How to Figure Out Why a Windows Printer Won't Print

Make sure your printer cable is securely connected between the PC and printer. The cable should be less than 10 feet (3 m) long.
Check for any bent pins on the printer cable. If you find any, straighten them with needle-nose pliers.
If you aren't sure about your cable, try swapping it with one from another printer. If the printer suddenly starts working, you know that your original cable is defective.
If you're replacing a parallel cable, be sure to get an IEEE 1284 (look at the packaging label or ask a salesperson). Older cables often won't work in newer printers, even though they might look like they should.



Check the Web site for your printer's manufacturer and download the latest version of the driver software for your printer.
Open the Printers folder through the Start, Settings menus.
Right-click on the icon for your printer.
Choose Delete.
Double-click on the Add Printer icon in the Printers folder.
Follow the Add Printer wizard directions to reinstall the driver software.



Open the Printers folder through the Start, Settings menus.
Right-click on the icon for your printer, then select Properties.
Verify that all of your printer's properties are configured as recommended by your printer's manufacturer. You can look up these guidelines in the documentation that came with your printer or, if you've misplaced it, on the manufacturer's Web site.



Right-click on My Computer and select Properties (in Windows 2000, you'll need to then click on the Hardware tab).
Go to Device Manager.
Double-click on Ports (COM and LPT).
Double-click on Printer Port (LPT1) and select the Resources tab.
Check the 'Conflicting device list' box for an interrupt request line (IRQ) conflict. No other device should be using the same IRQ as the printer port.
If you find a conflict, disable the offending device or assign it a new IRQ. To disable a device, find it in Device Manager, open its Properties dialog box, select the General tab and check 'Disable in this hardware profile.'



Windows must be off, so restart your computer to a DOS command prompt. In Windows 95, press F8 when you see the words 'Starting Windows 95' appear, then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
In Windows 98, restart your computer, press and hold down the Control key after your computer completes the Power-On Self- Test, then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
At the command prompt, type the word 'set,' then press Enter.
Write down the location (the DOS file path) of the TEMP variable.
Change your directory to the folder you noted in step 4. For example, if TEMP is set to C:WindowsTemp, you'll type 'cd windowstemp' and then press Enter.
Once you're in the Temp folder, you can delete any temporary files that might be there, by typing 'del *.tmp' and then pressing Enter. Don't delete these files while Windows is running, because Windows 95/98 or a Windows-based program might be using one of them.
Type 'cd windowsspoolprinters' and then press Enter to switch to the spool folder.
Delete any spool files you find here by typing 'del *.spl' and then pressing Enter.

How to Troubleshoot a Brother DCP Printer (5 Steps)

Plug the Brother DCP into the household power outlet if the printer won't print. Your computer doesn't need to be connected. Load a new stack of paper into the paper tray if the display panel shows the message 'No Paper Fed.' Make sure the paper is straight in the tray and that you're using good stock---it can't be curled up. Try removing the paper that's there, fanning it and reversing it.
Check the display panel for any error messages. Brother DCP printer error messages are self-explanatory and will usually tell you exactly what error is being reported in clear English, for example, 'Cooling Down Wait a While.'
Remove jammed paper. Documents jammed in the top of the Brother DCP can be pulled out to the left after opening the ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) cover. Documents jammed under the document cover can be pulled out to the right after opening the document cover.
Pull the paper tray completely out of the DCP to remove paper jams inside the DCP. Pull the jammed paper up and out of the paper tray opening.
Open the front cover and pull the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly out if paper's jammed inside the drum. The toner cartridge comes out of the drum unit by holding down the lock lever on the left. Remove any jammed paper from inside the drum unit.

How to Disable Color Printing

Open the document you want to print.
Select 'File' and 'Print' from the menu or press 'Ctrl'+'P' to load the Print dialog box.
Highlight the printer you want to modify from the 'Name' drop-down list.
Click the 'Properties' button to open its dialog box.
Select the 'Color' tab, check 'Print in Grayscale' and click 'OK.'



Click the 'Start' button in Windows and select 'Devices and Printers' to open the Control Panel.
Go to the Printer and Faxes option and right-click the printer you want to modify. Select 'Printing Preferences' from the pop-up list. The Printing Preferences dialog box opens.
Select the 'Paper/Quality' tab, choose 'Black & White' and click 'OK.'

How to Upload a Dell Printer to my Mac Computer

Connect your Dell printer to your Mac computer. The printer will have a USB cable coming out of the back of it (or included in the box). Connect that cable to an available USB port on your computer.
Open a document, picture, or Web page that could potentially be printed on your Mac and then select 'File' from the top menu bar, followed by 'Print.' This will open a printer dialogue box.
Check to see if your printer automatically shows up in the drop-down menu on the screen marked 'Printer.' If so, then your printer does not need to be installed further, and you are ready to print. If not, select 'Add a Printer' from the drop-down menu.
Select your printer from the additional pop-up window that appears and click 'Add.' If you do not see your printer in the list, insert the CD that came included with your printer, install the software, then check to make sure your printer shows up in the drop-down menu.
Attempt to print another page. This time your Dell printer should be in the top drop-down 'Printer' menu.

How to Replace Epson Print Heads

Open the cover of your Epson printer so that you will see the ink cartridges. Unplug the printer so that it will not move automatically as it normally does when the printer heads are being tweaked.
Locate the clip that is locking the printer heads in place. Some Epson printers have buttons instead of a clip. Unlock it, and pull the printer heads out one by one. Set them aside.
Shake the new print heads so that the ink inside will be mixed.
Place the new print heads one by one according to the color. There will be a color guide located on the printer head carrier. Do not remove any sticker that is in the printer head so that Epson will be able to distinguish it in case you need to replace it.
Push each printer head slowly until you hear a click. The clicking sound means that it is already secured.
Close the cover of the printer, and wipe your fingers using the wet rag to remove the ink stains.
Plug in the printer and turn it on. Normally the cartridge will move to adjust itself, but if it did not, push the refresh button so that it will adjust. The refresh button is located next to the power button. It usually has the water drop drawing on the side. The power button will also blink to indicate that the printer is still loading and adjusting. Wait for the blinking of the power button to stop before using it.

How to Connect a Printer to a D

Plug the D-Link router's power supply into a standard electrical outlet to turn the router on and create a wireless network.
Connect your printer to the USB port on the back of the D-Link router using a standard USB cable.
Turn on the USB printer.
Go to any PC computer connected to the local wireless network, open the Start menu and click on 'Printers and Faxes.'
Click on the 'Add a printer' option on the left side of the window and then hit 'Next.'
Select the 'Network printer' option and hit 'Next' again.
Choose to browse for network printers. Windows will now scan for nearby printers and display a list of found devices.
Highlight the printer with 'DLINK' in the name and click 'Next.'
Press 'Yes' to confirm your decision to install the network printer.

How to Use a Dell Printer With OS X

Go to the printer database on the Open Printing website (see Resources for link), and select 'Dell' from the drop-down menu on the left. Choose your printer model from the menu that appears and click 'Show This Printer.'
Click on the 'Directly Download' link next to the recommended driver for your printer.
Click the file icon when the driver has finished downloading. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the driver.
Connect your printer to your power strip and then hook it to your computer via the USB port.
Launch the program that you want to print from.
Click on 'File' and then 'Print.' Your Dell printer should now be listed as an option on the printer drop-down menu. Select it and hit 'Print.'