PC Support & RepairChapter 14Advanced Printers & Scanners

Objectives• After completing this chapter, you will meet these

objectives:▫Describe potential safety hazards and safety procedures

associated with printers and scanners. ▫ Install and configure a local printer and scanner. ▫Describe how to share a printer and a scanner on a

network. ▫Upgrade and configure printers and scanners. ▫Describe printer and scanner preventive maintenance

techniques. ▫Troubleshoot printers and scanners.

Safety Hazards•Moving large devices▫ Lift with legs & knees, not back▫No loose jewelry or baggy

clothes•Working on them▫ Let them cool▫Fuser hot!▫DMP print head hot!▫Corona wire & transfer roller

retain high voltage!

Install & configure a local printer/scanner

•Connect the device to a local port. • Install and configure the driver and software. •Configure options and default settings. •Verify functionality.

Connect To Port•What ports can a printer/scanner connect to?

Install & Configure•Windows PnP will try and install driver▫May need the disk▫Find out the version & check for latest

•After install, print test page▫In Control Panel, right-click on printer, Properties▫If unreadable, might be wrong driver▫GDI (in Windows) outputs graphics to printer

Page Description Language•The appearance of a document in a language that a

printer can understand

•Software uses PDLs to send what’s on screen to the printer▫WYSIWYG

Printing Fonts- PDL• PCL▫HP▫ Industry standard▫Faster▫Output varies

• Postscript (PS)▫Adobe▫Better quality▫Consistent on all printers

Options & Settings•Global▫Affects all documents

printed•Per-Document▫Page Setup or Printer

Properties

Calibrations•Scanner▫Use software▫Scans a color chart

•Printer▫Use software▫Aligns print heads

Verify Functionality- Printer•Print double-sided documents•Use different paper trays for different paper sizes•Change settings of a color printer so that it prints in

black and white or grayscale•Print in draft mode•Use the Print Test Page option from the printer•Use the Print Test Page option from Windows•Use the print function of an application

Verify Functionality- Scanner• Scan a paper document using the buttons on the device• Re-scan the document using the scanner software• Change a scanner's scan resolution• Edit scanned images of saved documents •Use an optical character recognition (OCR) application

• For an all-in-one device, you should test all of the functions:▫Fax – Fax to another known working fax. ▫Copy – Create a copy of a document. ▫Scan – Scan a document. ▫Print – Print a document.

Review• In Windows, what manages the output of graphics to

a printer?▫GDI

•What print option describes a user changing setting for each document sent to the printer?▫Per-document

•What two ports would a DMP connect to?▫Serial or parallel

Review•What two laser printer components contain high

voltages?▫Corona wire & transfer roller

• In a DMP, which part can be hot?▫Print head

•To add a printer in XP, under what section would you find it?▫Control Panel, Printers & Faxes

Sharing Printers & Scanners•Describe types of print servers. •Describe how to install network printer software and

drivers on a computer.

Print Servers•Allows many computers to share a printer▫Can also store jobs in queue▫Print/error notification

•Three kinds:▫Network print servers ▫Dedicated PC print servers ▫Computer-shared printers

Network Print Server•Box

•Wired or wireless

•Frees up PC for other jobs

•May only allow network printing to an all-in-one device

PC Print Servers•Dedicated PC to act as print server•Needs good processor, HD space, RAM

Computer-Shared Printer•Printer attached to PC▫Set to share

•Uses computer resources to share•PC must be on to print

Installing a Network Printer•Configure the computer with printer

attached to share it•Configure other computers to “see” it▫Still need drivers▫In list, enter name, or IP address

Review•Which network printing method do you think is the

cheapest?▫Computer shared

•What is a disadvantage of the above?▫Computer must be on

•When adding a network printer, what three ways can select one?▫ Shown in list, by name, by IP address

•Which method would you use to setup a network printer and not have to worry about using a computer?▫Print server

Upgrade & Configure Printers & Scanners

•Describe printer upgrades•Describe scanner optimization

Printer Upgrades•RAM▫More RAM=faster & better handle complex jobs▫Can buffer more jobs

•Other Upgrades▫Duplex printing▫Extra trays to hold more paper ▫Specialized tray types for different media ▫Network cards to access a wired or wireless network ▫Firmware upgrades to add functionality or to fix bugs

Scanner Optimization•Resolution & file format affects file size▫For web- low resolution & small size▫For printing- medium resolution▫For commercial printing- high resolution

Review• It takes 5 minutes to print a large graphic. What can

be done to lessen the time?▫Add more RAM

•On a scanner, which settings can affect the size of a saved file?▫Resolution & file format

Printer & Scanner Preventive Maintenance

•Determine scheduled maintenance according to vendor guidelines.

•Describe a suitable environment for printers and scanners.

•Describe cleaning methods. •Describe how to check the capacity of ink cartridges

and toners.

Maintenance Guidelines•Use manufacturer supplies (not generic)•Reset counters•Visual inspection▫Bits of paper or dust▫Spilled ink/toner

• Lab 14.5.1▫Search for printer repair certification programs

Printer Environment• Laser printers get hot▫Keep well ventilated

•Keep paper dry▫High humidity causes paper to absorb moisture

Hard for toner to attach to paper

•Clean scanner glass

How to Clean•Turn off printer•Use damp cloth•For inkjet, use utility to clean print heads•For laser, use HEPA filter vacuum to clean toner▫DO NOT touch drum

•Use correct ink & paper▫May cause printer not to work

Check Ink & Toner Levels• Look at LCD screen, LED lights, software utility•Check counter & estimate•Use draft mode

Common Problems

Review- 9 Questions

PC Support & RepairChapter 14Advanced Printers & Scanners