© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. 7.0 Introduction  This chapter will provide essential information about printers and scanners. You will learn how printers operate, what to consider when purchasing a printer, and how to connect printers to an individual computer or to a network. Printers produce paper copies of electronic files. Scanners allow users to convert paper documents into electronic files. Many government regulations require physical records; therefore, hard copies of computer documents are often as important today as they were when the paperless revolution began several years ago. You must understand the operation of various types of printers and scanners to be able to install and maintain them, as well as troubleshoot any problems that may arise. After completing this chapter, you will meet these objectives: list of 6 items • Describe the types of printers currently available. • Describe the installation and configuration process for printers. • Describe the types of scanners currently available. • Describe the installation and configuration process for scanners. • Identify and apply common preventive maintenance techniques for printers and scanners. • Troubleshoot printers and scanners. list end 7.1 Describe the types of printers currently available  As a computer technician, you may be required to purchase, repair, or maintain a printer. The customer may request you to perform the following tasks: list of 3 items • Select a printer. • Install and configure a printer. • Troubleshoot a printer. list end After completing this section, you will meet these objectives: list of 7 items • Describe characteristics and capabilities of printers. • Describe printer-to-computer interfaces. • Describe laser printers. • Describe impact printers. • Describe inkjet printers. • Describe solid-ink printers. • Describe other printer types. list end  7.1   Describe the types of printers currently available       7.1.1   Describe characteristics and capabilities of printers     table end Printers available today are usually either laser printers using electrophotographic technology or inkjet printers using electrostatic spray technology. Dot matrix printers using impact technology are used in applications that require carbon copies. Figure 1 shows a list of printer selection criteria. Capacity and Speed Printer capacity and speed are factors to consider when selecting a printer. Inkjet printers are usually slower, but they may be adequate for a home or small office. The speed of a printer is measured in pages per minute (ppm). The speed of an inkjet printer is 2 – 6 ppm. The speed of an laser printer is 8 – 200 ppm. Color or Black and White A computer monitor produces colors through the additive mixing of dots that are displayed on the screen. The eye picks up the colors directly. The dots produce the color range using red, green, and blue (RGB) dots. A printer produces colors using subtractive mixing. The eye sees a color that reflects from the combination of colors on the paper. Figure 2 shows a CMYK color wheel. The choice between a black-and-white printer and a color printer depends on the needs of your customer. If your customer is primarily printing letters and does not need color capability, a black-and-white printer will be sufficient. However, an elementary school teacher might need a color printer to add excitement to lessons. Quality The quality of printing is measured in dots per inch (dpi). The more dpi, the higher the resolution. When the resolution is higher, text and images are usually clearer. To produce the best high-resolution images, you should use both high-quality ink or toner and high-quality paper. Reliability A printer should be reliable. Because there are so many types of printers on the market, you should research the specifications of several printers before selecting one. Here are some of the options available from the manufacturer: list of 3 items • Warranty – Identify what is covered within the warranty. • Scheduled servicing – Servicing is based on expected usage. Information is found in the manual or on the manufacturer's website. • Mean time between failures (MTBF) – There is an average length of time that the printer will work without failing. Information is found in the manual or on the manufacturer's website. list end Total Cost of Ownership Consider the cost when selecting hardware. When buying a printer, there is more than just the initial cost of the printer to consider. The total cost of ownership (TCO) includes a number of factors: list of 5 items • Initial purchase price • Cost of supplies, such as paper and ink • Price per page • Maintenance costs • Warranty costs list end When calculating the TCO, you should also consider the amount of material printed and the expected lifetime of the printer. elements in Printer Selection Capacity, Speed, Color, Quality, Reliability  7.1   Describe the types of printers currently available       7.1.2   Describe printer to computer interfaces     table end A computer must be have a compatible interface with the printer to be able to print documents. Typically, printers connect to home computers using a parallel, USB, or wireless interface. Corporate printers may connect to a network using a network cable. Serial Serial data transfer is the movement of single bits of information in a single cycle. A serial connection can be used for dot matrix printers because the printers do not require high-speed data transfer. Parallel Parallel data transfer is faster than serial data transfer. Parallel data transfer is the movement of multiple bits of information in a single cycle. The path is wider for information to move to or from the printer. IEEE 1284 is the current standard for parallel printer ports. Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) and Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) are two modes of operation within the IEEE 1284 standard that allow bi-directional communication. SCSI Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is a type of interface that uses parallel communication technology to achieve high data-transfer rates. USB USB is a common interface for printers and other devices. The speed and simple setup has made USB very practical. Newer operating systems offer PnP USB support. When a USB device is added to a computer system supporting PnP, the device is automatically detected and starts the driver installation process. FireWire FireWire, also known as i.LINK or IEEE 1394, is a high-speed communication bus that is platform independent. FireWire connects digital devices such as digital printers, scanners, digital cameras, and hard drives. FireWire allows a peripheral device, such as a printer, to seamlessly plug into a computer. It also allows a device such as printer to be hot-swappable. FireWire provides a single plug-and-socket connection that can attach up to 63 devices. FireWire has a data transfer rate of up to 400 Mbps. Ethernet Printers can be shared over a network. Connecting a printer to the network requires cabling that is compatible with both the existing network and the network port installed in the printer. Most network printers use an RJ-45 interface to connect to a network. Wireless Wireless printing technology is available in infrared, Bluetooth, and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) technology. For infrared communication to take place between a printer and a computer, transmitters and receivers are required on both devices. There must be a clear line of sight between the transmitter and receiver on both devices, with a maximum distance of 12 feet (3.7 m). Infrared uses a type of light that is invisible to the human eye. Bluetooth technology uses an unlicensed radio frequency for short-range communication and is popular for wireless headsets and synching PDAs to laptops and desktop computers. A Bluetooth adapter will allow a Bluetooth device to connect to a printer, usually by using a USB port. Wi-Fi is the popular name for a relatively new technology that allows the connection of computers to a network without using cables. There are two common standards for Wi-Fi technology, both of which begin with the number of the IEEE standard 802.11: list of 2 items • 802.11b transfers data at a rate of 11 Mbps. • 802.11g transfers data at a rate of 54 Mbps. 802.11g products are backwards-compatible with 802.11b. list end  7.1   Describe the types of printers currently available       7.1.3   Describe laser printers    table end A laser printer is a high-quality, fast printer that uses a laser beam to create an image. The central part of the laser printer is its electrophotographic drum. The drum is a metal cylinder that is coated with a light-sensitive insulating material. When a beam of laser light strikes the drum, it becomes a conductor at the point where the light hits it. As the drum rotates, the laser beam draws an electrostatic image upon the drum, called the image. The undeveloped or latent image is passed by a supply of dry ink or toner that is attracted to it. The drum turns and brings this image in contact with the paper, which attracts the toner from the drum. The paper is passed through a fuser that is made up of hot rollers, which melts the toner into the paper. Printing Process The laser printer process involves six steps to print information onto a single sheet of paper. Step 1: Cleaning When an image has been deposited on the paper and the drum has separated from the paper, any remaining toner must be removed from the drum. A printer may have a blade that scrapes all excess toner from the drum. Some printers use an AC voltage on a wire that removes the charge from the drum surface and allows the excess toner to fall away from the drum. The excess toner is stored in a used toner container that may be emptied or discarded. Step 2: Conditioning This step involves removing the old latent image from the drum and conditioning the drum for a new latent image. Conditioning is done by placing a special wire, grid, or roller that receives a negative charge of approximately – 600 volts DC uniformly across the surface of the drum. The charged wire or grid is called the primary corona. The roller is called a conditioning roller. Step 3: Writing The writing process involves scanning the photosensitive drum with the laser beam. Every portion of the drum that is exposed to the light has the surface charge reduced to about – 100 volts DC. This electrical charge has a lower negative charge than the remainder of the drum. As the drum turns, an invisible latent image is created on the drum. Step 4: Developing In the developing phase, the toner is applied to the latent image on the drum. The toner is a negatively-charged combination of plastic and metal particles. A control blade holds the toner at a microscopic distance from the drum. The toner then moves from the control blade to the more positively-charged latent image on the drum. Step 5: Transferring In this step, the toner attached to the latent image is transferred to the paper. The transfer, or secondary corona, places a positive charge on the paper. Because the drum was charged negatively, the toner on the drum is attracted to the paper. The image is now on the paper and is held in place by the positive charge. Step 6: Fusing In this step, the toner is permanently fused to the paper. The printing paper is rolled between a heated roller and a pressure roller. As the paper moves through the heated roller and the pressure roller, the loose toner is melted and fused with the fibers in the paper. The paper is then moved to the output tray as a printed page. The following mnemonic will help you to memorize the order of the steps of the laser printing process: Continuous Care Will Delay Trouble Forever (Cleaning, Conditioning, Writing, Developing, Transferring, Fusing). WARNING: The primary corona wire or grid, or the conditioning roller, can be very dangerous. The voltage runs as high as – 6000 volts. Only certified technicians should work on the unit. Before working inside a laser printer, you should make sure that voltage is properly discharged.  7.1   Describe the types of printers currently available       7.1.4   Describe impact printers    table end Impact printers are very basic printers. Impact printers have print heads that strike the inked ribbon, causing characters to be imprinted on the paper. Dot-matrix and daisy-wheel are examples of impact printers. The following are some advantages of an impact printer: list of 3 items • Uses inexpensive consumables • Uses continuous feed paper • Has carbon copy printing ability list end The following are some disadvantages of an impact printer: list of 4 items • Noisy • Low resolution graphics • Limited color capability • Slow printing, normally in the range of 32 to 76 characters per second (cps) list end Types of Impact Printers In the daisy-wheel printer, the wheel contains the letters, numbers, and special characters. The wheel is rotated until the required character is in place, and an electromechanical hammer pushes the character into the ink ribbon. The character then strikes the paper, imprinting the character on the paper. The dot-matrix printer is similar to the daisy-wheel printer, except that instead of a wheel containing the characters, a print head contains pins that are surrounded by electromagnets. When energized, the pins push forward onto the ink ribbon, creating a character on the paper. The number of pins on a print head, 9 or 24, indicates the quality of the print. The highest quality of print that is produced by the dot matrix printer is referred to as near letter quality (NLQ). Most dot-matrix printers use continuous feed paper. The paper has perforations between each sheet and perforated strips on the side used to feed the paper and to prevent skewing or shifting. Sheet feeders that print one page at a time are available in some of the higher-quality office printers. A large roller, called the platen, applies pressure to keep the paper from slipping. If a multiple-copy paper is used, the platen gap can be adjusted to the thickness of the paper.  7.1   Describe the types of printers currently available       7.1.5   Describe inkjet printers    table end Inkjet printers produce high-quality prints. Inkjet printers are easy to use and inexpensive compared to laser printers. The print quality of an inkjet printer is measured in dots per inch (dpi). Higher dpi numbers provide greater image details. Figure 1 shows an all-in-one device that contains an inkjet printer. Figure 2 shows ink jet printer components. Inkjet printers use ink-filled cartridges that spray ink onto a page through tiny holes. The tiny holes are called nozzles. The ink is sprayed in a pattern on the page. There are two types of inkjet nozzles: list of 2 items • Thermal – A pulse of electrical current is applied to heating chambers around the nozzles. The heat creates a bubble of steam in the chamber. The steam forces ink out through the nozzle and onto the paper. • Piezoelectric – Piezoelectric crystals are located in the ink reservoir at the back of each nozzle. A charge is applied to the crystal, causing it to vibrate. This vibration of the crystal controls the flow of ink onto the paper. list end Inkjet printers use plain paper to make economical prints. Special-purpose paper may be used to create high-quality prints of photographs. When the inkjet print is complete and the paper leaves the printer, the ink is often wet. You should avoid touching printouts for 10 to 15 seconds in order to prevent the images from smearing. These are some advantages of an inkjet printer: list of 3 items • Low cost • High resolution • Quick to warm up list end These are some disadvantages of an inkjet printer: list of 3 items • Nozzles are prone to clogging. • Ink cartridges are expensive. • Ink is wet after printing. list end  7.1   Describe the types of printers currently available       7.1.6   Describe solid-ink printers    table end Solid-ink printers use solid sticks of ink rather than toner or ink cartridges. Solid-ink printers produce high-quality images. The ink sticks are nontoxic and can be handled safely. Solid-ink printers melt ink sticks and spray the ink through nozzles. The ink is sprayed onto a drum. The drum transfers the ink to paper. These are some advantages of solid-ink printers: list of 3 items • Produces vibrant color prints • Easy to use • Can use many different paper types list end These are some disadvantages of solid-ink printers: list of 3 items • Printers are expensive • Ink is expensive • They are slow to warm up list end parts of Solid-ink Printer Solid Ink, Transfit Roller Melting Bin Heating Unit, Print Head, Offset Drum, Print Head, Piezo, Nozzle, Ink Droplet  7.1   Describe the types of printers currently available       7.1.7   Describe other printer types    table end Two other printing technologies that you may work with are thermal and dye-sublimation. Thermal Printers Some retail cash registers or older fax machines may contain thermal printers, as shown in Figure 1. The thermal paper used in thermal printers is chemically treated and has a waxy quality. Thermal paper becomes black when heated. Most thermal printer print heads are the width of the paper. Areas of the print head are heated as required to make the pattern on the paper. The paper is supplied in the form of a roll. A thermal printer has the following advantage: list of 1 items • Longer life because there are few moving parts list end A thermal printer has the following disadvantages: list of 4 items • Paper is expensive. • Paper has a short shelf life. • Images are poor quality. • Paper must be stored at room temperature. list end Dye-Sublimation Printers Dye-sublimation printers produce photo-quality images for graphic printing. See Figure 2 for an example of a dye-sublimation printer. This type of printer uses solid sheets of ink that change directly from solid to gas, in a process called sublimating. The print head passes over a sheet of cyan, magenta, yellow, and a clear overcoat (CMYO). There is a pass for each color. Dye-sublimation printers have the following advantages: list of 2 items • Printers produce high-quality images. • Overcoat layer reduces smearing and increases moisture resistance. list end Dye-sublimation printers have the following disadvantages: list of 2 items • Media can be expensive. • Printers are better for color than for grayscale (black and white). list end In photography, both dye-sublimation printers and small color ink-jet printers provide quality prints.   7.2 Describe the installation and configuration process for printers  When you purchase a printer, the installation and configuration information is usually supplied by the manufacturer. An installation CD that includes drivers, manuals, and diagnostic software will be included with the printer. The same tools may also be available as downloads from the manufacturer's website. After completing this section, you will meet these objectives: list of 7 items • Describe how to set up a printer. • Explain how to power and connect the device using a local or network port. • Describe how to install and update the device driver, firmware, and RAM. • Identify configuration options and default settings. • Describe how to optimize printer performance. • Describe how to print a test page. • Describe how to share a printer. list end  7.2   Describe the installation and configuration process for printers       7.2.1   Describe how to set up a printer    table end Although all types of printers are somewhat different to connect and configure, there are procedures that should be applied to all printers. After the printer has been unpacked and placed in position, connect it to the computer, network, or print server and plug it into an electrical outlet. Printer Setup Installation Check the box to ensure all required cables are provided Remove all packing materials from the printer Remove all plastic inserts from the consumables Ensure that the printer location will not cause overheating Install paper trays Install paper Read and follow the instruction manual  7.2   Describe the installation and configuration process for printers       7.2.2   Explain how to power and connect the device using a local or network port     table end Now that the printer has been unpacked and placed in position, you must connect it to the computer, network, or print server and plug it into an electrical outlet. First, connect the appropriate data cable to the communication port on the back of the printer. If the printer has a USB, FireWire, or parallel port, connect the corresponding cable to the printer port. Connect the other end of the data cable to the corresponding port on the back of the computer. If you are installing a network printer, connect the network cable to the network port. After the data cable has been properly connected, attach the power cable to the printer. Connect the other end of the power cable to an available electrical outlet. Warning: Never plug a printer into a UPS. The power surge that occurs when the printer is turned on will damage the UPS unit.  7.2   Describe the installation and configuration process for printers       7.2.3   Describe how to install and update the device driver, firmware, and RAM    table end After you have connected the power and data cables to the printer, the operating system may discover the printer and attempt to install a driver. If you have a driver disc from the manufacturer, use this driver. The driver that is included with the printer is usually more current than the drivers used by the operating system. Figure 1 shows the Add Printer wizard, which can also be used to install the new printer. Printer Driver Printer drivers are software programs that enable the computer and the printer to communicate with each other. Drivers also provide an interface for the user to configure printer options. Every printer model has a unique driver. Printer manufacturers frequently update drivers to increase the performance of the printer, to add options, or to fix problems. You can download new printer drivers from the manufacturer's website. Step 1: Find Out If a Newer Driver Is Available Go to the printer manufacturer's website. Most manufacturers' websites have a link from the main page to a page that offers drivers and support. Make sure the driver is compatible with the computer that you are updating. Step 2: Download the Driver Download the printer driver files to your computer. Most driver files will come in a compressed or "zipped" format. Download the file to a folder and uncompress or "unzip" the contents. Save instructions or documentation to a separate folder on your computer. Step 3: Install the Downloaded Driver Install the downloaded driver automatically or manually. Most printer drivers have a setup file that will automatically search the system for older drivers and replace them with the new one. If there is no setup file available, follow the directions that are supplied by the manufacturer. Step 4: Test the New Printer Driver Run multiple tests to make sure the printer works properly. Use a variety of applications to print different types of documents. Change and test each printer option. Firmware Firmware is a set of instructions stored on the printer. The firmware controls how the printer operates. Figure 2 shows a firmware upgrade utility. The procedure to upgrade firmware is very similar to the procedure for installing printer drivers. Printer Memory Adding printer memory to a printer can improve printing speed and allow the printer to handle more complex print jobs. All printers have at least some amount of memory inside. Generally, the more memory a printer has, the more efficiently it will operate. Figure 3 is a generic list of steps to follow to upgrade printer memory. Consult the printer documentation for memory requirements: list of 2 items • Memory specifications – Some printer manufacturers use standard types of memory and other manufacturers use proprietary memory. Check the documentation for the type of memory, the speed of the memory, and the capacity of memory. • Memory population and availability – Some printers have multiple memory slots. To find out how many memory slots are used and how many are available, you may need to open a compartment on the printer to check memory population. list end installing Printer RAM 1 Turn off the printer. 2 Disconnect all cables. 3 Open the memory compartment. 4 Replace memory modules or add new modules. 5 Close the memory compartment. 6 Reconnect all cables. 7 Power on printer. 8 Run a self-test. 9 Print a test page.  7.2   Describe the installation and configuration process for printers       7.2.4   Identify configuration options and default settings    table end Each printer may have different configurations and default options. Check the printer documentation for information about configurations and default settings. Here are some common configurations that are available for printers: list of 9 items • Paper type – standard, draft, gloss, or photo • Print quality – draft, normal, photo, or automatic • Color printing – multiple colors used • Black-and-white printing – only black ink used • Grayscale printing – color image printed using only black ink in different shades • Paper size – standard paper sizes or envelopes and business cards • Paper orientation – landscape or portrait • Print layout – normal, banner, booklet, or poster • Duplex – normal or two-sided printing  7.2   Describe the installation and configuration process for printers       7.2.5   Describe how to optimize printer performance    table end With printers, most optimization is completed through the software supplied with the drivers. In the software, there are tools available to optimize performance: list of 3 items • Print spool settings – Ability to cancel or pause current print jobs in the printer queue • Color calibration – Ability to adjust settings to match the colors on the screen to the colors on the printed sheet • Paper orientation – Ability to select landscape or portrait image layout list end  7.2   Describe the installation and configuration process for printers       7.2.6   Describe how to print a test page    table end After installing a printer, you should print a test page to verify that the printer is operating properly. The test page confirms that the driver software is installed and working correctly, and that the printer and computer are communicating. Print a Test Page To print a test page manually, use the following path: Start > Printers and Faxes to display the Printers and Faxes menu. Right-click the desired printer and follow this path: Properties > General Tab > Print Test Page A dialog box will open, asking if the page printed correctly. If the page did not print, built-in help files will assist you in troubleshooting the problem. Print from an Application You can also test a printer by printing a test page from an application such as Notepad or WordPad. To access Notepad, use the following path: Start > Programs > Accessories > Notepad A blank document will open. Enter some text in the document. Print it using the following path: File > Print Test a Printer You can also print from the command line to test the printer. Printing from the command line is limited to ASCII files only, such as .txt and .bat files. To send a file to the printer from the command line, use this path: Start > Run The Run box should pop up. Type cmd in the Run box, and then click OK. At the command line prompt, enter the following command: Print thefile.txt Test the Printer from the Printer Panel Most printers have a front panel with controls to allow you to generate test pages. This method of printing enables you to verify the printer operation separately from the network or computer. Consult the printer manufacturer's website or documentation to learn how to print a test page from the front panel of the printer.  7.2   Describe the installation and configuration process for printers       7.2.7   Describe how to share a printer    table end Printer sharing enables multiple users or clients to access a printer that they are not directly connected to. Figure 1 shows several computers with different operating systems, all connected to the same shared printer. This arrangement reduces the expense on a network, because fewer printers are required. Setting up printer sharing is simple with Windows XP. The following steps enable a computer to share a printer: list of 6 items 1. Click Start > Printers and Faxes. 2. Right-click the printer and choose Properties. 3. Select the Share tab. 4. Click the Share this printer radio button, as shown in Figure 2. 5. Keep or change the share name. 6. Click Apply. list end All of the computers that use the shared printer must have the correct drivers installed. Drivers for other operating systems can be installed on the print server. To connect to the printer from another computer on the network, choose Start > Printers and Faxes > Add Printer. The Add Printer Wizard will appear. Follow the steps using the wizard. 7.3 Describe the types of scanners currently available  As a computer technician, you may be required to purchase, repair, or maintain a scanner. The customer may request you to perform the following tasks: list of 3 items • Select a scanner. • Install and configure a scanner. • Troubleshoot a scanner. list end Figure 1 shows some of the different types of scanners. After completing this section, you will meet the following objectives: list of 6 items • Describe scanner types, resolution, and interfaces. • Describe all-in-one devices. • Describe flatbed scanners. • Describe handheld scanners. • Describe drum scanners. • Compare costs of different types of scanners. list end  7.3   Describe the types of scanners currently available       7.3.1   Describe scanner types, resolution, and interfaces    table end Scanners are used to convert printed data or images into an electronic data format that a computer can store or process as required. After an image has been scanned, it can be saved, modified, and even e-mailed as you would with any other file. Although most scanners perform the same operation, there are different types of scanners available, as shown in Figure 1. Click on each type of scanner to learn more information. As with printers, the features, quality, and speed of the different types of scanners vary. Scanners typically create an RGB image that can be converted into common image formats such as JPEG, TIFF, Bitmap, and PNG. An RGB image has three channels: red, green, and blue. RGB channels generally follow the color receptors of the human eye, and are used in computer displays and image scanners. Some scanners have the ability to create text documents using optical character recognition (OCR) software. OCR software is used to convert a scanned printed page into text that can be edited with a word processor. The resolution of a scanner is measured in dots per inch (dpi). Like printers, the higher the dpi, the better the quality of the image. To allow communication of data, the scanner and computer must have compatible interfaces. The interfaces and cables used for printers are typically the same as the interfaces and cables used for scanners, as shown in Figure 2.  7.3   Describe the types of scanners currently available       7.3.2   Describe all-in-one devices    table end An all-in-one device combines the functionality of multiple devices into one physical piece of hardware. The devices may include media card readers and hard drives for storage. All-in-one devices generally include these functions: list of 4 items • Scanner • Printer • Copier • Fax list end All-in-one devices are typically used in home-office environments or where space is limited. These devices are often used with a computer but can operate alone to copy and fax documents. All-In-One Devices Advantages: • All devices are built in: Scanner, Fax, Printer • Low cost • Upgrades are easier: software is designed for all devices • Connection and setup is easy, one port Disadvantages: • Not modular: if one device breaks, all devices may not be operational • Not designed for heavy use  7.3   Describe the types of scanners currently available       7.3.3   Describe flatbed scanners    table end Flatbed scanners are often used to scan books and photographs for archiving. An electronic image is acquired by placing the book or photograph face down on the glass. The scanner head, consisting of an array of image sensors, lies beneath the glass and moves along the item, capturing the image. Sheet feeders can be used with flatbed scanners to scan multiple images. A sheet feeder is a device that can be attached to some flatbed scanners to hold multiple sheets and feed them into the scanner, one at a time. This feature allows for faster scanning; however, the image quality is usually not as good as a flatbed scanner that does not use a sheet feeder.  7.3   Describe the types of scanners currently available       7.3.4   Describe handheld scanners    table end A handheld scanner is small and portable. It is difficult to smoothly scan an image using a handheld scanner. To scan an item, carefully pass the scanner head across the item that you want to scan. As with a flatbed scanner, digital images are made from the images collected by the handheld scanner. When you want to scan an item larger than the head of the handheld scanner, you must make more than one pass to capture the full image. It may be difficult to recreate the original image digitally when it is scanned in more than one pass. The images must be put back together to form a single image of the item that was scanned.  7.3   Describe the types of scanners currently available       7.3.5   Describe drum scanners    table end Drum scanners produce a high-quality transfer of an image. Drum scanners are usually used commercially but are being replaced by lower-priced, high-quality flatbed scanners. Many drum scanners are still in use for high-end reproductions, such as archiving photographs in museums. To scan an image using a drum scanner, you attach the image to a revolving drum or load it into a supporting canister. The drum is rotated at high speed across optical scanners. The optical scanners move slowly across the drum surface until the entire image is captured. The captured image is then reproduced by the computer as a digital image file. 7.4 Describe the installation and configuration process for scanners  When you purchase a scanner, the installation and configuration information is usually supplied by the manufacturer. An installation CD that includes drivers, manuals, and diagnostic software will be included with the scanner. The same tools may also be available as downloads from the manufacturer's website. After completing this section, you will meet the following objectives: list of 3 items • Explain how to power and connect a scanner. • Describe how to install and update the device driver. • Identify configuration options and default settings. list end  7.4   Describe the installation and configuration process for scanners       7.4.1   Explain how to power and connect a scanner    table end Like printers, scanners can connect to a computer using the USB, FireWire, network, or parallel port interface. Some scanners may connect using a SCSI interface. Scanners that are built into an all-in-one device should be plugged directly into an AC wall outlet. This will provide the AC current necessary to operate all-in-one device. Other types of scanners may acquire power through the USB or FireWire connector. After unpacking the scanner, connect the appropriate power and data cables. Use the scanner documentation as your guide, or check the manufacturer's website for instructions.  7.4   Describe the installation and configuration process for scanners       7.4.2   Describe how to install and update the device driver    table end Once you have connected and started the scanner, the computer operating system may be able to discover the scanner through the PnP process. If the scanner is discovered, a driver may be installed automatically by the operating system. After you set up a scanner, install the driver software that the manufacturer includes with the scanner. This driver is usually more current than the drivers on your computer. It may also provide more functionality than the basic driver from Windows. As with a printer, you may want to install drivers from the manufacturer's website to gain additional functionality, diagnostic tools, and troubleshooting utilities. Download software from the manufacturer's website and follow any directions provided to install the software and utilities for your scanner. Some scanning software will automatically download and install updated software, drivers, or firmware. Follow directions provided by the update utility to install these files.  Lab All-in-One Device Install and configure an all-in-one device  7.4   Describe the installation and configuration process for scanners       7.4.3   Identify configuration options and default settings    table end Scanners have configuration options and default settings that differ between model types and manufacturers. A scanner may come with a basic graphic editing software package for editing photographs and other images. Editing software packages may include OCR software that allows text in a scanned image to be manipulated as text. These are some of the configurations that may be available on a scanner: list of 4 items • Color, grayscale, or black-and-white scanning • One-touch scanning into your choice of software • Quality and resolution choices • Sheet feeders list end Color calibration between devices is important so that you see true representations of color.To calibrate a scanner, scan a graphic that contains specific colors. A calibration application installed on the computer compares the output of the scanner against the known colors of the sample graphic on the display. The software will adjust the color of the scanner accordingly. When your scanner, monitor, and printer treat the same colors in the same way, the image you print will match the image you scan. 7.5 Identify and apply common preventive maintenance techniques for printers and scanners  Printers and scanners have many moving parts that can wear out over time or through extended use. They must be maintained regularly to operate correctly. Moving parts can be affected by dust and other air particles. Clean printers and scanners regularly to avoid downtime, loss of productivity, and high repair costs. After completing this section, you will meet the following objectives: list of 2 items • Describe printer maintenance. • Describe scanner maintenance. list end  7.5   Identify and apply common preventive maintenance techniques for printers and scanners       7.5.1   Describe printer maintenance    table end Printers have many moving parts and require a higher level of maintenance than most other electronic devices. Impurities are produced by the printer and collect on the internal components. Over time, if the impurities are not removed, the printer may malfunction. The maintenance schedule for a printer can be found in the manual or on the manufacturer's website. CAUTION: Be sure to unplug the printer from the electrical source before beginning any type of maintenance. Most printers come with printer monitoring and diagnostic software from the manufacturer that can help you maintain the printer. Observe the guidelines from the manufacturer for cleaning the following printer and scanner components: list of 2 items • Printer roller surfaces • Printer and scanner paper-handling mechanisms list end The type and quality of paper and ink used can affect the life of the printer: list of 2 items • Paper selection – High-quality paper can help to ensure that the printer operates efficiently and for a long time. Many types of printer paper are available, including inkjet and laser. The printer manufacturer may recommend the type of paper that should be used for best results. Some papers, especially photo paper and transparencies, have a right and wrong side. Load the paper according to the manufacturer's instructions. • Ink selection – The manufacturer will recommend the brand and type of ink that you should use. If the wrong type of ink is installed, the printer may not work or the print quality may be reduced. You should avoid refilling the ink cartridges because the ink may leak.  7.5   Identify and apply common preventive maintenance techniques for printers and scanners       7.5.2   Describe scanner maintenance    table end The scanner surface should be kept clean. If the glass becomes dirty, consult the manufacturer's user manual for cleaning recommendations. To prevent liquid from leaking into the scanner case, do not spray glass cleaner directly on the device. Dampen a cloth with the cleaner, and then apply the cleaner gently to the glass. If the inside of the glass becomes dirty, check the manual for instructions on how to open the unit or remove the glass from the scanner. If possible, thoroughly clean both sides of the glass, and replace the glass as it was originally set in the scanner. When the scanner is not in use, keep the lid closed. In the case of the handheld scanner, put it in a safe place. Also, never lay anything heavy on a scanner because you may damage the casing or internal parts. 7.6 Troubleshoot printers and scanners  With printer and scanner problems, a technician must be able to determine if the problem exists with the device, cable connection, or the computer that it is attached to. Follow the steps outlined in this section to accurately identify, repair, and document the problem. After completing this section, you will meet these objectives: list of 2 items • Review the troubleshooting process. • Identify common problems and solutions.  7.6   Troubleshoot printers and scanners       7.6.1   Review the troubleshooting process    table end Printer problems can result from a combination of hardware, software, and network issues. Computer technicians must be able to analyze the problem and determine the cause of the error in order to repair the printer. This process is called troubleshooting. The first step in the troubleshooting process is to gather data from the customer. Figures 1 and 2 list open-ended and closed-ended questions to ask the customer. Once you have talked to the customer, you should verify the obvious issues. Figure 3 lists some issues for printers and scanners. After the obvious issues have been verified, try some quick solutions. Figure 4 lists quick solutions for printers and scanners. If quick solutions did not correct the problem, use Step 4 in the troubleshooting process to gather data from the computer. Figure 5 shows different ways to gather information about the problem from the computer. At this point, you will have enough information to evaluate the problem, research, and implement possible solutions. Figure 6 shows resources for possible solutions. After you have solved the printer or scanner problem, you will close with the customer. Figure 7 is a list of the tasks required to complete this step. Discuss the solution implemented with customer Have the customer verify problem has been solved Provide the customer with all paperwork Document the steps taken to solve the problem in the work order and the technician’s journal Document any components used in the repair Document the time spent to resolve the problem  7.6   Troubleshoot printers and scanners       7.6.2   Identify common problems and solutions    table end Printer or scanner problems can be attributed to hardware, software, networks, or some combination of the three. You will resolve some types of printer and scanner problems more often than others. Figure 1 is a chart of common printer and scanner problems and solutions. printer Common Problems and Solutions Problem Symptom: Possible Solution Printer will not print: Delete the print job from the queue and print again Printer is printing unknown characters: Uninstall and reinstall the print driver Laser printer prints lines or streaks on every page: Replace the toner cartridge 7.7 Summary  In this chapter, various types of printers and scanners were discussed. You learned that there are many different types and sizes of printers and scanners, each with different capabilities, speeds, and uses. You also learned that both printers and scanners can be connected directly to computers, as well as shared across a network. The chapter also introduced the different types of cables and interfaces available to connect a printer or scanner. The customer may request you to perform the following tasks: list of 10 items • Some printers and scanners have low output and are adequate for home use, whereas other printers and scanners have high output and are designed for commercial use. • Printers may have different speeds and quality of print. • Older printers and scanners use parallel cables and ports. Newer printers and scanners typically use USB or FireWire cables and connectors. • Larger printers and scanners may also have an NIC port to connect to a network. • Newer printers and scanners are PnP. The computer will automatically install the necessary drivers. • If the device drivers are not automatically installed by the computer, you will have to supply the drivers on a CD or download them from the manufacturer's website. • Most optimization is done through software drivers and utilities. • After you have set up the printer or scanner, you can share the device with other users on the network. This arrangement is cost-efficient because there is no need for every user to have a printer or scanner. • A good preventative maintenance program will extend the life of the printer and scanner and keep them performing well. • Troubleshooting printer and laptop problems requires the technician to identify, repair, and document the problem. Troubleshooting steps include: Gather data from customer, verify the obvious issues, try quick solutions first, gather data from the computer, evaluate the problem, implement the solution, and close with the customer.