Articles & Books From Printers & Scanners

Article / Updated 06-26-2017
Over time, you may install multiple printers, in which case you may want to remind yourself of the capabilities of each or view the documents you have sent to be printed. You can also cancel existing print jobs. To view the printers you have installed and view and modify any documents currently in line for printing, follow these steps: Choose Start→View Devices and Printers.
Article / Updated 06-26-2017
Before you can scan documents into your computer with a scanner, you need to install the scanner driver so that your scanner and computer can communicate. Start by connecting the scanner to your computer’s USB port (see your scanner manual for information about how it connects to your computer). Some scanners use Plug and Play, a technology that Windows uses to recognize equipment and automatically install and set it up.
Article / Updated 06-23-2017
A wireless printer connects to your laptop either through a technology called Bluetooth, which requires devices to be next to each other or, if you have access to a wireless network, using Wi-Fi (available to devices within 50 to 100 feet or so). Here’s a rundown of things you should be aware of when setting up your laptop to connect to a wireless printer: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are short-range wireless connections (meaning you have to be near the printer to connect to it).
Article / Updated 06-23-2017
Before you can scan documents into your laptop creating electronic versions of them, you need to install the scanner driver so that your scanner and laptop can communicate to one another. Start by connecting the scanner to your laptop’s USB port. (See your scanner manual for information about how it connects to your laptop.
Step by Step / Updated 06-22-2017
How to install a printer is fairly easy process. To use a printer, your computer has to have software installed — a printer driver — and use certain settings to tell your computer how to find the printer and what to print.If you use Windows 10, see the article on How to Connect Printers and Devices in Windows 10.
Article / Updated 06-19-2017
You can set printer preferences, such as being able to print in color or black and white, print in draft quality (which uses less ink) or high quality (which produces a darker, crisper image), and more. Fortunately, you can modify these settings once for all documents you print. Choose Start→Devices and Printers (in the Hardware and Sound group).
Article / Updated 06-19-2017
After you install a scanner, you may want to take a look at its default settings or even change them. Fortunately, modifying the scanner settings is an easy task. Choose Start→Control Panel. Type scanners in the Control Panel search field and press Enter. The Control Panel window appears. Click View Scanners and Cameras.
Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016
Calibration refers to the proper alignment of the inkjet cartridge nozzles to the paper and each other; without a properly calibrated printer, your print quality degrades. You’ll want to calibrate your printer when you see lines appearing fuzzy in artwork or when colored areas in printed images start or stop before they should.
Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016
Scanners are nifty little devices that work like photocopiers. Rather than make a copy, the scanner takes the original and creates a graphics image that’s then stored in your computer. So, the scanner gets the images directly into your computer:Connect the scanner to your PC.Most scanners connect via a USB cable.
Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016
You need to clean your inkjet cartridge nozzles about once every three months or whenever the output from your printer suddenly starts streaking. You don’t need a scrub brush to clean your printer cartridges; instead, your printer can take care of cleaning its own cartridges (with your approval, of course). You can probably access your printer’s cartridge-cleaning controls in its Properties dialog box:Choose Start→Printers and Faxes to see the available printers on your system.