I Can’t Print, Is There Anything I can Do Before I call?

 Is there something you can do before you call technical support?
There are actually several things you can do that may help your support technician resolve your issue faster or may even resolve your issue without the need to contact support. These steps are common sense and likely the ones your support technician may while troubleshooting the issue.
Let’s start with the most basic. The first action is to check the printer for paper. This can sometimes be overlooked especially if you don't print often. The second thing that should be checked is the ink or toner level. Typically when the toner or ink levels are low the printer will have a blinking light to alert you.
A couple other things you can check are the connections. Does the printer have power and is the network or USB connection plugged in? Try unplugging the network cable and plugging it back in firmly, it should click as it's plugged in. It will look like a phone plug just a little bit larger. There may also be some lights where the cable plugs in, one green and one amber. If your printer is connected directly to your computer by a USB cable, unplugging it and plugging it back in should cause a small text bubble to pop up from the lower right of your taskbar. This message will let you know that a USB device has been detected and is ready.
One last thing you can check is that the printer correctly prints a test page from your computer. To do this, begin by clicking on the start menu and then open your printer options. Those of you with Windows XP should see a selection for 'Printers' while those with Windows 7 or Vista should see a selection named 'Devices and Printers'. When you see your printer, right click on it and select 'Printer Properties' from the drop down menu. If 'Printer Properties' is not listed as one of your choices, select the 'Properties' option. Once the printer properties box opens you should see a button in the lower right corner to 'Print test page'.
If these preliminary checks don't solve your printing problem, be sure to let your support technician know which of these steps you have tried. Also be sure to read any error messages that may appear on your screen. All of this information is relevant for allowing your support technician to help you resolve your printer issues quickly and efficiently.

Actions You Can Take:
- Check the printer for paper
- Check ink or toner
- Check the USB connection
- Print a test page