Archive for May, 2011

Citrix software can provide a way to log into another machine remotely, and can be a great solution for when you are on the road, or using a different operating system and still need to access Windows programs. For the most part, you can print from the applications on the remote machine as long as the printer is set up with the machine properly. Sometimes, shared printers on an ethernet network can be more difficult to set up, however, especially remotely. If you are trying to print with Citrix but are having problems, try these simple instructions to get you up and running. You will need the name of the print server before you begin.

If you have an iPad, you probably love all of the cool apps that you can download. Once you find something you like though, you may want to print it out. Printing from an iPad isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do, though. There are different programs and instructions to get you set up.

1. Download the AirPrint app.  Once that is downloaded, use MediaFire to save the AirPrint zip-file.  To do
   this process correctly, make sure you do not have any other applications running in MediaFire or RapidShare.
2. After the file is downloaded, unzip it and save to “C:\Program Files\airprint”.  Doing this will create a new
   file in your program named “AirPrint”.
3. On the “Run” menu, type in the command “cmd”.  When a black display box opens up, you need to type,
   “sc.exe create AirPrint binPath= “C:\Program Files\AirPrint\airprint.exe -s” depend= “Bonjour Service” start= auto” into it.  This is the programming code you will need to get AirPrint up and running, so make sure everything is spelled correctly and capital letters are used in the correct places.
4. When the code has been correctly keyed, you should receive a reply from Apple.   Here you will be given
   the option to “Allow Access” to AirPrint, and you need to click onto that.Once you have done so, go ahead and try testing with your iPad.   Most likely you will be asked to assign a username and password to the account.  Set this up if you’d like or just choose “Guest Account” instead.

Though not all printers are compatible with the AirPrint application, almost all current machines are manufactured with this built in capability.  HP printers used to be the only ones that could successfully print a task sent from an iPad through AirPrint, but now Brother, Lexmark, Epson and Canon have all released printers that are compatible.

Here is a link with the complete list of compatible printers: (https://ipod.about.com/od/usingios4/f/Airprint-Compatible-Printers.htm)

Even if your machine is not labeled as AirPrint compliant, there are a number of tools that can be downloaded on the internet to allow access, for both Windows and Mac operating systems.

For a tutorial on how to print from an iPad using any printer, check out this video:

One of the most common things HP printer owners want to know is how much ink is left in their cartridges. Although some units make it very obvious when they are running low, some don’t. When you encounter issues such as faded color when printing, for example, the cause could be as simple as low ink levels, but you need a way to check them. HP inkjet printers usually offer multiple ways to monitor ink levels, making this information easy to find. Below is a general explanation of a few methods for checking the amount of ink in your cartridges. Though this won’t work for every HP inkjet or deskjet printer, it will work for most. Continue reading “Checking HP Ink Levels” »

There are so many components inside a laser printer, it is difficult to understand what each part is and the purpose it serves. The transfer belt, for instance, happens to be one of those key ingredients to a printer that is often forgotten or never known about to begin with. However, if you don’t replace the transfer belt on your Samsung CLP-510 at the appropriate time, it can cause big problems with your printer and the quality of documents produced.

What exactly is a Samsung CLP-510 transfer belt and what does it do? The transfer belt is a large rotating belt inside your printer that helps ensure accuracy of prints. The belt moves in front of all the toner cartridges inside the CLP-510 and helps each of the layers of toner to be applied to the page in a precise manner. The different colors of toner are applied to the belt first, then applied to the page all at once. Continue reading “Samsung CLP-510 Transfer Belt” »

The Lexmark P915 is a very popular inkjet printer, and it offers high-quality photo printing at an affordable price. As with many budget models, it features a fairly basic control panel, and relies heavily on the included software package for many of its features and options. Continue reading “Installing Lexmark P915 Software” »

The status lights on the HP LaserJet P2010 control panel.

The models in the HP LaserJet P2010 series are fast and reliable devices, but diagnosing problems can be a bit tricky, owing to the use of multiple status lights on the control panel. There are six status lights and each one stands for something different. Each light can also be combined with other lights to relay even more information. To better understand, consider these six lights as lights 1-6, from top to bottom. Here are some of the most common light codes and their meanings. Continue reading “HP LaserJet P2010 Lights” »

If your home has more than one computer, you likely have a networking system so every computer can be connected to the internet via a single modem and router.  Adding a printer to the home network requires a printer that has wireless capabilities or can connect via ethernet interface.

The first sequence of events is obtaining a connection to the computer source via the router and navigating through the Start Menu on the computer.

1. Plug one end of the ethernet cord into the printer and one end to the router.
2. Obtain the printer’s IP address, which you can print using the printer menu and choosing the Print Configuration option in the Information category.
3. Go to the computer Start Menu.
4. Select Printers and Faxes.  If you do not see this option on the Start Page, you should be able to find it in the Control Panel.
5. In Printers and Faxes, click Add a Printer (top of the left panel).

Once you have reached the Add Printer Wizard, make the selections as listed in the following instructions and make sure to choose Next after completing each prompt:

1. Select ‘Local printer attached to this computer’ and uncheck the box below it that says ‘Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer’.  Click Next when this is done.
   1. Though this is a network printer, you do not want to select the ‘Network printer’ option at this stage because it is for printers on a print server.
2. You will be prompted to choose a printer port, choose ‘Create a new port’.
3. Choose Standard TCP/IP Port.
4. Enter the IP address.
5. Leave the Device Type as Standard and in the drop down, select the printer’s network card or you can select Generic Network Card.  Click Next and then Finish.

At this juncture, you will need to select the printer’s make and model from the provided list, or if you have the installation software disk that comes with the printer, select Have Disk and insert the disk into the computer.  This will load the printer driver.

1. Choose a name for the printer and select Yes to make it the default printer.  Click Next.
2. Select Do Not Share This Printer, as the other computers can be connected to the printer following these same steps.  Click Next.
3. Print a test page to verify.  Click Next and the Finish.

This may seem like a lot of steps, but the actual process should not take you more than a few minutes.  Repeat these steps on all computers in the house and within a few minutes, your printer will be added to the home network.

For a visual tutorial, check out this video:

Fax machines are essential to offices that frequently correspond with peers, clients and vendors throughout the country and world.  Being able to send important documents in a matter of seconds has changed the face of business communication.  If your office frequently receives faxes, you know there is nothing more frustrating than junk faxes wasting time, paper and fax toner or ink… well, except maybe paper jams.

If junk faxes are becoming an issue, there are a few ways to stop the madness.

Use the fax blocking feature on your machine:

Enter the sender’s fax number into this feature and it will automatically block any faxes sent from said number.  Your machine’s manual should explain how to implement this function on your model.  It will serve a similar purpose as a SPAM folder on your email inbox. Continue reading “How to Block Junk Faxes” »