220-801 · Question #1084
A user reports that an impact printer seems to be skipping characters or printing incomplete characters. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
The correct answer is C. Print head. In an impact printer, the print head contains individual pins that physically strike the ribbon to form characters; damaged pins are the direct cause of skipped or incomplete characters.
Question
A user reports that an impact printer seems to be skipping characters or printing incomplete characters. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Options
- AToner cartridge
- BPrint ribbon
- CPrint head
- DInk cartridge
How the community answered
(25 responses)- A4% (1)
- B4% (1)
- C84% (21)
- D8% (2)
Why each option
In an impact printer, the print head contains individual pins that physically strike the ribbon to form characters; damaged pins are the direct cause of skipped or incomplete characters.
Toner cartridges are components of laser printers and are not present in impact printers, making this choice technically inapplicable.
A worn or dry print ribbon would cause uniformly faded or light output across all characters, not the selective skipping or missing portions of individual characters.
Impact printers use a print head containing a matrix of small metal pins that fire forward to strike an inked ribbon against the paper. If one or more pins are bent, broken, or stuck, the corresponding dots are missing from each character, producing incomplete or partially formed output. Replacing the print head resolves this issue.
Ink cartridges are components of inkjet printers and are not used in impact (dot matrix) printers, making this choice inapplicable.
Concept tested: Impact printer print head failure causing missing characters
Source: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/a
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