Argus IT Help Desk · Printers
Printer Not Printing — First Checks
Two questions tell you which section will fix it.
⚖️ Quick diagnostic: where is the problem?
Question 1: Is anyone else at your site able to print right now?
✅ Others are printing fine
The problem is your computer or how you're sending the job — go to Single user troubleshooting.
❌ No one can print
The printer or its network is the issue — skip to Printer or network problem.
Question 2: When you press Print, does anything happen at all?
- Nothing — no error, no print → Print job disappears silently
- Error message appears → photograph it, then continue to the relevant section
- Job appears in the queue but never prints → Print job stuck in queue
- Printer says "offline" or "not connected" → Printer shows offline
💡 Your answers to these two questions are the most useful information you can include if you do end up submitting a ticket.
👤 Single user troubleshooting
Nothing happens when you print
Make sure you selected the right printer — the single most common cause. Argus computers often have many printers configured, and the wrong one may be the default.
1
In your application, click File → Print (or press Ctrl+P).
2
Look at the printer name at the top of the print dialog.
3
Is it the printer physically near you? If not, use the dropdown to pick the right one.
💡 Argus printer names usually follow Property + location ("Eldorado-Reception-Kyocera") or Department + model ("Accounting-HP-LaserJet"). Not sure which is which? The sticker on the printer usually has its network name.
Print job stuck in queue
1
Start → type Printers & scanners → open it.
2
Find your printer, click it, then Open queue.
3
Right-click your job → Cancel.
4
Wait 30 seconds, then print again.
5
Still sticking? Restart the computer (Start → Power → Restart, not shut down), then send a one-page test print.
Printer shows offline
Usually means your computer can't reach the printer over the network.
1
Check the printer is actually on. Walk over — is the display lit? Any error on screen? If dark: check the power cable at the back, check the outlet, then power-cycle (off, 30 seconds, on) and wait 2 minutes to warm up.
2
Check the network cable. Most Argus printers use Ethernet, not Wi-Fi. Unplug and reseat it firmly; confirm the small LED beside the network port is lit. LED off = bad cable or wall jack → submit a ticket.
3
Tell your computer to retry: Start → Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → your printer → Open queue → Printer menu → untick Use Printer Offline. Try again.
Print job disappears silently
No error, no queue entry, no output — usually the app sent the job to a printer that no longer exists.
File → Print, check the printer dropdown. Some applications "remember" a printer that was removed. Manually select a known-good printer and try again.
🚨 Printer or network problem (no one can print)
Look at the printer's display
- Paper jam — open the doors (green levers/handles), remove paper carefully, close all doors fully.
- Out of paper — refill; don't overfill past the line indicator.
- Toner low — most printers keep going for a while; order a replacement if no spare on site.
- Network error / "Cannot connect" — check the Ethernet cable at the back.
Power-cycle the printer
1
Turn it off with its power button — not by yanking the plug.
3
Turn it back on and wait 2 full minutes to warm up and reconnect.
4
Have one person try a test print.
💡 Didn't help? Submit a ticket — multiple people unable to print usually needs IT investigation (printer hardware, network port, or server-side).
📄 Paper jam quick guide
1
Open the doors as indicated by the green levers or handles.
2
Pull visible paper out slowly, in the direction of normal paper flow — never backwards; it damages the rollers.
3
Check ALL access points, not just the obvious one — small fragments hide in unexpected places.
4
Close all doors firmly. One slightly open door reports "door open" instead of jam-cleared.
5
Power-cycle the printer after clearing.
⚠
Don't use force or tools
If you can't find or remove the jam after a careful look, submit a ticket. Printers are easy to damage and expensive to repair.
🎭 Toner replacement
1
Check the display for which cartridge needs replacing (some printers have black, cyan, magenta, yellow).
2
Locate spare toner — usually in IT closets or storage rooms.
3
Open the toner access door (clearly marked).
4
Remove the empty cartridge per the on-screen instructions or the labels inside the door.
5
Unbox the new cartridge, shake gently side-to-side to distribute the toner, remove sealing tape.
6
Insert until it clicks, then close the door — the printer calibrates for 1–2 minutes.
💡 No spare toner on site? Submit a ticket for a replacement order — note the printer model and cartridge colour.
🔍 Print quality issues
Faded or streaky
Toner low or drum dirty — replace toner first; still bad, submit a ticket.
Smudged toner
May be a damaged drum or fuser — submit a ticket.
Lines or stripes across pages
Usually drum or developer — submit a ticket.
Garbled or random characters
Likely the wrong driver installed — submit a ticket.
🆘 When to submit a ticket — and what to include
- You've worked the relevant section and it still doesn't print · unrecognized hardware error · offline with the network connection intact · toner or hardware needed · quality still poor after new toner · multiple people affected (gets priority).
Include: the printer name as it appears in your print menu (or its physical location) · the asset tag from the Argus IT sticker · what you printed from (Outlook, Word, OPERA, a website…) · exactly what happened (photo of any error) · can others print to it right now? · was it working before today? · which steps you've tried.
ArgusIT KB# 20001 · Tags: printer · not printing · print queue · offline · paper jam · toner
