Printer errors often result from improperly installed updates for the operating system or drivers for the printer. Resolving such errors is often a simple matter of updating both the printer drivers and the operating system for the computer. For additional tips, continue reading.
Use the Device Manager
You can access the Device Manager in order to determine whether or not an issue exists with the printer.
- If the printer has a problem, you will see a black exclamation point in a yellow background. A problem code should also be displayed to explain the problem for you.
- If a red “X” is present, then the printer has been disabled. This indicates that the diver has not been loaded properly. If the red “X” is present, install the correct driver.
- The presence of a blue “i” with a white background simply indicates that the printer was manually selected. This does not suggest a problem.
- If a “green” question mark is visible next to the printer identification, then the driver has been installed. This will only show up on computers with Windows Me and it simply means that some functionality might not be present.
How to Access the Device Manager
- Click Start.
- Click Control Panel.
- Click Performance and Maintenance.
- Click System.
- Click Hardware.
- Click Device Manager.
Re-installing the Printer
In some cases, a printer might not have installed correctly on the computer. This can happen when insufficient memory resources are available. One of the best troubleshooting scenarios is to uninstall the printer using the add/remove hardware utility and then reinstall the printer. The Windows operating system includes drivers for most printers and installs it automatically when you connect your printer to the computer and turn it on. Close all other programs whenever troubleshooting a device or installing it. Not only will this save on resources, but also, it will help to identify the problem.
Updating Printer Drivers
One of the first steps to take is to check on the printer driver. Make sure that you have the latest one. Updating the printer driver is a simple matter of going to the Canon website to check. Canon Driver.
Clearing Memory
In some cases, computers without enough memory will have difficulty printing and will generate an error message. If this could possibly be the issue here, take the time to clear some memory by
- clearing the temporary cache
- deleting old files
- deleting old folders
- deleting old emails
- removing unwanted programs or applications
- emptying the recycle bin.
Other Possibilities
Microsoft reports that this is an issue with some operating systems such as NT and 2000. In these cases, the permissions in the “spool” folder are not set to read “everyone.” Read more about it in this Knowledgebase Article.
Outside Tech Support
If you have trouble in the future with any of your hardware components, you can always visit Driver Genius to look for the latest version of a driver.
Susan Keenan | October 25th, 2008
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