Why isn't the printer working and what should I do?

The printing device, like most complex technical units, can fail for a number of different reasons. These reasons are associated with improper connection or operation of the printer, its technical problems or wear of important mechanisms. Some malfunctions can be eliminated on their own, but there are malfunctions that require qualified specialist assistance.

It often happens that the printing device does not work due to its wrong connection - to a network or computer.

It will not be superfluous to check the fact Is the printer start button enabled? - if the switch is done correctly, the indicator lamps of the printing device will light up.

In cases where everything is in order with turning on the printer, you need to check whether the computer recognizes this printing device. For this, special software must be installed in the computer programs. When you purchase a device for printing, it usually comes with a disc with the installation drivers recorded on it. If you do not have a disk, drivers can be downloaded in the open source on the website of the manufacturer of the printing device.

Before connecting the printing device, you need to download and install drivers, for this you need to go to the "Start" menu, use the "Add Printer Wizard" and go to the "Control Panel". Next, look for the "Printers and other equipment" tab and go to the "Add a printer" option. The computer will independently determine the model of your printing device and select the necessary drivers for it, if you specify the data necessary for this, following the step-by-step instructions of the installation program.

Another variant of the manifestation of the incorrect operation of the printing device may be that printing is paused or postponed. This situation can be corrected by going to the Start menu and entering the Printers and Faxes panel. Next, find your printer and right-click on the printer icon. See what the entry looks like in the menu window that opens in front of you. If printing is paused, you will see "Resume printing" - activate this inscription by pressing the left mouse button. If printing has been postponed, then the line "Use the printer in online mode" must be activated.

The reason that the printer does not want to print may be because the machine has run out of toner (ink). Even after an update or restart, the printer prints blank pages or reports that there is a problem with the cartridge. Sometimes, in the absence of toner, the printer may completely refuse to take sheets from the print tray, as if it were turned off. The user should check the level of filling of the cartridge from time to time and replace it in a timely manner.

In inkjet printers, the amount of ink can be checked using the "Devices and Printers" option, and in laser systems, the fact that a cartridge is running out of powder can be judged by the print quality - it becomes paler every time, and in some areas it may even be completely be gaps in the form of white stripes.

This method of "resuscitation" will not last long, then the cartridge will have to be replaced or refilled.

Another reason why printing on the printer is not possible is there are no blank sheets of paper in the tray. Typically, the printing device reports this by displaying a special message on the monitor. It is the responsibility of the user to monitor the availability of paper and replenish the printer tray in a timely manner. The second cause of paper is jammed inside the printer. To unlock the printing device, you need to open its cover, remove the cartridge and release the paper by gently pulling the jammed sheet towards you. Such situations may arise when if the user reuses paper that has already been used. Such savings lead to failure not only of the cartridge, but also of the printer itself.

If the printer is ready to print and initializes without any obvious interference, a print quality problem may occur due to certain technical failures in the operation of the printing device. In the event of a technical malfunction in most cartridges, a red indicator on the control display is on, and even if the start button is turned off and on again, the printer will not restart in this case, its operation will not be restored. Technical failure manifests itself in different ways, but the bottom line is that the printing device does not fulfill its function.

Technical breakdowns associated with the cartridge include the following:

• if the printer has not been used for a long time, then ink drops in the inkjet cartridge dry up in the print head and block it;
• when installing a cartridge in the printer, the user may forget to remove the protective membrane located near each nozzle of the ink container;
• the ink supply cable may be pinched or damaged;
• a cartridge of non-original design was installed in the printer;
• the cartridge has a technical problem or is out of ink.

After cleaning the nozzles and carrying out a test print, as a rule, the operation of the inkjet printer is restored again.

Technical problems can also occur with laser models of the printer, when the device does not feed paper for printing. The problem may be that the printing device has the paper pick-up roller is worn out, the shaft gears are worn out, the solenoid is out of order. You are unlikely to succeed in replacing the paper pick-up roller yourself, so it is better to entrust this work to professionals. The same applies to replacing solenoids.

Occasionally, the product may print blank pages even if the cartridge is working properly. The cause of the breakdown may be lack of contact between the cartridge and the printer due to the wear of the shaft sleeve, which serves to transfer the image to print. If, however, the printer has a faulty power board, the device may start printing black sheets. As for laser printers, black sheets come out of the device when it has the image scanner itself is broken or the contacts and integrity of the loop are broken.

A fairly common cause of damage to a printing device is the failure of a control board called a formatter. This can happen due to a manufacturing defect of the board or its mechanical damage due to inaccurate use of the printing device. The printing device may stop turning on, in which case the cause of the breakdown should be looked for inside the control unit, which will have to be repaired or replaced. Other technical problems that interfere with the printing process can be:

• malfunctions of the contacts of the print head or its design itself;
• there were malfunctions in the system of motors, encoders or pumps;
• there was a breakdown of the service unit or switching control;
• the reducer is out of order.

It is not recommended to try to fix complex technical faults on your own at home without having certain knowledge and skills. If the printing device needs serious repair or replacement of important units and blocks, these services can be provided with better quality in a specialized workshop.

In the next video, you will learn what you can do if the printer does not print.