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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 not been used for two weeks. Now, the prints show missing colors and horizontal white lines. What should be done first to resolve this?
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
✓
Run the printhead cleaning cycle
Inkjet printers that sit idle often have dried ink in the printhead nozzles, causing missing colors or lines. Running the printer's built-in printhead cleaning cycle uses ink to flush the nozzles. If that fails, a manual cleaning or replacement may be needed.
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 ink cartridges
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the ink cartridges is an incorrect troubleshooting step because the issue described, missing colors after idle time, points to clogged printhead nozzles rather than an empty ink supply. Even if the cartridges contain ink, dried ink obstructing the microscopic nozzles prevents proper ink ejection. New cartridges would not resolve existing blockages within the printhead itself, making this a wasteful and ineffective solution for this specific problem.
- ✓
Run the printhead cleaning cycle
Why this is correct
Running the printhead cleaning cycle is the correct first step because it is specifically designed to address clogged nozzles, a common problem for inkjet printers that have been idle. This maintenance function forces ink through the nozzles at high pressure or uses a physical wiper to clear dried ink and debris. Successfully clearing these blockages restores proper ink flow, resolving issues like missing colors or streaks in printouts.
- ✗
Update the printer driver
Why it's wrong here
Updating the printer driver would not resolve missing colors due to idle time, as driver issues typically manifest as garbled text, incorrect formatting, or communication errors between the computer and printer. A driver manages the software interface and rendering instructions, not the physical mechanics of ink delivery or the condition of the printhead nozzles. Physical blockages from dried ink require a mechanical or hydraulic solution, which a software update cannot provide.
- ✗
Replace the printer
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the printer is a premature and excessive response to a common inkjet printer issue that often has a simple, built-in solution. Clogged nozzles are a routine maintenance concern, not typically indicative of a printer's end-of-life or irreparable hardware failure. Attempting basic troubleshooting steps like a printhead cleaning cycle is essential before considering such a costly and environmentally impactful replacement.
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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.