printing to small

I have a lexmark printer that when it prints letters, written on the screen, it prints them out on to paper at half there size, or less, and is almost impossible to read.

This problem just magically started happening with out warning, I have done nothing to cause this to happen.

It is a P3150 and I have went through their trouble shooting menu, and they do not even mention the possiblility of this ever happening, that alone a way to fix.

 

Hi mowpar,

What do you see in the printing preview window? Does this happen trying to print works form one software?
Did you check the size of the paper (printing settings)?

 

I have the same problem only when I print web pages. I usually copy and paste the text to Word or Notepad as a work around. I unchecked "shrink to fit" which corrected the font size but caused a margin problem.

 

It could be trying to print 2+ pages on a single page, so shrinks it right down.

The size of the letters on the screen is irrelevent, you could be zoomed in more than you realise, or have a different screen size, etc.

 

It even happened to me when I highlighted a few lines and chose "selection" so I don't think it's trying to print more than one page. As far as the resolution goes, mine is set low, if that matters.

 

I asked one question, did not get an answer but I did get three questions asked of me. So if you need help, print the answer then maybe you will get three answers.

This forum is batting a thousand, I have never, nor do I expect to ever get help from this forum.

 

Did you find the answer in somewhere else? If you did, would you share it with us? I'm looking for the answer too. As I said, I use a text editor as a work around. Not all answers are readily available.

 

Batting a thousand is a good thing..hate ta tell you.

Without all the information required..no one can do more than guess....

Nothing just magically starts happening.... something must have changed...maybe an auto update to something that you aren't aware of...maybe someone else used the PC...who knows...

Something you printed could have changed the setting on your printer...yes, its possible.

Have you seen some of the other questions people post....? "My car won't start after I parked it overnite. What could be wrong?"

Sorry you feel that way about the site....I think its one of the best available.

 

Hey.....I do this kinda stuff for a livining......printers, copiers, scanners, connectivity, networks.............

My first thought is to just delete the print driver and re-install it.

Great car analogy Gunguy45, LOL........

Yes, he's right, for example; if you print out a document that was emailed to you and created by someone else, it is posible that your printer settings could mirror the settings of the original and stick but I do agree it's a wierd scenario........I've seen stranger things......

Just delete it, re-install it and be done with it.

 

Questioning is fundemental in troubleshooting......

Can you imagine Detective Columbo not asking questions.

Sorry but there is no such thing as a magic bullet answer.

 

I knew that I would get this reaction from you guys.

But what I did not address is the fact, that when I ask a question, I am looking for an answer.

I also know that to get an answer you have to ask questions to know which road to go down, but here is my problem. When I am asked a question such as did I do this did I try that and so on, that question to me I would hae to go to another forum and ask them what you meant when you asked me did I go here did I do that. The questions asked, are not common knowlege, I know that it must be for a lot of you, but it is not among people like me, who do not live and breath these pc's

I do know enough about cars to ask the proper questions and would know what to answer if a question was asked but not about a computer, so I guess I am asking you to break it down for those of us who don't use the computer, but can still identify a problem.

Like for instance somebody says to take it off and re-install it. Well, I do not know how to do this, I do not even know where to start. When going to the trouble shooting info on the lexmark site it does not mention this.

99 times out of a hundred the answers given at these help sights are not the ones needed and the faq's are not the questions most of need answered.

 

I have found the way to uninstall the printer. But have not found a disc to do the reinstall.

Is there not a disc//// and when I uninstall the printer, and then reconnect it, will my install wizard find it and go ahead and recognize the connection and install it automatically.

I am not going to un-install until I know what to do after that.

Disc or no?

 

The driver dowload page is:
Lexmark P3150 Driver Download
but I don't know if that's going to correct the problem.

 

You are probably right since it is the only possible fix, listed here that I am able to understand and execute.

The answer is probalby listed above, but since I am unable to find away to anwer the qeustions asked I am in the same place I was before, but now I more unanswered qustions.

 

Mowpar, I completely understand your frustration, it was that way for most of us starting out with computers.
Most learned about computers the same way you are learning and I know that computer people can sometimes overwhelm you with lingo that is hard to follow........but be not afraid you are in good hands here.

Don't worry about the other questions, Patricia was just trying to help.......but I actualy understand her logic.......but again don't worry about trying to come up with an answers for that.

I am confident that re-installing the "printer driver software" will correct this problem. It is not brain surgery or a beating heart and can always be reversed. This is relatively low tech but again to the novice can be overwhelming.

To answer your question about the wizard...........yes the print driver software should have a wizard to walk you through it.
And if you bought the printer new, yes every printer comes with a software / print driver disc...........you would know if if you have it but if you don't.......yes, you can always download it from the that link in the other thread.......that was awsome of he or she to list that link for you.

Now I have a question for you.........how is the printer connected to your computer, is it a USB cable, a network cable or wireless connection?

And before downloading the printer driver you must know what type of operating system you have for example Windows 2000, Windows XP and so on ......so you download the proper driver for your computer.

If you have a problem or get stuck or have question we will be here.

There are some realy good books for beginers on computers at any Barnes & Noble.......they have a great computer section for all skill levels.

 

usb or network do not know the difference, I know its not wireless. Cable end has a little square connection, not one with tiny different prongs.

 

A network printer has an IP address. Anything connected to the PC is not a network printer even if it's shared. It can be connected by Cat5 or USB cables.

 

A quick Google search of the make & model tells me:
-- The printer connects to the PC through a USB cable. Since the printer is working, we know the cable isn't the culprit.
-- The Lexmark website lists it as compatible only with Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Since the printer is working, we know Mopar uses either 2000 or XP.
-- It is not a networked printer, so it doesn't require any time investigating network problems.

I suspect that you printed a greeting card, business card, certificate, or some other item from a specialty program or website, and it didn't return the printer to its defaults. Deleting and re-installing the printer will solve the problem if that's the case.

Uninstall the printer by clicking Start/Control Panel/Printers and Faxes. Right-click on the printer in the list and click "Delete".

Reboot the computer and leave the printer powered on and plugged in to the computer.

Windows will recognize it. It will either have the drivers ready to install, or it will ask you if it can go to the Lexmark website to find them. If it can't find them, cancel the "New Hardware Found" windows and go to the link in the previous post. Download the drivers to a folder you'll remember, then double-click on that downloaded file to install the drivers.

 

I have more problems now. In trying to fix my printer problem I have screwed something up.

I am writing to this forum from my laptop.

My computer is unable to turn on.

When I turn it on and gets to the area where I put in my password, I put in the password then it instantly goe to saving your settings, and tells me windows is getting ready to shut down.

I was trying to get to system restore to maybe undo what I had messed up, but now I cannot get far enough into the computer to accomplish this.

I tried to start in safe mode but it did the same thing.

This all seemed to start after running spybot seach and destroy, and had found 20 some viruses to be removed, but when I pressed button to get rid of them, it said It could not be done unless reinstalled certain program, one I guess I inadvertantly wiped out I do know one way or another what to did do about it.

Can you help with this, can I reinstall the windows xp and reinstall drivers to take care of this problem?

 

That is one way to do it but their may be an easier way to fix it rather than blowing away and reloading your system.
Anti-Virus is not my expertise so mabey someone else can add to this.
Word of wisdom.......try slaying one dragon at a time.......

 

Mowpar: Turn on the machine, hold F8, use the arrow to highlight safe mode. If you get into safe mode, download, update and run anti malware from Malwarebytes.org

 

I am unable to access computer through the safe mode

 

Try F8 again and choose last known good config.

 

It is time to wipe the hard drive and reinstall the operating system. Your machine is defintely infected or FUBAR.

Pop the Windows CD into the drive, restart the computer, and follow the prompts. Try "Repair" first, and if that doesn't work, your only option is to format and install.

 

Fubar????????????????????

 

FUBAR..........
Blanked Up Beyond All Recognition

 

I have not been able to re-install window xp. I put the cd in and followed its prompts, I did not remove the windows xp that was already there, I think I had to, right.

Well after following the install directions it came finally to this and I did not know what to do.

Fatal error one of the components that windows needs to continue set up could not be installed.

This left me with no other choice except to cancel.