Apple StyleWriter II Troubleshooting Guide
Fault-finding for the Apple StyleWriter II and the Apple StyleWriter 1200. Apple's Service Source manuals for the two printers carry the same symptom charts, and most of them end in "Replace printer" after checks of the cartridge, cable, software, paper and a few sensors.[1][2] Cleaning and handling are on Apple StyleWriter II General Maintenance.
Lights
[edit | edit source]The StyleWriter II has a green power light and an amber error light.[3]
- Both lights off: check that the power cord is plugged in, the printer is switched on and the outlet has power.
- Error light steady: the printer is out of paper or a sheet has misfed. Check the Macintosh screen for a message, reload the sheet feeder, and clear any jam.
Test page
[edit | edit source]Switch on and hold down the online key for at least six seconds, or until the test page prints. It shows the ROM revision and a pattern that tests every ink jet; the 1200 primes the head before printing it. Broken lines in the pattern send you to the printing section of the symptom charts below.[1][2]
Computer and software
[edit | edit source]From the user's guide:[3]
- No StyleWriter II icon in the Chooser: the printer software is not installed.
- Icon chosen, but nothing prints or the Macintosh reports no printer: the printer is off or a cable is loose; for a shared printer, the host Macintosh and printer are off or not shared; or the Chooser port (printer or modem) is not the port the cable is in. Switching the printer off and on again clears some software faults.
- Text prints in Geneva: the Macintosh is short of memory, or a shared printer's host Macintosh lacks the fonts used.
Symptom chart
[edit | edit source]Apple lists the cures in order of likelihood. If a replaced module does not cure the fault, refit the original before the next step.[1]
| Symptom | Cures, in order |
|---|---|
| Computer cannot find the printer | Driver installed; Chooser and control panel settings; serial cable connected; replace the cable |
| No lights or movement | Printer switched on and plugged in; replace the fuse |
| No status lights | Replace the fuse; operation panel cable seated on the logic board; replace the printer |
| Error light on | Out of paper (add paper); paper jam (clear it and press the power switch); carriage jam; replace the printer |
| No printing | Interface cable; printer chosen in the Chooser; purge (clean) the cartridge; replace the cartridge; right-margin sensor seated; replace the printer |
| Garbled printing | Interface cable; clean the cartridge; replace the cartridge; replace the printer |
| Overprinting | Line spacing and length in the application; correct driver; replace the printer |
| Too light or too dark | Clean the cartridge; 16-24 lb cotton bond; forms thickness lever (up for standard paper, down for envelopes, transparencies, labels and heavy paper); replace the cartridge |
| White lines | Clean the cartridge; replace the cartridge; replace the printer |
| Page off centre | Paper; no more than 50 sheets in the feeder; paper inserted correctly; margins and paper size in Page Setup; replace the printer |
| Ink on the back of the paper | Clean the platen with a soft, dry cloth; clean the platen rollers; replace the printer |
| Wavy, splotchy or distorted image | Clean the cartridge; replace the cartridge; replace the printer |
| Erratic carrier motion; no self-test with the ready light on | Replace the printer |
| Power on, carrier does not move | Clear the carrier area; replace the printer |
| Carrier grinds, hums loudly or locks | Right-margin sensor seated; replace the printer |
| No paper feed | Sheet feeder aligned; release the pressure plate on the feeder; obstructions; replace the printer |
| Grinding, binding or tearing during paper feed | Obstructions; forms thickness lever; paper inserted correctly; 16-24 lb paper; sheet feeder alignment; replace the printer |
| Envelopes feed badly | Set the paper thickness lever, do not mix sheets and envelopes in one job, and reset the lever afterwards; replace the printer |
| Operation panel buttons do not work | Panel cable seated at both ends; replace the printer |
| Problem in one program only | Known-good software; software compatible with TrueType fonts |
The chart's limit of 50 sheets for an off-centre page is Apple's figure, although the feeder holds 100 sheets of 20 lb paper.[1][3]
Image problems
[edit | edit source]The user's guide adds:[3]
- Ink smears when rubbed: leave pages alone until they have been fully ejected into the output tray.
- Printing on only part of the page: check the paper size in Page Setup; clean the cartridge, or replace it if empty.
- Blank page: clean the cartridge, then replace it.
- Too light or too dark on non-standard paper: try 16-24 lb cotton bond, turn the stack over, and set both adjustment levers to the right icon.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Apple StyleWriter II General Maintenance
- Apple StyleWriter II, Apple StyleWriter 1200
- Apple StyleWriter Troubleshooting Guide, for the original StyleWriter
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Apple Computer, StyleWriter II (Service Source), Basics, Test Page (PDF pp. 3-4), and Troubleshooting, Symptom Charts, pp. 2-11 (PDF pp. 14-24), hosted as File:Stylewriter ii.pdf; described at StyleWriter II Service Source.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Apple Computer, StyleWriter 1200 (Service Source), Basics, Test Page, pp. 6-7 (PDF pp. 8-9), and Troubleshooting, Symptom Charts, pp. 2-11 (PDF pp. 20-29), hosted as File:StyleWriter 1200 Service Source.pdf.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Apple Computer, StyleWriter II User's Guide, Z030-2637-A (1992), Troubleshooting, pp. 25-31 (PDF pp. 32-38), hosted as File:Apple StyleWriter II Users Guide Z030-2637-A 1992.pdf. Source for: the Chooser not showing the printer icon; the Macintosh not finding the printer; text changing to Geneva when the Macintosh is low on memory; clearing jams from the back of the printer; paper feeding faults; the meaning of both lights off and of the error light lit steadily; image problems, papers to avoid and the adjustment levers.