One color is missing in the print, or stripes show up
Mechanical issue: a clogged print head or empty cartridge. Not IT software.
Try this first
- 1Run the "head cleaning" or "nozzle check" routine on the printer. In the printer menu, not on your laptop.
- 2Replace the cartridge for the missing color; inkjet and laser do not always give a clear "empty" warning.
- 3Stripes from ink: print five test pages in a row. On inkjet, repeated use often clears flow.
- 4Stripes on laser: another symptom of a dirty drum unit or a corotron issue. Not DIY for the average user.
When to bring us in
This is printer maintenance, not IT work. Call your printer vendor for service. For vendor selection or contracts we can advise.
See also
- Printer suddenly not foundFor everyone at once: print server or network. For one person: local Windows driver or expired authorisation.
- Print job stuck in queue, nothing happensA stuck queue blocks all subsequent prints. Cleaning takes two minutes.
- Scanner no longer sends emails (scan-to-email)Almost always: the account the scanner uses had its password expire, or the mail provider blocks old protocols.
None of the above fits?
Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.
Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.