TITLE
    USB: Basic USB Printer Troubleshooting
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		58028
8/14/98
4/13/00
TOPIC

    Is there some method for testing the basic functionality of a USB printer?

DISCUSSION

    The following steps will verify the basic functionality of a USB printer connected to a USB capable Macintosh computer.

    Before performing the troubleshooting steps, make sure of the following:

    • Plug the printer into a USB port on the computer.
    • Confirm that the USB printer is powered on.
    • Confirm that the USB printer is selected in the Chooser.
    • Close and reopen the Chooser and confirm that the USB printer is still selected.
    • Verify that there are no extra blank selectable lines in the Chooser "Connect To" window. (Clicking on the blank area below the printer and modem ports should deselect what is active. )

    Note : Successfully completing any THREE of the following procedures will show that the USB printer is working correctly. A number of procedures are offered to account for differences in setup, software, and available printer options.
    • Print a one-page document which includes text and graphics from a word processor such as ClarisWorks or Microsoft Word.
    • Print a five-page document which includes multiple fonts and font sizes using either SimpleText or ClarisWorks.
    • Print test documents from your word processor using different printing options (odd/even pages, from/to pages, etc.).
    • Print the Desktop.
    • Print in grayscale.

    If you continue to have difficulty, ensure you have the most current USB print driver by checking with the vendor of the printer. Many problems can be resolved by a simple driver update.


Document Information
Product Area: iMac
Category: iMac Hardware
Sub Category: Troubleshooting

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