[SOLVED] Prints are jumbled and stretched

[Luke Garcia]

I work for an MSP. Solving printer issues is starting to make me bald. When my client is printing from WORD occasionally she will print something and the text will be jumbled, stretched and distorted. Whenever I remote in and do a test print, restart word, the usual stuff it starts to print fine. There will be a picture below as an example. I have to "fix" this issue every 2 weeks it seems like. The printer in question is a Kyocera "TASKalifa 3501i KX" and is a local printer not network. This is very odd and I would like some insight into this.
another thing, whenever this issue occurs the document itself will be messed up in WORD. So the printed page reflects the word document. Thanks in advance.

 

[rgd1101]

sure not the pc issue?

 

[jsmithepa]

the document itself will be messed up in WORD. So the printed page reflects the word document.

This says the word document somehow got scrambled, like u say, the printer is just following suit.

Suspect failing hard drive. "Dirty" Windows which may need a scratch re-install.

 

[rgd1101]

remote in, check system spec, malware scan, clear temp

 

[Ralston18]

I understand from your post that you have to "fix" this every two weeks or so.

What do you do to "fix it"?

Those actions may shed some light on what is needed for a permanent fix.

 

[dragaxx]

Looks to me like either Windows is getting force fed a font that it does not have, or the printer is getting forced to print in a font that it does not have.

 

[hang-the-9]

A printer cable that is too long can cause this, or a bad cable or port. If it's a USB printer make sure the cable is not longer than 6-10 feet. Past 10 feet USB becomes flaky. But you said this is what the document actually looks like? Does it look the same on all their computers?

 

[Luke Garcia]

I understand from your post that you have to "fix" this every two weeks or so.

What do you do to "fix it"?

Those actions may shed some light on what is needed for a permanent fix.

The "FIX" in question is restarting outlook and sometimes her machine.

 

[Luke Garcia]

A printer cable that is too long can cause this, or a bad cable or port. If it's a USB printer make sure the cable is not longer than 6-10 feet. Past 10 feet USB becomes flaky. But you said this is what the document actually looks like? Does it look the same on all their computers?

It does not look the same on other machines in the office. This happens periodically with different documents. Let me explain the process
Word document creation>print>PHYSICAL page is jumbled>Word document is now jumbled (Digital)
it is a very odd situation.

 

[captaincharisma]

do you know if the word document looks normal? the dosument may be jumbled like that and they are expecting it to be normal if they print it out

 

[Luke Garcia]

do you know if the word document looks normal? the dosument may be jumbled like that and they are expecting it to be normal if they print it out

I have seen the document, it is a legal document and it looks normal before this happens. I appreciate all the help from everyone by the way.

 

[rgd1101]

just 1 computer having issue?

 

[Ralston18]

I am thinking corrupted font (per @dragaxx).

Note that the bold font is perfectly fine.

The rest of the mess appears, for the most part, that a "TAB" character/printer control code has been inserted between individual letters. E.g. "Telephone".

Look in Word to see what the default font setting is for that document.

Reinstall that font.

https://www.lifewire.com/installing-truetype-or-opentype-fonts-in-windows-1074134

However, if the fonts works and then corrupts again then the cause of the corruption must be fixed.

Try repairing or reinstalling Outlook

"sfc /scannow" via the Command Prompt could resolve some issue.

 

[Luke Garcia]

It was a corrupted font, simple as uninstalling and reinstalling the font. Reboots in-between.