Q: Why does my printer print garbage from MS-DOS and Windows?

A: When a printer prints garbage, it usually indicates a faulty cable or a loose connection. Power OFF your printer and computer. Disconnect and reconnect the cable on the printer and computer. Once the cable has been reconnected, power the printer and computer back ON. Try printing from MS-DOS. If you are still getting garbage, change the cable. We recommend getting a fully shielded cable, preferably 6 feet or less in length. If you are still experiencing problems after changing your cable, you may have a computer or printer port issue. If you take the cable and printer to another computer and it works fine, have your computer's port checked by an authorized dealer. If it still gives you garbage from another computer, have the printer taken in to be serviced.

Q: My printer prints fine from MS-DOS. Why am I getting garbage only in Windows?

A: If you have already reconnected the cable on the computer and the printer, changed to another cable, and are positive you are using a fully-shielded parallel cable, chances are that you are having a conflict in Windows. The Print Manager or the printer driver usually causes the conflict in Windows. Save your work, then exit Windows (this will clear the Print Manager of any pending print jobs). Go back into Windows and verify the printer driver that has been selected is correct. To verify the driver in Windows 3.x, go to the Control Panel and choose Printers. For Windows 95 or 98, click on Start, go to Settings, choose Printers. Make sure that the driver you have selected as your default printer is compatible. Try printing again. If you are still getting garbage, disable the Windows Print Manager. In Windows 3.x, go to the Control Panel, choose Printers, and remove the "x" from the box in front of Use Print Manager, then click Close. For Windows 95 or 98, click Start, go to Settings, choose Printers, point to the default printer then right click once on your mouse. Select Properties, go to the Details tab, click on the Spool Settings button, and choose the option "Print directly to the printer." Click OK to exit the Properties window, click OK again to save the new setting, exit the Printers window, then restart Windows 95 or 98. Try printing again.

If this does not resolve your problem, take the cable and printer to another computer to determine if the problem is hardware related. If the printer prints fine from another computer, have your computer's port tested.

Q: I'm trying to print a 3.5-inch wide by 1-inch long label. I set the printer up for a User Defined page size and it prints the first label, then the paper advances about a page and a half and prints the next label. How can I set the printer up to print one label after another from Windows?

A: If you are in Windows 3.1x using an ESC/P2 printer driver, you will not be able to choose a User Defined page size. The ESC/P2 drivers do not support User Defined page sizes. To use a User Defined page size, you will need to change your printer driver to an ESC/P printer driver such as the LQ-850/1050, LQ-510/550/1010, LQ-200, LQ-500, LQ-860+/1060+, LQ-2550, LQ-800/1000, or LQ-1500. If you are in Windows 95 or 98, you can use Microsoft's LQ-570, LQ-570+, LQ-870, LQ-1070, LQ-1070+, LQ-1170 and LQ-2170 ESC/P2 printer driver. The Windows 95 ESC/P2 drivers do support User Defined sizes. The above procedures apply any time you specify a User Defined page size such as checks, small envelopes, or sheet fed labels, to name a few.

Q: Draft is not on the list of fonts. Can I access the printer's front panel fonts from Windows?

A: You can access the Draft and resident printer panel fonts from Windows if you are using the LQ-570+, LQ-1070+ LQ-870 or LQ-1170 Scalable font drivers.

Q: What driver should I choose in my MS-DOS program?

A: Choose from any of the following printer drivers: LQ-2170, LQ-2070, LQ-570+/LQ-1070+, Action Printer 5000+, Action Printer 5000, LQ-870/1170, LQ-850+/1050+, LQ-850/1050, LQ-510/550/1010, LQ-670, LQ-200, LQ-500, LQ-860+, LQ-2550, LQ-2500, LQ-800/1000, LQ-1500.

Q: Can I connect this printer to IBM mainframe (IBM 3270) and IBM minicomputer (AS/400 or System 3X) environments?

A: Yes, you can. For IBM mainframe environments, you can purchase an optional Type-B Coax interface card which allows direct connectivity and emulates IBM printer models: 3287, 3268, 4214-1, and 4224 (non IPDS). For direct connectivity to IBM minicomputer environments emulating IBM printer models: 4210, 4214, 5225, 5224, 5256, 5219, and 3812, you will need the optional Type-B Twinax interface card.

Q: Will this printer emulate an IBM Proprinter?

A: Yes, the printer has an IBM emulation, selectable through the Default Settings mode.

Q: Why does the printer stop or pause in the middle of a print job?

A: The printer has a built-in sensor that monitors the temperature of the print head. When the print head begins to get too hot, the printer may pause or slow down the speed of the print head unit to ensure that the print head does not overheat. If the print head begins to overheat, the thermistor will stop the print head completely until it has cooled down. Once the print head has sufficiently cooled down, the printer will resume the print job.

Another reason for the printer to pause or stop can be that the printer is waiting for more data or is in the middle of processing data already received.

Q: When printing a multiple page document on single sheets, the first page prints correctly, but the pages after start printing too low.

A: The difference in print position is usually caused by the page length setting in the software application program. Most applications have a default page length of 66 lines per page when using 11" continuous paper. When using single sheets, the printer automatically provides a small top and bottom margin. Since the top and bottom margins are non-printable areas, the maximum number of lines per page is reduced from 66 to 61 lines per page. Many applications have an option to change the number of lines per page.

You should change the number of lines per page to 61. If the program offers a selection for "cut-sheet feeder," change the paper type to cut-sheet feeder.

Q: When printing from MS-DOS applications, I'm getting italic characters instead of lines.

A: To print lines instead of characters, the printer needs to be in graphics mode. Select a graphics character table (PC437). To switch to PC437, enter your Default Settings mode and select character table PC437.

Q: What is the difference between the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder and the second-bin cut-sheet feeder?

A: The second-bin cut-sheet feeder cannot be used as a stand-alone feeder, whereas the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder can. The second-bin cut sheet feeder must be used in combination with the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder. The second-bin cut-sheet feeder holds 50 sheets, while the high-capacity can hold 150 sheets or 50 envelopes. The user has the ability to print 200 sheets at a time when both cut-sheet feeders are installed. Another advantage to having both cut-sheet feeders installed is that they can load single sheets and envelopes at the same time (50 envelopes in the high-capacity cut-sheet feeder and 50 single sheets into the second-bin cut-sheet feeder).