| Computers are becoming commonplace in homes | | | | printer to communicate with your computer's |
| and offices around the world. The problem is that | | | | operating system, and vise versa.The |
| most people know so very little about their | | | | manufacturer of your printer sent out a software |
| computers, that when something goes wrong, | | | | disc with the printer. On this disk, you can find the |
| they do not know how to begin the | | | | default driver for that printer.As computing |
| troubleshooting process.The ugly truth is that we | | | | evolves, printer manufacturers upgrade their |
| could opt to call the technical support phone | | | | drivers to either improve the printer's |
| number that came with the computer, but you | | | | performance or to keep up with changing |
| never really know what you are going to get at | | | | Operating Systems.Of course, you could go to a |
| the other end of the phone. You could literally | | | | website that has been established to give you a |
| spend several hours just waiting to get to a | | | | one-stop shop for finding hardware drivers online. |
| technician, and then once you have the human on | | | | A couple of the most common sites of this type |
| the line, there is just as good of a chance that | | | | are:* these global sites are good, they don't |
| they will not have a clue, as there is that they will | | | | always deliver the most up-to-date drivers that |
| find your solution.I know this because I used to | | | | are available from the manufacturer.Here is an |
| work in a computer technical support call center. | | | | assortment of the Support / Driver Download |
| You would be amazed who can pass as a | | | | URL's for most of the major |
| technician! For most new hires, the only | | | | manufacturers:Brother - - - - - Packard - - Minolta |
| pre-qualifying knowledge that is necessary is being | | | | - - - - Bowes - - - / Tektronix - Unseen Printing |
| able to navigate the current Windows Operating | | | | IndustryPrinters are cheap to replace as a general |
| System.Management feels that if you can | | | | rule. If you have a printer whose transport motor |
| navigate Windows, then you can navigate the | | | | failed, it might actually be cheaper to throw the |
| database to dig up a solution. The problem with | | | | printer in the trash and replace it with a new one. |
| this kind of thinking is that the person at the call | | | | Sure, it might seem logical to buy a new motor |
| center is often lost to find a solution that is not | | | | and to replace the dead motor, but do compare |
| yet in the database.Of course, all front line | | | | pricing options first.What most people fail to |
| technicians have a help desk to call, but in my | | | | realize is that the printer companies are not |
| own experience, help desk posts were assigned | | | | making their money on manufacturing and selling |
| based on politics and not technical knowledge. We | | | | printers. Sure, they do still make a profit when |
| ended up with some real idiots at our help desk. | | | | you buy your printer, but that is not the activity |
| Call those people once or twice, and you will | | | | that keeps their stockholders happy.When buying |
| eventually decide that you stand a stronger | | | | a printer, it really does make a lot of sense to |
| chance to succeed on your own, than you would | | | | compare the prices of replacement cartridges |
| be able to accomplish going upstream in the | | | | before you buy the printer. I bought a laser |
| support systems.The Business of Printing | | | | printer one time and was really excited about my |
| SupportFortunately, computer printers do not | | | | new tool that is until I priced a replacement |
| break that often. But when they do, | | | | cartridge for it. $180 a pop for a remanufactured |
| troubleshooting can be a painful process.There are | | | | laser printer cartridge. Egad! That was more than |
| some basics that you can cover to streamline the | | | | I paid for the printer. I even bought a |
| troubleshooting process.Be forewarned that if you | | | | replacement printer for less money.Sometimes, |
| ever crack the case of your printer, you should | | | | there is a challenge to find your printer toner |
| make darn sure to disconnect the power source | | | | cartridge at your local shopping center. With so |
| before you do so. Printers that are connected to | | | | many varieties of printers out there, most supply |
| a power supply can actually charge you up with | | | | stores will not keep all of the various |
| enough current to kill you. Don't take chances with | | | | replacements on hand.While it might make sense |
| your life.Long before you get to the point of | | | | to go to the manufacturer website to buy |
| trying to crack the case to reach the internals, | | | | replacement toner kits and cartridges, they |
| there are several troubleshooting steps you can | | | | generally charge a premium for those |
| take.* Always check your power supply to see | | | | replacements. The manufacturer premiums can |
| that you have a good, solid connection. I know | | | | sometimes be as much as three times more |
| that it seems the most logical step to take, but | | | | expensive than what you can buy from a good |
| you might be surprised how often a powerless | | | | third-party provider --- even when that third-party |
| machine is discovered to be an unplugged | | | | provider bought the replacement from a |
| machine.* If the printer has power going to it, | | | | middleman. It is just like the airline industry. It is |
| then turn off the machine and then turn it back | | | | often cheaper to buy your plane tickets from a |
| on. Each printer has an internal brain in it. | | | | travel company than from the airline itself.With |
| Removing power temporarily from the machine | | | | the printer currently sitting on my desk, I save |
| will force the computer chip inside of the printer | | | | $14-$17 on my color cartridge by buying my |
| to reset. Often times, this will solve any issues.* | | | | printer supplies from Toner-R Printing Supplies. By |
| Make sure that your printer cartridge is properly | | | | using this third-party provider, I save $14 against |
| seated. Make sure the cartridge is in the printer | | | | the manufacturer's website, and I can save $17 |
| the way that the manufacturer intended.* Use | | | | against Wal-Mart's prices. On the black toner |
| the printer's "self-test" feature. The manufacturer | | | | cartridge, I still save money buying from I can |
| has included this to help you to eliminate common | | | | save $5 against buying the replacement from the |
| printing problems.These four steps will help you to | | | | manufacturer, and I can save $6 against buying |
| overcome the problems most commonly | | | | from Wal-Mart. And, we have been trained to |
| associated with printers.For a complete | | | | believe that Wal-Mart always has the best prices. |
| breakdown of generic troubleshooting steps, the | | | | Imagine that.When it is time to buy a printer, |
| following URL points to the most comprehensive | | | | never think that the manufacturer has your best |
| and easy-to-follow checklist I have seen: Are the | | | | interests at heart. They are in this business to |
| Software Applications That Power PrintersA | | | | make the most money they can, period. |
| driver is the software package that enables your | | | | |