Printer is not working
What do you do if your printer will not print? Here are some common troubleshooting tips to help get it working again:
Check the print queue
If too many documents are lined up in the print queue, it can stall and will not print. Clear the queue by doing the following: Click on Start – Control Panel – Printers. Double click on the printer you are trying to print to. A box will pop up that displays the print queue. If there are any jobs listed in this box, right click on each one and choose to cancel the print job. Do this until there is nothing left in the box.
Check all connections and cables
Make sure that the USB cable is securely attached to both the back of the computer and the back of the printer. Don’t laugh – the cable comes loose all the time and can cause this problem.
Restart the computer and printer
Restart your computer and turn the printer on and off. This often clears the memory and can help the problem.
Check for printer error messages
Does your printer have any blinking lights on it or does the display screen tell you anything? If the printer is low on toner, the incorrect toner was installed, if the paper is low, etc. are all issues that can prevent the printer from printing.
Reinstall the printer
If all else fails, you might need to uninstall and reinstall the printer driver. To do this, first go to Control Panel, then to Uninstall a Program. Search the installed programs list for your printer, then uninstall anything you find associated with that printer. Restart your computer and unplug the printer from the computer. You will now need to reinstall your printer driver. You can either do this from the CD that came with the printer, or you can go online to the manufacturer’s website and download the driver. Make sure to download the correct driver for the operating system you are using. Install and run the new driver, and follow the prompts that appear on the screen. Only plug the printer back in when prompted to. Once the driver has successfully installed you should be able to print again.