Troubleshooting Printing Problems on Notebook Computers

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

When you are troubleshooting printing problems on a notebook computer, first determine whether the computer is connected to a docking station. If the printer cable connects to the docking station, the problems may be caused by a poor connection between the port and its connector in the docking station, or the connector in the docking station may be defective.

MORE INFORMATION

A docking station acts as an intermediate device between the notebook computer and external devices such as printers, CD players, standard keyboards, and disk drives. These devices are permanently connected to the docking station. This allows notebook computer users to use these devices, yet quickly mount or unmount the computer from them. The computer plugs into the station rather than the devices.

When you print from a notebook computer connected to a docking station, you may receive garbled output, even when printing from MS-DOS. If you experience this problem when your computer is connected to a docking station, do the following to correct the problem:

1. Turn off the computer and the printer.

2. Disconnect the printer cable from the docking station and connect it to the appropriate port on the notebook computer.

3. Turn on both the computer and the printer.

4. Print a text file from MS-DOS (for example, the AUTOEXEC.BAT file or the SETUP.TXT file from the Windows directory). If this file prints successfully, proceed to step 5; if not, use another printer cable and repeat the test. If the test fails again, take the computer to a service technician to test the port.

5. Continue with the standard Windows printing troubleshooting steps (print from Windows Write, print to a file, and so forth).