12-29Lesson 5 Troubleshooting Common Printing Problems
Lesson 5: Troubleshooting Common Printing Problems
In this lesson, you will learn about some common printing problems and how to trou-
bleshoot them. This chapter also shows you to how to troubleshoot printer and docu-
ment problems by using the built-in Printing Troubleshooter, which was introduced in
Chapter 11.
After this lesson, you will be able to■
Examine a printing problem and know the appropriate troubleshooting questions to ask.
■
Identify and solve common printing problems.
■
Solve printing problems using the Printing Troubleshooter in Windows XP Professional.
Estimated lesson time: 10 minutes
ESTIMATED LESSON TIME: 10 MINUTES
Guidelines for Examining a Printing Problem
When you detect a printing problem, always verify that the printer is plugged in,
turned on, and connected to the print server. For a network interface printer, verify that
there is a network connection between the printer and the print server.
To determine the cause of a problem, first try printing from a different program to ver-
ify that the problem is with the printer, not with the program. If the problem is with the
printer, ask the following questions:
■
Can other users print normally? If so, the problem is most likely caused by insuf-
ficient permissions, no network connection, or client computer problems.
■
Does the print server use the correct printer driver for the printer? If not, you
should install the appropriate printer driver.
■
Is the print server operational, and is there enough disk space for spooling?
■
Does the client computer have the correct printer driver?
Solutions to Common Printing Problems
There are some printing problems that are common to most network printing environ-
ments. Table 12-6 describes some of these common printing problems, as well as some
possible causes and solutions.
Table 12-6
Common Printing Problems, Causes, and Solutions
Problem Possible Cause Solution
The user does not have
A user receives an Access
Change the user’s permission
or configure the printer for
the appropriate permission
Denied message when trying
to configure a printer from an
to change printer
the user.
configurations.
application (for example,
from earlier versions of
Microsoft Excel).
Install the correct printer
The document does not print
The printer driver is incorrect
driver.
(if it is the first time you have
completely or comes out gar-
used the printer since installa-
bled.
tion or updating the driver).
Cancel the print job, reset the
A user has changed the
printer, and resubmit the print
printer configuration or
placed the printer into a
job.
separate mode.
Pages print only partially. The printer is out of ink or
Replace the ink or toner car-
toner, or the print server is
tridge. Check the memory on
low on memory. If specific
the print server. Change the
font in a document or adjust
parts of a page do not print
and those parts are the same
the margins of the document.
each time you print, the
printer may not be able to
print a particular font, or the
margins of the document may
be outside the printable
range.
There is insufficient hard disk
The hard disk starts working
Create more free space on the
space for spooling.
hard disk, or move the print
too hard, the document does
spool folder to a different
not reach the print server, or
printing is very slow.
partition.
Consider disabling EMF
There is a problem printing
EMF format can occasionally
spooling on the Advanced tab
cause problems with printing,
graphics.
especially with the printing
of the printer’s Properties dia-
of graphics.
log box by clearing the
Enable Advanced Printing
Features check box.
