For the most part, printers on computers work quite fine. Troubleshooting can be a long and frustrating procedure when they do occur.
To speed up the troubleshooting process, there are a few things you may do.
Never crack the printer case without first disconnecting the power source, this is a word of caution. You can get electrocuted by printers that are powered by an external source. Don't put your life at risk.
There are a number of troubleshooting procedures you can take before attempting to open the case and access the internals.
* Make sure you have a firm connection to your power supply at all times. I know it sounds like the obvious thing to do, but you might be shocked at how often an underpowered equipment is actually an unplugged one.
Make sure that the printer is plugged in before you turn the machine off and then back on again. There's a little brain inside every printer. The printer's computer chip must be reset if power is temporarily removed from the machine. Most problems can be solved this way.
* Verify that the ink cartridge in your printer is seated correctly. Make sure the printer cartridge is inserted in the correct position.
Make sure you are using the printer's "self-test" function. This was added by the manufacturer to help you avoid typical printing issues.
In order to avoid the most common printer issues, follow these four steps.