Do You Know Your Printer?

Over the past few years, for unknown reasons, I’ve become the designated person for fixing printers and copiers around the office. And I have to admit, I’ve enjoyed it. If there’s a paper jam, the feeder’s getting stuck, or the finisher won’t staple — you know who to look for.

And after working with a single machine, you get familiar with it. You know where the paper jam is before you even open up the printer, you know that it’s the wrong type of paper and not the feeder that’s acting up, and you know that (even though the light isn’t blinking) the finisher just needs a refill of staples.

That’s why today’s videos covering printers and scanners (video 8 on their use and video 9 on troubleshooting techniques) were very interesting to me. It was fascinating to learn the six step process of electro photographic printing. The detailed diagrams of the entire process were very helpful in visualizing how this looks, how it works, and how each step needs to be flawless to create each printed page.

I don’t want to brag or anything, but I aced the mini-quiz on the EP print process that David Davis, the instructor, surprised me with at the end of the video. And that’s good news because I heard that this will very likely be on the A+ exam (wink-wink to all those studying for the A+).

The last section on troubleshooting was very informative because it offered some good tips on identifying probable causes and how to find solutions. As David Davis points out, troubleshooting techniques for printers are very similar to PC troubleshooting procedures in many cases.

For all those who are also studying for the A+ exam here’s some information on the exam objectives. The two videos covered objectives:

• 4.1 - identifying differences between types, purposes and characteristics of printers, scanners, and their components
• 4.2 - identifying basic concepts of installing, configuring, optimizing, and upgrading printers and scanners
• 4.3 - identifying tools, basic diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting techniques for printers and scanners

If you want to see a video from the CompTIA A+ course click here!

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Are you in the process of preparing for the CompTIA A+ certification? Looking for a little motivation? Then listen up …

As an added incentive to a great credential, CompTIA is giving away free CompTIA A+ t-shirts to anyone who gets A+ certified before March 31st 2008! All you have to do is register for this offer and earn your cert by the end of March. That’s almost six months to get your act together and earn your cert! Make this your end of year resolution and start the New Year with confidence and an added boost to your career!

To get your free CompTIA A+ t-shirt register at ComTIA.org!

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