This article contains links to content that describes how to fix the most common printer issues. Look to see if your printer issue is addressed by these links.
This article also lists system and online resources that you can use to help you solve your printing problem. For example, this article describes how to use the Printing Troubleshooter, which is included in Windows XP and provides guided assistance to help you diagnose and solve your printer issue.
To resolve the most common Windows XP printer issues, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:
To resolve most printer issues, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Finding printer help in Windows XP
Windows XP Help and Support Center contains many help topics to help you solve printer problems.
To locate printer help in Windows XP, do the following:
- Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
- On the Help menu, click Help and Support Center.
- In Help and Support Center, click Fixing a printing problem.
You can also type search terms into the Search field in Help and Support Center, and then press ENTER. - Select a topic that addresses your printer problem.
How to use the Printing Troubleshooter
The Printing Troubleshooter is included in Windows XP and has step-by-step instructions
for troubleshooting the following printing problems in Windows XP:
- You cannot install a local printer.
- Your photo printout quality is poor.
- Your document does not print at all.
- Some of your printer's features do not
work.
- Printed text or graphics is incomplete.
- Fonts are missing or do not look the same as they do on the
screen.
- Printing is unusually slow.
- You cannot print from an MS-DOS-based program or from the
MS-DOS command prompt.
- You receive the following error message:
The printer driver is not compatible with a policy enabled on
your computer that blocks Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 kernel-mode drivers.
How to start the Printing Troubleshooter
If you are already familiar with Windows XP Help and Support
Center,
click
here
(hcp://help/tshoot/tsprint.htm)
to start the Printing Troubleshooter automatically.
If you are not yet familiar with Windows XP Help and
Support Center, or if the link does not work, we recommend that you follow these steps to start the Printing Troubleshooter:
- Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
- On the Help menu, click Help and Support Center.
- In Help and Support Center, click Fixing a printing problem.
- In the right pane, click Printing Troubleshooter.
How to use the Printing Troubleshooter
- Click the option that describes the problem that is
occurring, and then click Next.
- Repeat step 1 until your problem is resolved or you have
reached the end of the troubleshooting path. Notice that you can click Back at any time to repeat the last step, or click Start Over to start the Printing Troubleshooter again.
Most Windows XP printer problems can be resolved by visiting the following Microsoft Web site:
The following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles address frequent printer problems.
302903
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302903/
)
Photo printing wizard does not print .ico, .emf or .wmf files
282833
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282833/
)
Error message appears after printing to a network printer
282120
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282120/
)
Epson printer may be unable to print with the Epson "Print Preview" option enabled
282897
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282897/
)
Printed
colors may not match the colors on the screen
810894
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810894/
)
Error message: Spooler subsystem app has encountered a problem and needs to close
314085
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314085/
)
Advanced troubleshooting for when you cannot print in Windows XP
314073
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314073/
)
Advanced troubleshooting for network printing problems in Windows XP
315325
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315325/
)
You cannot print documents after upgrade to Windows XP
If you cannot resolve the problem by using the Windows XP or online resources that are listed in this article, you can
use the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site to find a solution to your
problem. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web
site provides include the following:
- Searchable
Knowledge Base
Search technical support information and self-help tools for
Microsoft products. - Self Support
Select a Product Solution Center. - Software and
Updates
Find software and updates on the Download Center. - Assisted Support
Select a product to view your assisted support options.
If the resources that are listed here do not help you resolve the problem, or if you experience symptoms that differ from those that are described in this article, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for more information. To search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Next, type the text of the error message that you receive or a description of the problem in the search field.
Note If the problem is not resolved, unfortunately this content is unable to help you any further. So, you might want to ask someone for help, or you might want to visit the following Microsoft Web site:
For troubleshooting steps and an automatic fix for common printer problems in Windows, please see the following Microsoft web page:
Troubleshooter: Printer problems in Windows
(http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/printer-problems-in-windows)
Article ID: 308028 - Last Review: November 15, 2012 - Revision: 15.0
Applies to
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
| kbresolve kbenv kbinfo kbprint kbtshoot KB308028 |
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