Printer Troubleshooting

Correct Answer: Worn out drum

The most likely cause of a faded line appearing at regular intervals on a printed page is a worn out drum. The drum is responsible for transferring the toner to the paper, and if it is worn out, it can cause issues like faded or repeated lines on the printed output. Low toner levels can result in faded or light printing overall, but not typically at regular intervals. An incorrect printer driver may lead to poor print quality or compatibility issues, but again, not usually causing a specific repeated pattern. A dirty print head is more relevant to inkjet printers and would likely manifest as streaks or inconsistent colors rather than a distinct, repeating faded line.

Correct Answer: Clean the printer's feed rollers

The most likely cause of a printer not pulling paper from the tray is dirty or worn feed rollers. The feed rollers grip the paper and pull it into the printer. Over time, they can accumulate dust, debris, and wear down, reducing their ability to properly feed paper. Cleaning the feed rollers is the best solution to restore reliable paper feeding. Replacing the entire printer is unnecessary and wasteful if the issue is just with the feed rollers. Likewise, the print head and printer drivers are unrelated to the mechanical issue of pulling paper from the tray, so replacing the print head or reinstalling the drivers would not resolve the paper feed problem.

Correct Answer: Clean or replace the print head

The most likely cause of horizontal white lines on printed images is a clogged or damaged print head. Print heads contain nozzles that spray ink onto the paper, and if some nozzles become clogged or fail, they will not dispense ink properly, resulting in white lines where ink is missing. Cleaning the print head can often clear minor clogs and restore normal printing. If cleaning doesn't resolve the issue, the print head may need to be replaced. Resetting the printer, replacing the entire printer, or updating firmware would not typically resolve print quality issues caused by a faulty print head.