Print a test page

Windows has a “test page” option that allows you to catch any problems before performing an actual print job.

Want to see if your printer is working properly? Go ahead and print a test page through Windows. Double-click My Computer, then double-click the Printers folder. Right-click the printer icon corresponding to the printer that you’ve connected to the PC, then select Properties from the menu. When the printer’s Properties dialog opens, select the General tab (if it’s not already selected), then click the Print Test Page button near the bottom of the dialog. It may take a few seconds for the printer to respond. You can then examine the test page to see that the printer is working as expected.

Formerly part of Computer Currents, Stephen J. Bigelow’s Computer Advisor column has been resurrected on computeruser.com as a daily tech tip column. Find Stephen at www.dlspubs.com.