One of the most common networked printer problems is that occasionally a user may not be able to print to a networked printer, even if they have previously done so. First check to see if the network is working properly and that the computer you are printing from is connected to the network. If you do not typically handle the network problems consult your staff IT member. Next check your print queue via the printing utility provided by the manufacturer or the utility your company uses to maintain its networked printers. These programs will vary slightly but you should be able to find the print queue in your task bar. Open this up and find out if your print has in fact been sent to the printer.

Should your printer be plugged into another computer on the network as a shared printer make sure the other computer is in fact connected to the network and working properly. This is a common case within home networks or small offices; if you are printing via another computer make sure you check to see if the printer is online and ready to print. Another common problem happens when a loss of power occurs. When this happens, the TCP/IP address of the printer may inadvertently have changed; this causes the port over which communications occur with the printer to be invalid. In this case simply ‘adding’ the printer to the network again usually solves this problem.

Lastly, an update or new software may be conflicting with the old drivers or, in extreme cases, may have over written the existing drivers. Find the version of your operating and search online, usually on the manufacturer’s site, to find the applicable drivers. A change in printers or recently downloaded new drivers may in fact cause this to occur.