220-1101 Question 456
Single answerLines down the printed pagesA user reports that every page printed from a laser printer has a thin vertical black line running from the top of the page to the bottom in nearly the same position. The issue occurs from multiple computers and also appears on the printer's internal configuration page. Which component should the technician inspect or replace FIRST?
- A
The imaging drum or toner cartridge assembly
- B
The printer's network interface card
- C
The paper input tray rollers
- D
The print queue service on the user's PC
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This scenario is designed to test whether the candidate can separate printer engine problems from software and network issues. Because the line appears on output from multiple computers and on the printer's own internal configuration page, the fault is clearly within the printer hardware. In laser printers, a vertical black line down the page is commonly caused by a damaged or dirty imaging drum, or by a toner cartridge assembly that includes the drum. As a best-practice troubleshooting step, technicians should print an internal test or configuration page to determine whether the issue is device-side or host-side. If the defect appears on internal pages, inspect consumable imaging components first before moving to more complex parts such as the fuser or transfer system. This aligns with standard manufacturer troubleshooting flows from vendors such as HP, Brother, and Lexmark, which commonly direct technicians to check toner/drum assemblies when repeated streaks or lines appear on all pages.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A consistent vertical line on every printed page, including internal test pages, points to a printer hardware issue rather than a software or connectivity problem. On laser printers, lines down the page are commonly caused by damage, debris, or toner buildup on the imaging drum or an integrated toner/drum cartridge assembly. CompTIA A+ troubleshooting guidance commonly associates repeated lines or streaks on laser output with drum, toner, or fuser-related defects, with the drum/cartridge being the first practical item to inspect or replace.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A network interface card problem could affect connectivity, print job delivery, or printer availability, but it would not cause a perfectly repeated physical mark on printed output. Because the problem also appears on the printer's internal configuration page, the issue is inside the printer's print engine, not the network path.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Worn or dirty paper input tray rollers typically cause paper feed issues such as misfeeds, skewing, or multiple sheets feeding at once. They do not usually create a single consistent vertical black line from top to bottom of the printed image area.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A print queue or spooler problem on the user's PC can cause delayed jobs, failed jobs, or corrupted documents from that computer. However, the symptom appears from multiple computers and on an internal printer-generated page, which rules out the client print queue service as the source.