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Troubleshooting

  • Mop Bucket / Wash Tub / Plastic Tray Small Phillips Screwdriver (optional)
    Fantastic Spray Cleaner "Pointed" Tweezers
    Coffee Filters (lint free paper) Fingernail File
    Shop Rags (blue paper towels) Q-tips
    Rubber Gloves (Nurse's Office?) Rubbing Alcohol
  • 600 series cleaning kit

    • This kit comes with new cartridges. Read the directions!

    Manual Cleaning

    • Clean the Cartridges
    • Clean the Print heads
    • Clean the Carriage Bar & Encoder Strip (gently)
  • If paper will not pick up

    • Remove the Paper Tray
      • Look for foreign objects
    • Check the Tension bars
    • Check Paper switch for Banner or Cut Sheet

    Nothing comes out when I send a print job

    • Check Software Controls
    • With Mac, is the print queue stopped?
    • With Mac, is the printer plugged into the modem port (not the printer port)? This is for stand-alone printers, not networked.
    • With Windows, is the printer shared and the print server turned on?
    • With Windows, are you logged in? If you are not logged in, you cannot print to any networked printers.
    • With Windows, is the printer marked work offline?
    • With Windows, if all your printers have disappeared, reboot your computer.
    • Squirt the rag/cloth and rub the keys.
    • Flip the keyboard upside down and shake vigorously
    • Use tweezers to pull out the big stuff and to get the dust bunnies
    • If you spill a soda or coffee in your keyboard, DO NOT WAIT for a tech. Take the bottle of alcohol with the keyboard to a sink and poor the alcohol over the spill and let it run out the bottom. Invert the keyboard over a cloth and let it drain and dry for a day. If you don't have alcohol, use tap water, shake out the excess, invert it on a cloth, and let it dry 4-5 days before using. DON'T plug it in wet!!! (duh)
    • If a child throws up in a keyboard, throw it away!
    • Is it plugged in?
    • With Windows, most of the time, you must restart the computer to activate a keyboard or a mouse. You might actually harm the Motherboard by unplugging and plugging in keyboards and mice with the computer on.
    • With Macs, plug and unplug as needed.
    • Turn it off!
    • Unplug it!
    • Squirt the rag, not the monitor.
    • Is it turned on, plugged in?
    • Is the bright and contrast turned up?
    • Check the connection in the back.
    • Check for any bent pins.
    •  Always pull straight out and push straight in! If you feel ANY resistance, STOP! Check for bent pins. (This is a great RULE of THUMB for any computer connections.)
    • Don't soak mouse balls in water or alcohol!
    • Use hand soap and water on mouse balls.
    • Interior cleaning
      • Alcohol and Q-tip to scrub. If you need more scrubbing power, pull the cotton swab off one end, and use the paper stick.
      • Use tweezers to remove the dust bunnies.
    • Mouse pads?
      • With cloth, scrub lightly, shake off, throw away after they have outlived their usefulness.
      • With plastic, scrub lightly. If it feels very slick then throw away.
    • Is it plugged in?
      • With Windows, most of the time, you must restart the computer to activate a keyboard or a mouse. You might actually harm the Motherboard by unplugging and plugging in keyboards and mice with the computer on.
      • With Macs, plug and unplug as needed.
    • Check the connection in the back.
    • Is the BALL still in the mouse?
    • Does it jump, click when moving, or the arrow stop moving? Clean it.
    • Check for any bent pins.
    • Always pull straight out and push straight in! If you feel ANY resistance, STOP! Check for bent pins. (This is a great RULE of THUMB for any computer connections.)
    • Can you hear a click when you depress the clicker?
    • With a covering, please do nothing fancy (i.e an old sheet). NOTHING PLASTIC!
      • Especially if near a chalk board.
      • Especially over weekends or long holidays, not necessary over night.
      • If you cover, TURN IT OFF! The monitor AND the computer!
    • REBOOT at least once a day.
      • This does remarkable things like letting your computer do some house keeping. It deletes temp files, memory cache, internet cache.
      • It should improve slow response times and printer response as well.
      • In general, it helps clean out the electronic cobwebs that build up in the computer's memory.
    • Anti-Virus Live Update
      • DO IT!
      • As your computer notifies you that it is needed, allow it to happen. If you have trouble connecting, open a browser window and it will work better.
    • Virus Scanning
      • DO IT! Occasionally, once a week or so.
      • Windows
        • My Computer > Right click on Drive to scan > scan OR
        • Start > Programs > Norton's Anti-Virus Scan Drive
      • Mac
        • From your Launcher or Hard drive, find your Norton's or SAM Anti-Virus software. Run it. Macs have many fewer viruses, but the ones that are there may be harder to diagnose.
      • Scan Disk (Windows)
        • DO IT!
          • BUT you must first turn off your screen saver or set to 20-30 minutes.
            • Windows > Right Click on desktop Properties > Screen Saver TAB > change screen saver to NONE.
        • Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scan Disk
          • It should take about 20-30 minutes depending on the state of your computer.
          • This fixes registry problems, shortcuts, and lost file clusters.
          • During a Blue Screen Scandisk, IF you get a message about lost clusters, etc.
            • SKIP UNDO
            • DELETE
      • DeFrag (Windows)
        • Once every 6 weeks or so. Student Stations may need it more often.
    • Zap the Pram
      • When you first turn on the computer
        • Immediately hold down Apple Option P R all together!
        • Continue to hold until you hear the startup tones 2 more times. If you see the OS Screen, you weren't fast enough! Try again!
    • Rebuild the desktop with extensions off
      • As soon as you hear the startup tones, hold down the shift key. If you have been zapping, after the 3rd set of tones:
        • Continue to hold down the shift key until you see Extensions Off on the screen. Don't talk, don't visit, FOCUS!
        • Immediately shift fingers to Apple Option (only). Continue to hold these 2 keys down until the screen asks 'Are you sure you want to rebuild the desktop?'
        • Click OK
        • Depending on the state of your computer, this may take a while. You should see a progress bar/meter to indicate the status.
        • When it finishes, you will need to RESTART your computer one more time. It will rebuild the desktop one more time on its own. (Let it!)
    • If you zap the Pram more than 3 times at once, you will also reset your date, time and network connections. You would then go to the control panels and reset those choices (advanced class).