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