If you have recently bought yourself a new printer, follow the directions in the manual for setting up cables. Put the installation CD into the CD drive and follow the set up instructions.
If you are using Windows 95/98, select Start Menu, then select Printers. Now select Add Printer, select Local Printer. Choose your printer (If your printer is not listed, choose the one closest to yours and select OK).
For the Mac, select go to server, (or chooser) and then select printer. Then choose your printer. (If your printer is not listed, then select the closest one.) Then select install.
If you are using Windows XP, then the PC will prompt you for the drivers and install the relevant one from the CD itself (if the appropriate driver is not in the database already).
If you have any problems printing, first check your cable connections. If you get repeated error messages, then reboot your computer and redo the steps above.
If you would like to upgrade the driver of your currently installed printed, then follow the steps given in the next sub-topic.
Installing Printer Drivers
A printer driver is a piece of software that allows the computer to communicate with the printer. Without this software, the printer would be hopelessly lost since it does not speak the same language! Printer manufacturers often update the drivers and these they can be easily downloaded form the company’s website for free. It is a good idea to keep a check on your printer driver version and upgrade if it is too far out of date.
Here is how you can check your print driver version number:
Windows XP
1. Click the Windows Start button, choose Control Panel, and then choose ‘Printers and Faxes.’
2. Right-click your default printer and choose Properties. (Your default printer will have a checkmark within a black circle above the printer icon.)
3. Click the General tab, click the ‘Print Test Page’ button, and then click OK to print the test page.
Windows 95/98
1. Click the Windows Start button, choose Settings, and then Printers.
2. Right-click your default printer and choose Properties. (Your default printer will have a checkmark within a black circle above the printer icon.)
3. Click the General tab, click the ‘Print Test Page’ button, and then click OK to print the test page.
Look on the test page for Driver Version.
All major printer manufactures have web sites that allow you to freely download their printer drivers. To do so, you will need your printer’s manufacturer and model number. When you go to the web site, look for words such as ‘Downloads’, ‘Drivers’, ‘Software’, or ‘Support’ and shortlist your model.
Given below are the website URLs for the popular brands:
Hewlett Packard — http://welcome.hp.com/country/uk/en/support.html?pageDisplay=drivers
Canon — http://software.canon-europe.com/
Epson — http://emeasupport.epson-europe.com/downloads.aspx?LNG=en-EU
Lexmark — http://support.lexmark.com/cgi-perl/selections.cgi?ccs=227:5:0:0:0:0&target=http://downloads.lexmark.com/cgi-perl/downloads.cgi&&req=:::::
Xerox — http://www.support.xerox.com/go/prodselect.asp?Xlang=en_GB&metrics=HDR
Brother — http://www.brother.com/E-ftp/info/index_eu.html
Troubleshooting Printer Problems
In this section, you’ll find some of the more common problems that cause 45 percent of the help centre phone calls.
If nothing has occurred since the last time you used your printer, chances are the problem is quite straightforward. As obvious as it sounds, check to ensure that the printer is turned on. It is quite possible that somebody might have turned it off while you were away from your desk or computer. Make sure the printed is connected properly and there is power to the printer. All printers have some kind of LED that lets you know if it is powered up.
If the printer is turned on but has some flashing lights, then check with your owner’s manual to see what the lights mean. Most of these indicators will be related either to paper, ink, or toner.
Make sure there is enough paper in the printer. Refill the paper tray if it’s empty. Make sure you ‘fan’ the paper stack before putting it in the printer. When the paper stack is cut and packed at the factory, it sometimes causes the pages to stick together. Fanning the paper simply involves flipping through the paper stack with your thumb. This ruffling separates the paper, thereby reducing paper jams.
If the paper is stacked well, then check for a mis-feed or paper jam. Remove the paper stack and check the feed area for jammed paper. You may have to open several panels to make a thorough examination. Even a small piece of paper stuck inside the printer can cause problems. You might have to use tweezers to remove small pieces. Be careful of any contact of the tweezers with printer parts to avoid any damage.
If everything listed above is in place, then check the wire that connects the printer to the computer. You may be using a parallel or a USB connection. Make sure the cable is connected properly. Turn the equipment off and remove and re-insert the connection on both the printer and the computer to ensure a solid connection. If you are at work and your printer is connected to what appears to be a telephone wire, then you should call your resident network expert.
If the printer is functioning but only seems to print illegible garbage, then that is a good indication of a printer driver problem. Try re-booting the computer and turning the printer off and on before making any changes to the driver. If after re-booting you still have the problem, it's probably time to replace the printer driver. You can download the driver from the website URLs listed earlier in this articles. Follow the instructions given by the manufacturer to install your driver.
Scanner can also sometimes interfere with printers. Try re-installing the software for both but install the printer driver first, and the scanner driver afterwards.
If nothing listed above results in a solution, then perhaps it might be time to call the printer manufacturer. Make sure that you are near the printer when you call and have all your warranty information available at hand.
20.6.09
Five Myths about Compatible Toner Cartridges
Many people have different views and ideas about compatible toner cartridges. Other people simply know very little about compatible cartridges. As an exclusive user of compatible toner cartridges for fifteen years, I have found several things that are not true. I’d like to review five myths or misconceptions people may have about compatible laser toner cartridges. Let’s distinguish between fact and fiction.
Myth #1 Compatible Toner Cartridges are simply cheap cartridges.
It is true that a compatible toner cartridge is cheap in price. However, it is not a cheap quality toner cartridge. A compatible toner cartridge is a new toner cartridge manufactured by a third party. It is made from all new parts. It contains the exact toner required for your laser printer. Most companies give a one-year, one hundred percent money back guarantee on their compatible toner cartridges. You can normally purchase a compatible toner cartridge for about half of the cost of a new OEM toner cartridge.
Myth #2 Using a Compatible Toner Cartridge will void my printer warranty.
This is not true. In fact, congress passed a law to make it illegal for a manufacturer to force you to buy certain supplies. If allowed, this would lead to a monopoly, high prices and lack of competition. Below is a copy of the “Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act”. It’s your guarantee that your printer warranty will not be voided.
United States Code Annotated
Title 15 Commerce and Trade
Chapter 50 Consumer Product Warranties
15 Section 2302
“(c) No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer's using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection be waived by the commission if:
1) The warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and
2) The Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest.”
Myth #3 A Compatible Toner Cartridge will damage my printer.
The truth is a toner cartridge can do very little to damage a laser printer. It is possible, but highly unlikely, for a toner cartridge to leak and cause streaking on your paper. However, a simple cleaning and replacement of the toner cartridge will resolve the problem.
In my fifteen years of using compatible toner cartridges, I only had one instance where the toner cartridge did not meet my high expectations. I called the company and they sent me a new cartridge the next day. I learned from this experience that it is very important to purchase your toner cartridges from reputable toner companies. How many companies have sent you a brand new replacement product the next day without any hassles?
Myth #4 Compatible Toner Cartridges produce poor quality print.
One of my initial fears in purchasing a compatible toner cartridge was that the print quality wouldn’t be as good. When I used my first compatible toner cartridge, it produced exceptionally good quality. I thought it wouldn’t last. I was wrong. In fact, I printed more pages from that cartridge than I did from my original. After extensive research, I found that many toner cartridges are not completely filled with toner when you purchase them. I happened to have purchased a cartridge from a company that had completely filled the cartridge. Hence, I got more pages.
In fairness to the major printer companies, I want to clarify one thing. I used OEM toner cartridges for several years. I always printed the number of pages that the manufacturer advertised. There was no deception in their advertising. Some simply did not fill their toner cartridges to capacity.
Myth #5 All Compatible Toner Cartridges are the same.
The truth is all compatible toner cartridges are not created equal. This is why you must purchase your cartridges from a reliable and reputable company. These companies test their compatible toner cartridges to insure quality and quantity of print. You can visit our website to learn ten things you should know about purchasing a compatible toner cartridge online.
If you want to cut your printing budget in half and continue to get high quality print, do yourself a favor. Find a reputable online toner merchant and order your compatible toner cartridge today.
Myth #1 Compatible Toner Cartridges are simply cheap cartridges.
It is true that a compatible toner cartridge is cheap in price. However, it is not a cheap quality toner cartridge. A compatible toner cartridge is a new toner cartridge manufactured by a third party. It is made from all new parts. It contains the exact toner required for your laser printer. Most companies give a one-year, one hundred percent money back guarantee on their compatible toner cartridges. You can normally purchase a compatible toner cartridge for about half of the cost of a new OEM toner cartridge.
Myth #2 Using a Compatible Toner Cartridge will void my printer warranty.
This is not true. In fact, congress passed a law to make it illegal for a manufacturer to force you to buy certain supplies. If allowed, this would lead to a monopoly, high prices and lack of competition. Below is a copy of the “Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act”. It’s your guarantee that your printer warranty will not be voided.
United States Code Annotated
Title 15 Commerce and Trade
Chapter 50 Consumer Product Warranties
15 Section 2302
“(c) No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer's using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection be waived by the commission if:
1) The warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and
2) The Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest.”
Myth #3 A Compatible Toner Cartridge will damage my printer.
The truth is a toner cartridge can do very little to damage a laser printer. It is possible, but highly unlikely, for a toner cartridge to leak and cause streaking on your paper. However, a simple cleaning and replacement of the toner cartridge will resolve the problem.
In my fifteen years of using compatible toner cartridges, I only had one instance where the toner cartridge did not meet my high expectations. I called the company and they sent me a new cartridge the next day. I learned from this experience that it is very important to purchase your toner cartridges from reputable toner companies. How many companies have sent you a brand new replacement product the next day without any hassles?
Myth #4 Compatible Toner Cartridges produce poor quality print.
One of my initial fears in purchasing a compatible toner cartridge was that the print quality wouldn’t be as good. When I used my first compatible toner cartridge, it produced exceptionally good quality. I thought it wouldn’t last. I was wrong. In fact, I printed more pages from that cartridge than I did from my original. After extensive research, I found that many toner cartridges are not completely filled with toner when you purchase them. I happened to have purchased a cartridge from a company that had completely filled the cartridge. Hence, I got more pages.
In fairness to the major printer companies, I want to clarify one thing. I used OEM toner cartridges for several years. I always printed the number of pages that the manufacturer advertised. There was no deception in their advertising. Some simply did not fill their toner cartridges to capacity.
Myth #5 All Compatible Toner Cartridges are the same.
The truth is all compatible toner cartridges are not created equal. This is why you must purchase your cartridges from a reliable and reputable company. These companies test their compatible toner cartridges to insure quality and quantity of print. You can visit our website to learn ten things you should know about purchasing a compatible toner cartridge online.
If you want to cut your printing budget in half and continue to get high quality print, do yourself a favor. Find a reputable online toner merchant and order your compatible toner cartridge today.
10.6.09
Computer Slow? Optimize It With The Right Tools
Why does it seem like every time you get a new computer it operates at lightning fast speeds for only a few months before becoming slow and laborious over its tasks? Is this just something that we have to live with or can we do something to keep our computers running at optimum speeds?
The truth is that computers do not get slower as they age, a slow computer is a sign that something is literally holding your PC back and affecting its performance. And the good news is that you can do something about it.
There are many things that can affect your computer’s performance, from low memory to a fragmented hard drive and everything in between. The things that can affect your computer’s performance are usually of your own doing. You see, each time we download a program or delete a program, we affect the way our computer operates. This change in operation can leave holes in our PCs operating procedures or may even leave behind programs that can affect our computer’s performance.
Here are just a few things that could be making your computer slow:
ท Running Background Programs – These programs are software applications that are running behind the scenes even when they are not in use. You may not even know that they are running, but they can zap precious memory and slow down your other tasks considerably. To see if you have programs running in the background, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time. The box that pops up will show you all applications that are running.
ท Full Hard Drive – If your hard drive is too full of data, it will not have enough space to perform chores. Your hard drive should have at lease 2MB to 3MB in free space.
ท Fragmented Hard Drive – When you download and delete programs, you create holes in your hard drive. These holes mean that your PC has to search for the files it needs over greater distance and not necessarily in the order that it needs them.
ท Left Over Parts – When you install and uninstall Windows programs, they leave behind parts or applications that can slow down your computer. You may even unknowingly delete a file needed for other software applications. (Note: Spyware and viruses can also slow down your PC’s performance, but for the purpose of this article we are assuming that the problem lies in application errors.)
Make Your PC Run Like New
While it’s not rocket science, making your computer lightning fast once again will take a little work from you. Sometimes, this is as easy as running your Windows System Tools program. You can find these programs by clicking “start,” “all programs,” “accessories,” and “system tools.” Here you will find several system optimizers to help you free up your disk space, defragment your PC, and detect and repair disk errors.
In addition to tools already installed on your PC, you can opt to download additional programs to optimize your computer’s performance. These optimizers can be purchased as a set with other software programs that can help you get the best out of your computer. Here are just a few of the extra optimization programs that you may want for your PC:
ท Memory Optimizer – When you are using your computer, it takes several programs and application to handle everything that you are doing. Each of these programs uses memory. When memory is short, computer response time is slow. Memory Optimizer helps to make the allotment of memory to each program more efficient. This can help you eliminate slow PC execution time, Windows hang up or crashing, loss of data and unwanted shutdowns.
ท Registry Deffrager and Optimizer – As mentioned before, a registry with holes results in slow response times as your PC searches for the data it needs. This program improves the system response time and saves memory by creating a smaller registry.
ท Windows Optimizer – We all use our computers differently. Some use their computer as a media and entertainment centerpiece while others use their PC for data storage and business purposes. Windows Optimizer allows you to tweak program settings so that they will perform in line with your needs.
Granted, a slow computer is a nuisance and it may leave you wanting to go out and purchase a new model. But before you give up on your current model, make sure that you have optimized it first. You may be surprised by how much life is still in your PC.
The truth is that computers do not get slower as they age, a slow computer is a sign that something is literally holding your PC back and affecting its performance. And the good news is that you can do something about it.
There are many things that can affect your computer’s performance, from low memory to a fragmented hard drive and everything in between. The things that can affect your computer’s performance are usually of your own doing. You see, each time we download a program or delete a program, we affect the way our computer operates. This change in operation can leave holes in our PCs operating procedures or may even leave behind programs that can affect our computer’s performance.
Here are just a few things that could be making your computer slow:
ท Running Background Programs – These programs are software applications that are running behind the scenes even when they are not in use. You may not even know that they are running, but they can zap precious memory and slow down your other tasks considerably. To see if you have programs running in the background, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time. The box that pops up will show you all applications that are running.
ท Full Hard Drive – If your hard drive is too full of data, it will not have enough space to perform chores. Your hard drive should have at lease 2MB to 3MB in free space.
ท Fragmented Hard Drive – When you download and delete programs, you create holes in your hard drive. These holes mean that your PC has to search for the files it needs over greater distance and not necessarily in the order that it needs them.
ท Left Over Parts – When you install and uninstall Windows programs, they leave behind parts or applications that can slow down your computer. You may even unknowingly delete a file needed for other software applications. (Note: Spyware and viruses can also slow down your PC’s performance, but for the purpose of this article we are assuming that the problem lies in application errors.)
Make Your PC Run Like New
While it’s not rocket science, making your computer lightning fast once again will take a little work from you. Sometimes, this is as easy as running your Windows System Tools program. You can find these programs by clicking “start,” “all programs,” “accessories,” and “system tools.” Here you will find several system optimizers to help you free up your disk space, defragment your PC, and detect and repair disk errors.
In addition to tools already installed on your PC, you can opt to download additional programs to optimize your computer’s performance. These optimizers can be purchased as a set with other software programs that can help you get the best out of your computer. Here are just a few of the extra optimization programs that you may want for your PC:
ท Memory Optimizer – When you are using your computer, it takes several programs and application to handle everything that you are doing. Each of these programs uses memory. When memory is short, computer response time is slow. Memory Optimizer helps to make the allotment of memory to each program more efficient. This can help you eliminate slow PC execution time, Windows hang up or crashing, loss of data and unwanted shutdowns.
ท Registry Deffrager and Optimizer – As mentioned before, a registry with holes results in slow response times as your PC searches for the data it needs. This program improves the system response time and saves memory by creating a smaller registry.
ท Windows Optimizer – We all use our computers differently. Some use their computer as a media and entertainment centerpiece while others use their PC for data storage and business purposes. Windows Optimizer allows you to tweak program settings so that they will perform in line with your needs.
Granted, a slow computer is a nuisance and it may leave you wanting to go out and purchase a new model. But before you give up on your current model, make sure that you have optimized it first. You may be surprised by how much life is still in your PC.
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