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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is replacing the toner cartridge in…
A technician is replacing the toner cartridge in a laser printer. After installing the new cartridge, the printer displays an error message that the toner cartridge is not recognized. The technician has verified that the cartridge is compatible with the printer model. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
The cartridge's chip is not making contact with the printer.
Laser printer cartridges have a chip that communicates with the printer. If the chip is not making contact, the printer cannot recognize the cartridge. This is often due to a protective seal or tape left on the cartridge, or improper seating. A firmware issue is less likely if the cartridge is compatible.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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The printer's firmware is outdated.
Why it's wrong here
Outdated firmware is unlikely to prevent a standard, compatible toner cartridge from being recognized. Firmware updates primarily introduce support for new printer features, bug fixes, or newly released cartridge models, not typically to enable basic recognition of an existing, compatible cartridge type. If the cartridge is the correct model for the printer, its fundamental recognition protocol should already be embedded in the existing firmware version. Therefore, a firmware update is not the primary solution for a 'not recognized' error in this scenario.
- ✓
The cartridge's chip is not making contact with the printer.
Why this is correct
The cartridge's integrated chip is crucial for electronic communication with the printer, relaying vital information such as cartridge type, toner levels, and regional coding. If this chip is misaligned, dirty, or physically damaged, it cannot establish proper electrical contact with the printer's corresponding sensors. This lack of communication prevents the printer from authenticating the cartridge, leading directly to a 'not recognized' error message. Ensuring proper contact is often the first troubleshooting step for this specific issue.
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The toner is low in the new cartridge.
Why it's wrong here
A new toner cartridge is expected to be full, and its toner level is reported by the cartridge's chip to the printer. While a low toner level would trigger a 'low toner' warning, it would not cause the printer to fail to recognize the cartridge entirely. The printer still communicates with a low cartridge; it simply reports its status. Therefore, the amount of toner inside the cartridge is irrelevant to the initial recognition process.
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The printer needs to be reset to factory defaults.
Why it's wrong here
Resetting a printer to factory defaults is a comprehensive troubleshooting step that reverts all settings, including network configurations and custom preferences, to their original state. This action is typically reserved for resolving persistent software glitches, network connectivity issues, or corrupted settings. A specific cartridge recognition error, however, is far more likely to stem from a physical contact issue with the cartridge's chip or a localized communication failure, rather than a system-wide configuration problem that a factory reset would address. It is an overly aggressive and often unnecessary step for this particular symptom.
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Related to this question
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Printer Types and Components
Key term
Laser printer
A laser printer is a high-speed, high-volume output device that uses a laser beam and toner to produce precise text and graphics on paper.
Key term
Toner cartridge
An electrophotographic printer component that holds a fine, dry plastic powder (toner) and supplies it to the imaging drum to produce text and images on paper.
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JA
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.