Troubleshooting

We understand that student users have limited access to each computer. However, there are a few basic troubleshooting techniques that can help you resolve minor computer-related problems quickly.

General Issues

PROBLEM: I AM UNABLE TO LOG ON TO THE DOMAIN
Solution: On the Mac login window, you can check the Network Accounts status by clicking on the Time bar. Keep in mind that it can take up to two minutes for a Mac to recognize a network connection after boot. Check the network cable in the port on the wall and in the back of the computer. Reconnect them if necessary and wait two minutes. If problem still persists, contact a D&I staff member for assistance.
 
PROBLEM: MY PRINT JOB WON'T GO THROUGH
Solution: Make sure that the printer is plugged in and ON and has a network connection by checking the ethernet cable. Check paper and ink levels. Also, make sure that you are applying in the proper printing preferences. If the printer has an error message, contact a D&I staff member for assistance.
 
PROBLEM: I HAVE BEEN WORKING FROM MY THUMB DRIVE AND MY PROGRAMS ARE RUNNING SLOW
Solution: Stop working off your thumb drive. Copy all of your files to the student work drive and work from that drive. When you've completed your work, copy the new files back onto your thumb drive.
 

Plotter Issues

For a basic overview of plotting, click here

PROBLEM: MY PRINT JOB DIDN'T PLOT. WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
Solutions:
  1. Check to make sure that the plotter is turned on and Ready. Check the network connection cable from the back of the printer and the port. If you're printing using the USB cable, check to make sure it's securely connected to the printer and the computer.
  2. Check the print job status of your document from the print monitor for this plotter by clicking on Start, selecting Settings, choosing Printers and Faxes and then double-clicking the printer icon. Your documents status should appear in the printer's monitor window. If it does not appear in the dialogue window and the plotter is still not beginning to process your print job then make sure you sent the print job to the correct printer.
    PLEASE NOTE: If the print heads are clogged and/or the print cartridges are out, print quality is often compromised.
  3. DO NOT RESEND YOUR DOCUMENT. Check the plotter's status again. If you sent the job over the network, then it may take longer for the printer to process the job. Also, there may be jobs that are ahead of yours, so be paitent and watch the status of your job as it progresses via the print monitor window. If your print job remains in the queue and does not process, then you should right-click on the job and select Cancel. Once the job has been cancelled and you are 100% certain that your plot job was not sent the first time to the plotter, you should attempt to resend the job.
PROBLEM: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SEND A RASTER FILE TO THE PLOTTER?
Solution: Depending on the resolution and size of the file, trying to print a raster object on a vector printer can slow down the printing process dramatically. In fact, if you send a huge raster file (300mb+) over the network to a plotter, it might even crash the printer's network card altogther. Avoid sending large raster files to a plotter.
PROBLEM: THE COLORS OF MY DOCUMENT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE COLORS ON MY PLOT.
Solutions:
  1. There are several reasons why the color on a plot may differ from the original document. First, check the color settings that you assigned to the job when you sent it to the plotter. This may vary from program to program, but you can usually find these settings in the “advanced” options in the print properties dialogue window. Adjust the color settings accordingly. If you are unsure on what settings to use to optimize your plot, ask your instructor.
  2. Another cause of color discrepancies is largely due to the difference between raster graphics files and vector files. If you’ve sent a raster graphics to the plotter and are disappointed with the results, it’s because plotters are not designed to print raster graphic files optimally. A RIP (Raster Image Processor) printer is the best alternative. IMS (Instructional Media Support) on the 4th Floor of McAlister Hall offers quality RIP printing to students at affordable prices. For more information about the Graphics Lab at IMS, visit their site.
PROBLEM: I'M STILL STUCK, MY JOB DIDN'T PRINT AND I THINK THE PLOTTER NEEDS TECHNICAL SERVICE
Solution: PLEASE REPORT THE PROBLEM using this link. By using this web-base error reporting form, we can recieve notification of the problem immediately and respond to the issue in a timely fashion. This is the most efficient way to get the problem resolved quickly.