Plugging in...
Shall we blame it on the weather? This mal-functioning printer spewing forth a "printer not responding" message? That would be easy to do, as was the dual-action fix.
The client's printer was seriously speaking in blinking light language. Some readers may be aware that the number of blinks in a blinking light cycle is indicative of "the problem". For example, it may be that for the reader's printer, one blink means no power, two blinks signals an empty cartridge, 3 blinks, a paper jam, etc. The first problem was an empty ink cartridge and it was blinking constantly. Oh those were the days my friend when one could still print with an empty cartridge. "Those days" are long gone.
Off to the store the client traipses, in the middle of a snow storm, to fetch another cyan cartridge. (Even wonder why they just don't call it blue?? Ask an artist.) Cartridge properly inserted, still no printing.The client calls the Tutor the next morning. The printer miraculously began printing late on the previous day, then was up to its old tricks again: printer not responding.
The Tutor arrived and from the looks of things, the printer should have worked... but it didn't. And why did it have a blip of functionality then nothing? The printer was attached to a laptop via a USB cable AND a USB extension cable. (Most USB cables are 6' long and this one was a tad short to reach up, down and around.) The weight of the two cables pulling ever-downward slightly dislodged the USB cable from the side of the laptop. If one didn't look closely, it appeared securely plugged in. But alas, it was not. A quick push of the cable back into the USB and the printer was cured. It's a miracle... NOT!
Why did the printer work the day before for only a few minutes? Best educated guess is the laptop was bumped giving the USB cable just enough movement into the port for a brief connection. Then the weight of the cable dragged it out once again.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it SECURELY plugged in, and is it turned on?
Unplugged
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