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220-1201 Practice Question: A user's laser printer is producing pages with a…
A user's laser printer is producing pages with a repeating horizontal line defect every 3.75 inches. Which component is most likely causing 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
✓
OPC drum
The distance between repeating defects often matches the circumference of a roller. In laser printers, the OPC drum is a common source of such defects. A defect repeating every 3.75 inches indicates a damaged component with a circumference of 3.75 inches. Some OPC drums have a circumference of approximately 3.75 inches (meaning a diameter of about 1.19 inches), making the OPC drum the most likely cause. Other components have different circumferences.
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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Fuser roller
Why it's wrong here
A defect on the fuser roller typically manifests as smudging, incomplete toner adhesion, or a glossy/dull streak, rather than a sharp, distinct line. The fuser's primary role is to permanently bond the toner to the paper using heat and pressure. While a defect would repeat, its interval is generally shorter (e.g., 2-3 inches) and the resulting artifact would be a smeared or poorly adhered image, not a clean line.
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Transfer roller
Why it's wrong here
The transfer roller is responsible for applying an electrostatic charge to the paper, which pulls the toner from the OPC drum onto the paper. A defect on the transfer roller would more commonly result in faint images, ghosting, or areas where toner is not adequately transferred due to insufficient charge. Any repeating pattern caused by this component would typically have a different interval than the OPC drum and would not manifest as a sharp, dark line.
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Toner cartridge
Why it's wrong here
Issues originating solely from the toner cartridge itself, such as low toner levels, clumping, or an internal defect in the toner dispensing mechanism, would typically lead to inconsistent print density, streaking, or random splotches across the page. These problems would not produce a precise, repeating horizontal line at a fixed interval, as the cartridge's function is to supply toner, not to form the image pattern directly.
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OPC drum
Why this is correct
The Organic Photo-Conductive (OPC) drum is the primary image-forming component in a laser printer, where the latent image is created and then attracts toner. A scratch or defect on the drum's surface will consistently pick up or repel toner incorrectly at that specific point during each rotation. Given that the OPC drum typically has a circumference of approximately 3.75 inches, this defect will reliably appear as a repeating horizontal line on the printed page at that precise interval.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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