How to Troubleshoot an Epson Inkjet Printer

Epson inkjet printers are relatively easy to repair and troubleshoot. Follow these steps to identify the problem and troubleshoot your Epson inkjet printer.

Check the status. For LCD screens, this is pretty clear. A connected printer reads "Ready," "Connected" or "Online." Other printers will usually have a solid green light when functioning properly. Refer to the manual if you receive an error message.

Perform a test print. Most Epson printers have a self-test function. Refer to your manual for instructions on how to do this. Usually, it is just a matter of depressing one button while pushing power.

Check the ink. Most newer models will tell you if the ink is low, but try running a color test to double check. You can usually pinpoint the faulty cartridge with this test and then either replace or clean it.

Clean the printer. Use the printer's self-cleaning feature usually found under the driver's "Utilities" or the printer's "Properties" section. Click "Clean Print Heads." Or get a dry, lint free cloth and gently wipe down any accessible parts.

Check the paper tray. Is it empty or is a sheet jammed? Look at the paper tray and be sure it is lined up correctly for loading.

Clear paper jams. Be careful during this operation. Refer to the manual for special instructions and always power down your printer and unplug it first. Use tweezers and be gentle-don't use force. Clear out even the tiniest bits of paper you find.

Check to see if the print queue is backed up. On your computer, go to "Control Panel" and then "Printers" and right click your printer's icon. Select "Purge Print Documents." Try printing again.

Make sure drivers are installed correctly. Try reinstalling the drivers from the disk or updating the drivers from the manufacturer's website.


Source- http://www.ehow.com/how_2006013_troubleshoot-epson-inkjet.html

How to Troubleshoot a Brother Printer

Troubleshooting anything is a process. Windows has a troubleshooting printer wizard, but it rarely seems to work. Troubleshooting printers is fairly easy work. Take one step at a time in troubleshooting, and then after each step, see if the problem is fixed. Brother printers are fairly easy to use, and you should be able to take the following steps to fix almost any problem.

• Check the printer for any jams or blockages, and remove any that exist.
• Delete any print jobs in the queue. Go to the printer's control box and double click on the printer you want, then select any print jobs and select "Delete."
• Turn the printer completely off and unplug it. Wait about 30 seconds and turn the printer back on.
• Restart the computer. Close all your programs, shut down the computer and wait a few seconds. You may want to turn the printer off again. Restart the printer and the computer.
• Go back to the printer panel and select the printer, and then select "Delete." Select the "Add Printer Wizard" and add the printer again.
• Download the latest drivers by going to Brother's website and finding the latest driver revisions. Right click on the printer, and click "Properties." Look in all the different tabs to find a button that says something similar to "New Driver" or "Update driver." After selecting, point the wizard to find the new drivers that were downloaded.
  
  
  Source- http://www.ehow.com/how_4965925_troubleshoot-brother-printer.html

How to Troubleshoot Canon Printers

If you are having trouble getting your Canon printer to print properly or even turn on at all you don't have to immediately resort to returning it or taking it to an electronics repair facility. There are several different troubleshooting steps you can follow on your own and in conjunction with Canon's printing software to get your printer back in operating condition quickly.

• See if your Canon printer has its indicator lights flashing in a specific pattern and then consult your manual to see if there is a corresponding error code. Follow the instructions in the manual for how to fix the associated problem, or continue on with more troubleshooting if it isn't displaying a specific error code.
• Make sure the power cord is plugged into your wall outlet and the USB cable is firmly connected to your computer. Open the top of the printer and do a quick visual inspection to see if there is a piece of paper stuck in the paper feed.
• Restart your computer and attempt to print off something new in case the computer has stopped recognizing your printer or the print queue has stopped responding due to a software error.
• Navigate to your computer's "Control Panel" and click on the "Printers and Faxes" option. Click on the "Add A Printer" button if your Canon printer isn't showing up in the list. Follow the on-screen instructions so that your computer will run a test to try to detect the printer.
• Try uninstalling and re-installing the Canon software that came with your printer and then navigate your Web browser to their official Web page and download the most recent version of the software driver.
• Open the Canon printer software and choose the "Properties" or "Options" tab. Click on the option to "Test Alignment" or "Clean Print Heads," depending on which version of the software you are using. Wait for the printer to finish its alignment and then print off a test page. Check to see if the test page printed properly and then contact Canon for repair or replacement options if it still isn't working properly.
  
  
  Source:- http://www.ehow.com/how_4761907_troubleshoot-canon-printers.html