Printout is pale and almost ilegible

I have changed colour and black ink cartridges, done full maintenance etc. Printer is still printing out documents in very pale and distorted form which is barely legible. Printer is only two years old and has never given problems until now. Is not used frequently. Would be so very grateful for any help or advise as I urgently need to print an important document. Am using windows XP. Please be so kind and respond to my request for help at your earliest convenience.

2 more comments
Renee Doyle Jun 17, 2007

The ink cartridges are totally new, but thank you for your kind response. Will keep trying, although there does't appear to be much else I can do. Would using a driver for Canon 250 be any help? I'm afraid I am totally untechnical, so excuse my lack of the correct terminology here.
Renee Doyle Jun 17, 2007

Thanks again and can you please explain what downloading the correct driver may achieve and how do I apply it once downloaded? I am not really sure what the purpose is for downloading a driver! What a novice!
Renee Doyle Jun 17, 2007

Hi, if nothing works, would you be so kind and advise me as to which printer would be suitable for a home user who mainly uses it for correspondence such as word and excel documents, with the odd photo prints here and there. This Canon has unfortunately always been painfully slow, but perhaps I made a bad choice model wise.
Renee Doyle Jun 17, 2007

Thank you so much. Have tried all..no luck. Getting new one am!

1 Answer

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I wonder if you have got it set to draft mode? Check it out. Failing that go to www.fixyourownprinter.com

Posted on Jun 17, 2007

1 more comment
Anonymous Jun 17, 2007

Infrequent use is the curse of printers.
They should be used at once a week to prevent dry out problems.
If the cartridges are of the Head-in tank type - with the contacts on the side.
Try standing them in a saucer with a dampened tissue underneath to draw out the ink.
Anonymous Jun 17, 2007

Only the correct driver for your model will do
May then its time to goe for a new one.
Anonymous Jun 17, 2007

You said would using the driver for a Canon 250 help. And I said only the correct driver will do.
I presume you do the have corrected driver for you model?

If you want to try this as a last ditch thing. do the following.
Go to
Start/printers and faxes/install new printer/when you are asked to provide the Cd or select from list. take select from list.
Run down the makers list to Canon then move across to select the exact diver for your printer- click OK

Now right click on this new driver and say make default printer.
Try a print job.

If all else fails - a nice new printer that you will print from at least once a week in full colour to keep it sweet is the next thing.

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