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Being a computer Tech I have run into many computer issues. Many times a great place to start is in the device manager.

What is the Device Manager? In all windows operating systems from 3.1 to Vista your computer has something called Device Manager. This program shows what devices are installed in your computer and what device are having errors or are not installed correctly.

When to use Device Manager? Whenever you have an issue that might be hardware related. For instance you used to be able to get online but now you have no connection or your sound is not working anymore.

How to use Device Manager? To use Device Manager Click on the windows start button on the bottom left of your computer screen then Right Click on the My Computer Icon Select Manage. A box will open up and select Device manager located on the left column. You will now see on the right side of that column a listing of all the hardware installed in your computer. If something has a red X next to it that means the device was disabled. Lets say for instance your internet access stopped working and you saw a red X next to the Ethernet NIC well that is why your access is not working to re-enable the device right click on it and select enable. Do this for any device that is not enabled that you would like working on your computer. If there is a yellow ! Mark that means that something is wrong with the device. This does not mean the device is bad just means something is wrong. Often times right clicking on the device and selecting upgrade driver will do the trick or just uninstall the device and select Scan for hardware changes under the Action tab in the tool bar. Your computer will refined the device and reinstall the old driver. Some times you may need to just reinstall the whole driver from scratch. If this is the case go to your computers manufacturers site such as hp.com dell.com Compaq.com and select the support button and put in your computer models name and re-download the driver. For more tips or to ask an expert what is wrong go to www.windowvistarpair.com. It is free to join and ask as many computer repair questions as you would like. We are always glad to help.

For all your computer repair needs please go to http://www.windowvistarepair.com and join our free computer repair forum. You will get the expert advise you need to repair any computer issue you have for Vista, XP, ME, and 2000. We also have a section dedicated to notebooks and PC brands like Dell and HP.

Nothing can be more annoying than black lines, faded regions or faded text when printing a document you have worked long and hard on. Doing a printer cleaning is the best way to always have a clean and readable document.

Two type of printers

Whether the printer is an Epson printer, HP printer, or a Canon printer the general procedure for cleaning is the same. If the printer happens to be a bigger printer, for items such as advertising on larger format materials, the process is a bit more exaggerated but essentially the same.

Every day printers

Cleaning an every day office type printer usually just entails a good solid wipe down. The real trick is to not damage the printer by using cleaning items that are meant for other cleaning activities. Cleaning chemicals to avoid include alcohol or more harsh cleaning agents. These chemicals can damage electrical areas and do more harm than good. Try and stay with light cleaning supplies like baby wipes or a damp non shedding towel. In either case, do not let water get into contact with the inside of the printer whether it is an Epson printer, canon printer or any other.

Cleaning the printer

The very first thing to do is unplug the printer. Make sure that all lights are out and that the plug is away from the unit.

Open the front of the printer, with a damp non-shedding cloth give a light wipe down looking for dust build up or paper shards. If the paper has been appearing with black marks on the back, look inside the printer and wipe excess ink away. Make sure to wipe this area again so that there is no remaining moisture.

A clean printer cartridge is also a must clean area. Remove each cartridge and gently wipe excess ink away. Be sure not to leave any fibrous material around exit ports. The paper receiver basket may need to be removed and check underneath for dust and paper shards around the legs. A proper printer cleaning also means wiping down the basket with a mild detergent. You can also use a cleaning cartridge, which helps to clean inaccessible points of printer by hand.

If the printer has not been used for some time a head cleaning will be needed. For a complete printer cleaning in this instance go to the control panel and printers. Here the unit will be able to run diagnostic programs and get the printer heads up.

Larger specialized printers

With larger printers designed for more specialized uses, including large format blue prints or advertising mock-ups printer cleaning requires a differing approach. An approved vacuum system is the most important tool to have on-site. This vacuum should be static free, so as not to damage interior components through static shock, and have a separate motor unit to be kept away from the printer unit.

Cleaning the printer is particularly needed in the winter and spring. In the winter the air is dry and dust is attracted. Be careful so as not to set off a static charge. In spring pollen can get anywhere no matter how you try. A printer cleaning makes all involved happier and healthier with less dust and pollen involved.

This Article is written by James Kara Murat from PrintCountry.com, the contributor of Inkjet Printer and Ink Cartridge Use Tips. A longer version of this article is located at How to Clean a Printer, and related resources can be found PrintCountry Ink Removal Tools