Unable to print from Windows
Summary
There are several reasons why a printer may not print, but the most common reason is the computer itself. A reboot may fix the issue, but if it doesn't, then there could be an underlying issue.
- The computer isn't on the network
- The printer itself is the issue
- The application you are using isn't communicating with the Windows printer queue
- Corrupt printer drivers or the print service from the computer
Please be advised that we use an application called PrinterLogic that manages your printer and print jobs from your computer. This eliminates using a print server at your location. It uses direct IP printing which means it sends the print job directly to the printer instead of going to a centralized server in the hospital.
Instructions
1. Always start with a reboot. Signing out does not count. If the computer has Windows updates, allow them. If you're unsure how to reboot, please click here.
2. If rebooting doesn't work, try step two of this solutions article. If you're on a laptop, you should be connected to power for this step. After the updates, try printing again. If it still doesn't print, proceed to the next step.
3. Is the printer on the Network? The laptop or computer should be plugged into a network cable. If it's a laptop connected to Wi-Fi, you need to be on the hospital_employees network.
4. Ensure PrinterLogic is installed. This application manages the printers on your computer. It's possible you may have printers installed without the program from earlier deployed computers. Most of the computers should have this from a software push that we did several months ago. If you don't have it, please create an incident or note it in your existing ticket.
5. PrinterLogic is installed, but it's still not printing. Open the print queue of the printer you're trying to print.
- Type "printer" in the Windows search bar on the taskbar at the bottom. Your best match should show Printers & scanners.
- Click on "Open queue" to open the print queue of your selected printer.
- Are there any stuck print jobs? If so, try cancelling the jobs. If there are no jobs, proceed to the next step.
6. Check the printer itself. Are there error messages on the console? You can try rebooting (power cycling) the printer. Sometimes, unplugging is neccessary.
- If everybody is unable to print to the printer, then it's most likely a network issue. Check the network cable or find out if there is an outage in the hospital.
7. If the above actions didn't work and your print job just sits there and spins, then it's highly likely a print driver corruption or a Windows operating system issue. This will require your IT department to do some deep troubleshooting. Please create an incident or reply back to your existing incident that none of the steps worked.
If none of the steps above worked, please read the Troubleshooting steps below or create an incident with IT.
Troubleshooting
If none of the steps worked above, there is a good chance that the printer drivers are corrupt or the print service fails because of the corrupted print drivers. There could be many reasons why a print driver could fail, but it's most likely from low disk space on the computer. Low disk space needs to be fixed by your IT department first before fixing the driver. If there is no sign of low disk space, then you can proceed with the steps below.
1. Please ensure step one of the Instructions was performed first.
2. Ensure the printer you are printing to is not having issues. If other computers are able to print to the printer, the most likely issue is your computer. If all computers are having issues printing to the same printer, turn off the printer and turn it back on.
3. Click on your Windows Start icon on the task bar and search for "Printer Installer." The goal is to remove the printer causing the problem.
- Click on "Delete Printer" and delete the printer that is giving you problems.
- Using the same location, add the printer that is causing the problem. It should download a fresh set of drivers.
4. Try printing again. If it doesn't print, it could mean the printer service has failed or no new drivers were installed. Please contact your IT team.