220-1101 Question 416
Single answerBurnt-out bulbA desktop technician is troubleshooting a laser printer in a small office. Users report that printed pages have a repeating dark spot in the same location on every page. After opening the printer, the technician finds that the imaging drum has a visible burn mark from prolonged overheating near the drum surface. Which action is the BEST next step to resolve the issue?
- A
Replace the imaging drum or the toner/drum assembly, depending on the printer model
- B
Run the printer's cleaning cycle several times to burn off the mark
- C
Update the printer driver and recalibrate the print settings
- D
Shake the toner cartridge to redistribute toner and continue printing
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question tests practical printer troubleshooting, a common A+ Core 1 skill. Repeating defects at the same interval on each printed page usually point to a damaged component that rotates during printing, such as the imaging drum or fuser roller. In this scenario, the visible burn mark on the drum confirms physical damage. Best practice is to replace the failed hardware component rather than attempt software fixes or temporary workarounds. CompTIA A+ Core 1 printer objectives emphasize identifying symptoms and replacing consumables or field-replaceable components such as toner, drum, and maintenance kits when hardware faults are present.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A damaged or burnt imaging drum can cause repeating marks or defects at regular intervals on printed pages because the same damaged area contacts the paper during each rotation. The proper fix is to replace the drum, or the combined toner/drum assembly if the printer uses an integrated unit.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A cleaning cycle can help with loose toner, dust, or minor contamination, but it will not repair physical damage such as a burn mark on the imaging drum. Continuing to run cleaning cycles wastes supplies and does not address the root cause.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Printer drivers and calibration settings can affect print alignment, color output, or communication with the printer, but they do not fix physical defects caused by a damaged drum surface. This is a hardware issue, not a software configuration problem.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Shaking the toner cartridge may temporarily improve faded output when toner is low, but it will not fix a repeating defect caused by a burnt or damaged drum. This option reflects a common misconception between toner supply issues and drum damage.