Printer Won't Print ( test pages print but not document)

If you can print a test page, the PC and your printer are communicating and the problem lies with the program or your life. Open the print display and make sure you chose the right printer. Make sure The Print To File checkbox is not selected. With the settings correct, create and attempt to print a simple document, one page, no or simple graphics, only system (native to Windows) fonts such as Times Roman or Arial. If it prints, the original document is likely either too complex or contains corrupt data.

Open Printers And Faxes, right click the icon for your printer. Click the Advanced tab and change the spool settings to Spool Print Documents So Program Finishes Printing Faster and under that setting, select Start Printing After Last Page Is Spooled. If this doesn't work, change the spool setting to Print Directly To The Printer. Experiment with these settings to see if any spool setting works. If adjusting the spool settings doesn't help, reprint the original document one page at a time to see if a particular page is causing problems.

Once you isolate the problematic page, or if the document is only one page or still won't print at all, examine your fonts and graphics. True Type fonts are the most universally accepted fonts, check the font menu in your program to see if the fonts you are using are True Type. To do so, open the Format menu and select Font. If there is no indication, note the font used in the document and check the Fonts folder. True Type fonts are noted in parentheses after the font name. Exchange non True Type fonts for True Type and to print again. Also, Font Explorer, a free utility available at www.karenware.com, can tell you which specific fonts your computer supports.

If you're using True Type fonts (or no fonts), your graphics may be too complex or corrupt. If you reduced a large graphic after you placed it in the file, reduce it to the correct size in a graphics editing program and then reimport it. If no particular graphic seems suspect, delete and reimport all graphics in the document and reprint. If none of this solutions helps and you have a program that creates Adobe PDF files, save the file as a PDF and try printing that.

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Printer Won't Print (Test Page Won't Print)

If a test page will not print, the PC and printer are not communicating. First, check the printer's documentation for instructions on printing a self test page. If this will not print, the problem lies with the printer and you should contact the manufacturer. If the self test prints, you have a problem with the PC or its connections. Open Printers and Faxes, right click your printer's icon, and select Properties. Click the Ports tab and look for your printer. Parallel printers (which have a large connector about 2 inches wide) should be set to LPT1. USB Printers (which have a small connector about half an inch wide) should be set to a USB port. Change the port settings if necessary.

If you have a USB printer and cannot change it from LPT1 (common with printers offering both parallel and USB connections), delete and reinstall the printer ( as described beginning with the second paragraph of the Printer Is Not Available section below). When windows recommends a port to use, select USB.

If USB is not an option, connect the printer through another USB port on your PC and/or replace the printer's USB cable. If that doesn't work and you know the USB ports on your PC are good, contact the printer's manufacturer for assistance. You can also install the printer via parallel cable if your PC has a matching port. If port settings are correct but the printer still can't print, contact the printer's manufacturer for the latest driver and then return to the Printers And Faxes window. Right click your printer's icon and select Properties from the drop down menu. Select the Advanced tab and click the New Driver button. Follow the prompts to update the printer driver.

If this does not work, your port may be corrupt. Return to the Ports display, select the port, click Delete Port, and the restart Windows. The system should detect the printer and reinstall the port. If it does not, your PC may be damaged and you should contact the manufacturer for further assistance. If windows detects the port but still can't print, delete and reinstall the printer.

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Printer Won't Print ( Print A Test Page)

Open the start menu and select Printers And Faxes. Locate your printer's icon and double click it. In the resulting display (print queue window), look for your document in the list. See if there are other jobs ahead of the job you're printing. If so, select Cancel All Documents from the printer menu and try to print the job again. If there are no jobs ahead of the one in question, check the status. If it is paused, click the listing, and from the Document menu, select Resume. I you do not see your document listed in the print queue, print it again.

Watch your printer for changes in status lights (flashing in common) or the message display, noting changes or messages you see. If you see changes in the printer's status lights or message indicator, it generally means Windows is communicating with the printer.

If Windows issues an error message (other than the standard "this document failed to print" balloon) when you print, write it down and skip to the error message but the document does not print, check the status in the print queue window again. If there is no status, or it shows as Spooling or Printing, the file may be very very complex and may need more time to process, so wait a few minutes before you cancel the job.

If the status is Error Printing, the document has failed to print. Select the job in the print queue window and select Cancel from the Document menu. Check your printer's documentation to identify and resolve problems signaled by the lights or messages you recorded, such as paper jam, an out of paper, or ink condition or some other printer based problem. If you see no printer status changes or error messages and the document does not print, cancel the print job, right click your printer's icon and select Properties. On the General tab, click Print Test Pages check the ability of the printer to reproduce basic text and graphics and provide information on the printer's driver ( a program that acts as a translator between the PC and the printer).

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Printer Won't Print ( A Failure To Communicate)

If your document will not print or the printed page contains garbage characters, such as symbols and meaningless text, the problem may be that the PC and printer are not communicating efficiently or at all. A few basic steps can resolve a surprising number of printing problems and help to define others.

First, ensure the printer is turned on and securely connected to the PC. Check the lights and displays on the printer to ensure it is in an online (connected and ready) state. Some printers have an indicator light, others have a text display. If necessary, check your documentation to see how your printer signals you. If it is not ready or online, look for hints as to the problem, which may be a paper jam, an out of paper, or low ink condition. If nothing appears to be wrong with the paper or ink, turn the printer off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.

If you're printing from a removable medium, such as a zip, or USB drive or a CD, copy your file to your hard drive. Make sure you have enough free drive space (three to five times the size of the file) for Windows to spool (process to the hard drive) the document and then attempt to reprint it. If your printer's connection runs through a specialized connector, such as a USB hub, disconnect the printer. connect it directly to your PC, and attempt to reprint the document. If this resolves the problem, you may need to replace the hub, or your printer may not be able to operate through one.

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A Continually Restarting PC

The continuous reboot problem can have a variety of causes, including faulty or unseated memory modules, out of date, corrupt, or missing drivers, software conflicts, overheating components, virus, bad software or hardware.

Hardware. Your computer may immediately fail to boot if one of your memory modules is unseated. The memory modules are long, narrow sticks that attach to the motherboard located near the processor and have clips at either end. If one or both of the clips is not closed or laying flat against the edge of the module, press down on the edge of the nearest to the clip. You may have to remove the memory module and reseat it. Restart the computer. Your computer may also immediately reboot if another piece of hardware fails, has a loose connection, or becomes disconnected. Check that power plugs from your power supply are connected to the appropriate components and that those connections are secure. Listen for your hard drive to start spinning. If it is silent, then it may be faulty or disconnected from the motherboard. Also be sure the fans on your motherboard or graphics card start spinning. If any component seems unresponsive, replace it.

BIOS. If the setting in the BIOS have changed or become unstable, you may need to reset the settings to get your computer and access the BIOS setup utility. When you have access to the BIOS setup utility, you should see options to Load Defaults, Load Optimized Defaults. Load File Safe Defaults or something similar. First, try loading the Optimized Defaults. If your computer still fails, re enter the BIOS and load the File Safe Defaults. If you don't have a choice, simply load the default settings as described in your computer or motherboard manual. Confirm your choice and allow the system to reboot. You may have to select the Save And Exit option to restart your system. Sometimes, your computer won't even let you access tye BIOS. In these instances, you may have to reset the BIOS using a more hands on approach. The CMOS memory retains your computer's BIOS settings but can be reset by moving a jumper on a three pin header on the motherboard and then moving it back to its original position after a short wait. You'll have to consult your computer or motherboard manual for specific instructions on how to perform this operation. Restart the computer.

Restarting Sans Error Message. If your system is infected with a virus or experiencing system crippling errors, you may never see error messages that can provide clues as to why your computer continuously reboots. Windows is set to reboot when it encounters a critical error. Disabling this can help you view error messages and on screen prompts. To change the setting in Windows XP, boot into Safe Mode and access the Control Panel. If you're using Windows 2000/XP with the Control Panel in Category View, click Performance And Maintenance and click system from the bottom of the dialog box. Click the Advanced tab and the click the Settings button from the Startup And Recovery section of the System Properties dialog box. Next, deselect the checkbox in front of Automatically Restart in the System Failure portion of the dialog box. Click OK and click OK again. Close the Control Panel and restart the computer. Now, when your system encounters an error, it will remain on screen.

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Error Messages After Windows Starts

When Windows launches but won't go any further without locking up or spewing forth error messages, check out the following options.

Windows Utilities. Repeatedly press F8 during startup to launch at the Windows Advanced option menu. Select Enable Boot Logging. When Windows starts, go to C:\WINDOWS, open Ntbtlog.txt, and browse for error messages. Work from safe mode to repair any errors you find.

Safe Mode. Select Safe Mode from the Windows Advanced Options menu. Safe Mode loads Windows with a minimal set of drives and processes for more effective troubleshooting. Perform some basic system maintenance, such as an antivirus scan and chkdsk. Reboot your computer. If this fails to solve the problem, go back to Safe Mode and use Add/Remove Programs to uninstalls\ anything you recently added to your system. Also try a System Restore, which will roll the OS back to it's state at an earlier date. Go to Start, All Programs, and Accessories. Select System Restore from the system tools submenu and folleo the prompts.

Last Known Good Configuration. If you can't perform a System Restore from safe mode, select Last Known Good Configuration rolls back your Registry and device drivers to the last setting under which your computer shut down successfully.

Windows CD. Use your Windows installation disc or system recovery CD. Insert the disc and boot up. You need to press any key in order to boot from the disc. If not, you'll have to enter the BIOS and set your optical drive as the primary boot option. After setting the optical drive as the primary boot drive, restart your system and try booting into Windows. There's a difference between a true Windows OS disc and the image restoration discs many manufacturers ship with PCs. If you only have the latter, the following tips may not work. Windows repair option attempts to re-create the registry and restore settings without removing or altering user data. When a repair is available and works as planned, it's a great way to get a troubled system running again without starting from scratch. Boot into your Windows installation disc or system recovery CD. When prompted to choose between setting up Windows, accessing the recovery console, or quitting Setup, press ENTER to enter Windows setup. Press F8 to accept microsoft's license agreements and the press R to repair the selected Windows Installation when prompted.

Recovey Console. If you have any way to back up your data, do so. Boots from your Windows Installation CD. Press R from the welcome screen. Select your Windows installation if prompted and enter your administrator password. At the command line, delete your existing Registry files by typing delete C: \windows\system32\config\system. Repeat four times, substituting software, sam, security, and default for system, each in turn. Now copy pristine versions of those files by entering copy C:\windows\repair\system C:\windows\system32\config\system. Repeat four times replacing system in both portions of the command with the words software, sam, security, and default. Type exit, press ENTER, and reboot.

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PC Won't Start (A Beeping Computer)

Should something go wrong during the boot process that prevents the computer from even sending data to the monitor or starting the computer, you need some way to identify the problem. When something goes wrong that causes the BIOS to be unable to start the computer properly, it uses specific patterns of beeps to give you clues to what the underlying problem is.

New Hardware. It's easy to accidentally bump something while working inside a computer. Retrace your steps and ensure everything is firmly in place. Reboot your computer. If the beeping continues, remove the new hardware and see if the beeping goes away.

Beep Codes. There aren't any standard beep patterns. To make sense of the beeps, you first need to identify your BIOS. The documentation for your motherboard likely contains this information.

Defective Components. If your problem persists, it's time to look at replacing the troublesome component. If your beep codes indicate that the RAM is failing, you might need to first figure out which module in particular is the problem, because most computers have more than one memory module installed. Depending on how old the computer is, you should be able to take out the memory modules one at a time and reboot the computer to see if the problem goes away. Doing so will identify the problematic stick of RAM. If your video card is the problem, swap it out with a new one and see if the problem continues. Make sure that the video card you choose to troubleshoot or replace yours with is compatible with your motherboard and your operating system. Otherwise you will only create new problems. For troubleshooting purposes, it is helpful to have another computer you can borrow parts from. It is best to work through the troubleshooting and be fairly confident of your diagnosis before you run down the local computer retailer and start buying replacements.

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Error Messages Prior To Windows

Dealing with a PC that seems to be starting up but stops and coughs up an error message before it can load Windows is one of the more frustrating situations a computer user can experience. Fortunately, these messages do have a rhyme and reason. Often (but not always), they indicate a minor problem.

Easy Fixes. If an error message offers Last Known Good Configuration or Safe Mode, the error has something to do with Windows' startup. Selecting the former option can solve a world of unknown ills. The latter is a good choice if you've recently added new hardware. Make sure there isn't any removable media, including floppy diskettes, CDs , and thumb drives, in any drive. If you see an error message regarding keyboards, it's most likely the cable has come loose. Barring that, make sure none of the keys are stuck and that all of the pins in the connectors are straight. If it's still malfunctioning, try a new keyboard.

Memory and Parity Errors. These error messages indicate problems with tour PC's memory modules. Remove memory modules and carefully reseat them in another slot. If the computer restarts properly, the slot is likely to blame, if it doesn't , it's likely the memory itself is the problem.

Unexpected Interrupt In Protected Mode. This is indicative of an incompatible change to your BIOS. Enter your BIOS setup menu and look for an option to reset the BIOS to its defaults.

NTLDR Missing. NTLDR (think NT Loader) is the first file that executes during the boot process, it can get moved, accidentally deleted, or corrupted. Restore NTLDR from the Windows XP setup CD via the recovery console. At the command prompt, type cd and press ENTER. Enter the letter of your CD-ROM drive and press ENTER. Type cd i386 and press ENTER. Typer cd ntldr c: and press ENTER. Type copy ntdetect.com c: and press ENTER. (ntdetect.com is another boot file that, when missing, can generate the NTLDR error). After the copy process completes, typer EXIT and press ENTER. Your computer will restart.

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PC won't start ( no power at all)

As grave as this may seem at first blush, a computer that refuses to start isn't usually all that serious. Oftentimes, something outside the computer itself is to blame for a powerless computer.

Power Cord. A loose power cord is usually the problem that prevents your computer from starting. Check each end of the cord to make sure it's firmly in place. Also be sure to check the cables that run to your monitor.

Power supply switch. See if your computer's power supply has an on/off switch that lets you kill power to the PC without removing the cable. This button, located on the back of your computer, can get accidentally bumped.

Surge Protectors, Outlets, and fuses. Make sure the surge protector is firmly plugged into the wall outlet and that the power button on the surge protector is in the on position. If that checks out, see if the devices plugged into other outlets on the power strip are functioning. If not, the surge protector might be to blame. Another likely culprit is a faulty wall outlet. Plug your computer directly into the outlet, sans surge protector. Ensure that the GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) hasn't been tripped. If your PC still won't turn on, plug something else, such as a lamp, into the socket to see if it's works. Finally, check your fuse box or circuit breaker to make sure there isn't a blown fuse or tripped circuit. There are also a number of factors inside the computer that could prevent it from starting.

Motherboards And Power Supplies. Most motherboards have a tiny light on them that lights up when the power supply is connected, even if the PC is off. If this LED is lit, your PC is getting power, and your power lies elsewhere. Power supply can sometimes go bad, and if you've followed our troubleshooting steps to this point, you may have a dead PSU (power supply unit). To figure out whether this is the case, use a power supply tester. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to check the well-being of your PSU.

Power Button Cables. If you've recently performed any repairs to your system, it's quite possible that you accidentally pulled the power button cable free from the motherboard. If you spot an unplugged cable, check your motherboard for cables that indicate the prongs that support the power switch. In the event there are no such labels, check your motherboard's users manual.

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Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting is largely a matter of eliminating parts or programs that are working until you find the part that causes the problem. Consider this scenario, you pressed your PC's power button this morning only to find that it didn't start. The PC worked just fine last night, and you haven't recently performed any maintenance on the system's interior. If you start by making sure your PC truly isn't powered on, you'll save yourself several troubleshooting steps.

Check the monitor's light, is the monitor on? If not, you'll want to check its power cords. Once the monitor is on, take a second look at your PC. Do any lights appear when you try to power on the system? If you see lights, or if you can see or hear running fans at the back of the computer, the system doesn't have a power problem. Instead, the PC may be having trouble sending an image to your monitor, which could indicate a problem with your motherboard, video card, or memory. If the PC doesn't power on at all, check the power cord and the surge protector. Many surge protectors have switches that let you kill power to any of the devices that plug into them. Next, check the wall outlet by plugging a different device into the socket your PC's power cord occupied. If you're certain that power is flowing to the PC, you've ruled out the most basic problems and can focus on more advanced troubleshooting tips.

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Software Problems

If you're fairly certain you're facing a software problem, but you haven't been able to identify the offending program, your best bet may be to use Windows XP's System Restore. This feature is especially useful if you've installed multiple program recently. System Restore reverts your computer to the condition it was in few days or even a few weeks ago, without destroying any of the documents, emails, music, or video files you've created. Thanks to System Restore, any programs you installed after the Restore Point (the date in the past to which you restore windows) won't appear on your PC. Once you complete the restore, you can reinstall the applications one at a time and check your PC for problems after each installation.

System Restore is enabled by default in Windows XP, which means that System Restore has already created Restore Points automatically, even if you've never use the System Restore feature before. To access System Restore, click starts, all programs, accessories, system tools, and system restore. Once you click The Restore My Computer To An Earlier Time Radio button and click Next, System Restore will display a small calendar with several of the dates in bold. All bold dates have at least one Restore Point. Select the Restore Point and then follow System Restore Instructions to restore your system to this earlier date. Finally. make sure your PC is operating without trouble. If it is, you've narrowed the problem to one of the programs that System Restore just unistalled.

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Hardware Problems

Once you suspect a hardware problem, list the components (internal or external) that might be cause of the problem and then check each component, one at a time. In some cases, this may mean checking internal and external hardware. For example, if your print documents don't reach the printer or you see error messages that say your printer isn't connected to the computer, you'll want to check the USB cable that runs from your computer to the printer to make sure neither of the connections is loose. You'll also want to be sure that your computer's USB port is functioning. You can test this by plugging another USB device, such as a USB flash drive, mouse, or external hard drive into the port.

In some cases, you may suspect that an internal component is damaged, but not be in a position to confirm the detect. If you think that your computer's lost network connection is due to a damaged or incorrectly configured Ethernet NIC ( Network Interface Card), you probablay don't have an extra Ethernet card that you can swap out. This is where the device manager, a built-in windows tool, can help you identify problems without opening your PC or bumming spare parts from your friends. To open the device manager, right click the my computer icon on the desktop, and then click properties. When the system properties window appears, select the hardware tab and then click the device manager button. The device manager dispalys a list of your PC's components by categories, rather than the components themselves. If you want to see the names of your specific CD-RW or DVD-RW drives, for example you'll need to click the plus (+) sign next to DVD/CD-ROM Drives. The list will then expand to reveal all of the components in that category. The exception of this rule, however, if the component that is damaged. If windows knows your NIC isn't working, it will automatically expand the network adapters category to display any networking components in your PC. You'll see the red x, next to the damaged NIC. To learn more about NIC's problem, right click it and then select properties. The general tab of the NIC's properties window includes a device status section that offers a brief explanation of the problem. You can also pinpoint certain problems, such as excessive heat by checking the PC's BIOS, which is a very basic operating system that allows your system's components to communicate. Most BIOSes have a PC Health or status page that lists system fan speeds and system and processor temperatures.

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Hardware Or Software?

It's not always easy to determine whether your hardware or software is to blame, but it's a good place to start troubleshooting. If you're fairly confident that the problem is one or the other, you've eliminated several troubleshooting steps.

THINGS TO CHECK FIRST

Although a list of things to check won't catch every PC problem you encounter, you'll be surprised at how often the simple steps below can lead to troubleshooting success. Whether you're kicking off a troubleshooting session or at your wit's end after hours of fruitless research, here are some good tips to try.

Is the PC's power supply is switch turned on? Some PCs have a power switch at the back. Make sure it hasn't been switched off.

Are all cables connected? Loose connection regularly cause headaches. Remove and reconnect each plug firmly, even if you're sure it's connected.

Are all peripherals turned on? Make sure a powered-off print server isn't preventing your printer from working.

Does the device manager display any problems? Check this tools, which indicate a mulfunctioning or disabled device.

Is there a new driver? Updated drivers often fix hardware problems. If you can't find new drivers, try reinstalling your existing driver.

Have you installed software updates? Software publishers sometimes release patches via their web sites. Also, check to see if your software recently installed updates automatically. In rare cases, a software update may introduce problems.

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Pinpoint The Source Of Your Computer Problem

As time goes on, PCs continues to increase in complexity and our reliance upon them continues to grow. More often than not, both increases perfectly complementary, as million of people across the globe turn their computers on each day to use them for research, leisure, entertainment, or learning. But that paired reliance isn't always a happy fairy tale, sometimes the experience breeds frustration, especially when the PC just doesn't work, and we don't know why. Thankfully, troubleshooting a PC is largely an exercise in the process of elimination, following the standardize procedure with the right tools can go a long way toward diagnosing your computer's ailment and getting you back on the right track. Knowing what is broken is the cornerstone of knowing how to fix it.

Although it's tempting to start troubleshooting your PC as soon as it's displays symptoms, you'll save yourself a potential headache if you back your digital valuables first. Sure, the average software conflict, driver's problem, or loose monitor cord isn't much of the threat to your files but we've seen seemingly small problems turn into PC crippling disasters before. If you're in the "better safe than sorry" camp, jot down a quick list of the files you want to protect. Move them to removable media or to another PC on your network. Now you can tackle your PC's problem without worrying about losing your data.

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Fix Your Own PC

Computer are wonderful tools that occasionally refuse to work the way the should. When something does go wrong , you can avoid frustrating downtime by learning to fix your own PC. Use the basic trobleshooting techniques and step-by-step instructions in this issue to solve hundreds of common hardware and software problems.

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