BASIC COMPUTER
TROUBLESHOOTING: LESSON FIVE
PRINTER AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS NOTES
BTCCIT AND BTCRAM-SEMESTER II
By Paul Mazoya
Informatics Dept.
IAA
CLASS- 2024/2025
1
0763612036
PRINTER INSTALLATION
A computer printer does not work until you install the
included drivers and software.
If you have lost the CD for your printer, you can download
the drivers for your printer and use them to install your
printer.
Task:
Try to download the drivers for HP Laser Jet P2035
printer series Or any printer drivers and run it on any
PC.
Basic Steps to install a printer
1. Connect the printer to the computer either using a USB cable,
parallel port cable.
2. Turn on using the power button on the front of the printer.
3. After everything is plugged in, turn on the computer
4. Insert the CD that came with the printer from manufacturer. If the
CD does not automatically start, open My Computer, double-click the
CD drive, and then click the Setup or Install file.
OR
Download the driver file then run the downloaded setup file.
5. Follow the installation wizard steps, and once completed, your
driver software will be already installed.
Troubleshooting a printer
1. make sure the printer is connected to a working power
outlet by verifying each end of the power cable and press
the printer power button.
2. Make sure that the tray has plain papers for printing
3. Make sure the ink cartridges contains enough ink (The low
ink indicator do not show up)
4. Make sure there is no Paper jam (The paper jam indicator
do not show up)
5. Make sure the power and data cables (parallel cable or
USB cable) are connected to both the printer and computer.
PRINTER ERROR INDICATOR LIGHTS
Why is my computer so slow?
Reasons: There are many reasons a computer can be slower than when it was new.
1. Computers with Windows operating system get slower over time as programs are added and
removed and changes are made to the software and operating system.
2. Availability of Many unnecessary files (Temp files and log files)
3. Availability of Malware/Spyware installed from online downloading activities
4. Damaged/Bad RAM
Solutions:
5. Formatting the hard drive and reinstall everything from scratch (The operating system and the
Application programs) to keep things running smooth.
6. Cleaning up all unnecessary files such as temp files and log files. You can use the Windows
cleanup or any other cleanup application
7. Use anti- Spyware\Malware programs that can scan your system for infections.
8. Replacing RAM
my computer is rebooting/restarting itself randomly?
Reasons: A computer shutting down or rebooting can be caused by different things
The 3 most common areas are
1. power supply going bad,
2. motherboard going bad (worst case and the most common)
3. computer overheating
4. Damaged/Bad RAM
5. Damaged/Bad HDD
Solutions:
1. Replacing the power supply (They are fairly easy and cheap to replace.)
2. Motherboard is the hardest and expensive part to replace since everything else is connected to it but the following
can be done.
To Reinstall a new motherboard or
To recover the data and change the whole computer system
3. To check the BIOS and see if there is any settings of maximum temperature to shut off the computer at a certain
temperature.
These setting is done to prevent the computer from being damaged from overheating.
4. Replacing the RAM (They are fairly easy and cheap to replace.)
5. Replacing the HDD and reinstall the operating system or (Change the
current operating system)
How to remove/clean temporary files in windows 10
1. Open settings on windows 10
2. Click on system
3. Click on storage
4. Select temporary files under the local disc C
5. Select the temporary files you want to remove and click remove
When printing a message comes “Your
printer is not connected to the computer.”
Reasons:
1. The printer cable is not connected to computer
2. The Network cable is not connected to the computer
3. The power cable is not connected/No power is supplies to the printer
4. The printer is not set as Default printer
5. Drivers are missing
Solutions:
6. Check the connection cable and make sure it is connected
7. Check the network cable connection if the it is a networked printer
8. Check the power cable if is connected and the power is available
9. Open Settings then Printers and Faxes make sure that your printer is there and is set as default.
10. Update or reinstall the printer drivers
I shut down the computer then when I try to
start up nothing happens.
Reasons:
1. No power on the source
2. The power on/off switch is damaged
3. Bad power supply
Solutions:
4. Check the power source
5. Open the computer case and find the wire that connects the power
button to the motherboard.
6. replacing the Power Supply
My computer is not giving out sound
Reasons:
1. speaker physical connection problems/disconnected or zero/ low volume
2. The speaker not listed among the devices on the device manager list
3. Driver problems in Device manager
Solutions:
4. Check the speakers and volume if are plugged in and are working
properly.
5. To Make sure nothing is muted and that the sound device is listed among
the devices on the device manager list.
6. To update or Reinstall the required speaker Drivers
