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220-1201 Practice Question: A small office uses an inkjet printer that has…
A small office uses an inkjet printer that has started leaving horizontal white streaks across printed documents. The user has already run the printer's cleaning cycle twice with no improvement. What should the technician do next to resolve this issue?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Manually clean the printhead or replace it.
Horizontal white streaks on inkjet prints typically indicate clogged printhead nozzles. Since the cleaning cycle did not help, physically cleaning the printhead or replacing it is the next step. Replacing ink cartridges or adjusting paper settings would not address clogged nozzles.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the printer's fuser unit.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the printer's fuser unit is entirely irrelevant for an inkjet printer. Fuser units are specialized components found exclusively in laser printers, where they use heat and pressure to permanently bond toner powder to the paper. Inkjet printers operate by spraying liquid ink through microscopic nozzles, a process that does not involve toner or a fuser unit, making this action ineffective for any inkjet-related issue.
- ✗
Replace the ink cartridges with new ones.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the ink cartridges with new ones will not resolve a persistent printhead clog if automated cleaning cycles have already failed. While new cartridges provide a fresh supply of ink, the problem lies with physical obstructions, such as dried ink or debris, within the microscopic nozzles of the printhead itself. Simply changing the ink source does not clear these physical blockages, which are the root cause of print quality issues like banding or missing colors.
- ✓
Manually clean the printhead or replace it.
Why this is correct
Manually cleaning the printhead or replacing it directly addresses the root cause of persistent print quality issues like banding or missing colors: clogged nozzles. Automated cleaning cycles often use pressure or heat to flush nozzles, but if these fail, manual cleaning with a specialized solution or tools can dislodge stubborn dried ink. If the printhead is severely damaged or irretrievably clogged, replacing the entire printhead assembly is the most effective and direct solution to restore proper ink delivery.
- ✗
Adjust the paper type setting in the driver to 'photo paper'.
Why it's wrong here
Adjusting the paper type setting in the printer driver to 'photo paper' primarily modifies how the printer applies ink and manages color profiles to optimize output for specific media. This software setting influences ink density, drying times, and color saturation for different paper textures and absorbencies. However, it does not physically clear any existing clogs or obstructions within the printhead nozzles, which are mechanical issues causing print defects.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.