoft bundle with their systems, this is a matter of major concern.

Given the number of patches you are prompted to install each and every week, it’s important to understand what has happened on this occasion.

A Vulnerable Patch

The initial vulnerability in question relates to a flaw which was discovered in Windows printing services. Your first thought may be that printers are far from a security risk, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. If a device or application has any form of access to your network then it needs strong defenses. And this is why Microsoft was keen to patch a vulnerability which offered hackers a route into PC networks through print spooler software. This patch was issued in May and Microsoft believed this was the end of the story. But this story was due to run a little longer.

Researchers discovered that the impact of this initial patch could be negated by simply bypassing it. By modifying .SHD files (better known as Shadow), the researchers were able to add them into the spooler folder. This particular type of folder allows commands to be sent between a PC and a printer. Usually this is the preserve of printing documents, but the modified Shadow files allowed the researchers to send all manner of commands. It’s a scenario which had the potential to give hackers full access to a network.

How Can You Defend Against Weak Patches?

The vulnerability in question is no longer in present in systems which have since been updated, but it paints a worrying picture for PC users. If you are unable to rely on patches to give you full protection then what hope do you have?

First of all, you must, no matter what, always install all security patches. They are a crucial aspect of security and are all programmed with an objective of preventing an attack. This printer spooler fiasco demonstrates they are not perfect, but the majority are capable of fulfilling their aims. Nonetheless, being overcautious with IT security is always a good idea. Therefore, make sure you follow these simple steps:

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

Read More

What to do when your printer stops working

hardware, Office IT,
28
Jun 2015

The-Humanity-of-Printing

Do you know what to do when your printer stops working? If not, we’ll help you take out some of the guesswork with some basic troubleshooting tips.

Printers may be an understated piece of equipment. It almost becomes part of the office furniture, until it gets used for printing.  But what happens when the office printer stops working, what is one to do before they decide to call for help?  Firstly, remain calm. The good news is that we’ve pieced together a checklist for what to do when a printer stops working.

What to check before first

Just a preliminary note: It may sound obvious; however, most printers can actually display the problem on their LCD displays or give clues as to what the problem is. Make a note of any errors which may flash on this display too.

  • Restart the printer. Simply power off and then switch it back on. Sometimes all that is needed for a printer to work well again is a simple restart. This often does the trick, almost works like magic!
  • Clear the printer’s sprint queue. This is a common problem where one print job within the print queue jams up all other print jobs waiting for their turn to print in the queue. To clear the queue, simply head over to the printer’s setting from your computer’s Control Panel on Windows 7 or 8 by going to

Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound> Printers
Double click the printer that has the problem.
A print queue should be available, and from there you can delete and clear the print jobs to tell it to stop printing. Click Cancel to remove the print jobs.

Try to send a new print job to test its working fine.

  • Make sure your printer has enough supplies. By this we mean enough paper to feed through it and plenty of ink to use. Insufficient levels of these can make a printer unhappy, so be sure to not overlook this!

Paper Jams- a common problem

paper-jam

Printers are usually good at telling their users when there’s a paper jam. If there is one, it’s a good idea to check that paper isn’t stuck. Even the smallest piece of paper jammed in the printer’s rollers qualifies as a paper jam.

Sometimes a printer will complain about a phantom paper jam. In this case, it’s a matter of checking there’s enough paper in the paper tray and all trays or doors are closed shut.

Servicing your printer

The inside of a typical laser printer from Zinetic.

Diagram of the inside of a typical laser printer from Zinetic.

Laser jet printers need servicing from time to time, so it’s always a good idea to have it serviced. Once a certain amount of printing threshold has been reached, the printer may request a service to replace one of its components from wear and tear such as a print drum or paper roller, helping to further extend the printer’s life.

Check the warranty

It’s always a good idea to register your printer for its warranty as soon as it arrives in the office. You’ll want the least amount of trouble by having your warranty activated which will cover you for a faulty printer and have the problem fixed promptly by the vendor.

For more ways to troubleshoot your printers and computers, contact your local IT professionals.

Read More