A reporter is complaining about the following printer issue: The printer is printing unknown characters. What are two possible causes of this issue? (Choose two.)

In the scenario where a printer is producing unknown characters, the two most plausible causes are:

1. The Wrong or an Outdated Printer Driver is Installed: This is a common cause of printing issues. Printer drivers facilitate communication between the computer and the printer. If the driver is incorrect or outdated, it can lead to miscommunication, resulting in the printer outputting unknown or garbled characters. Updating or reinstalling the correct printer driver can often resolve this issue.
2. The Printer has a Loose Connection: A loose or faulty connection between the printer and the computer can lead to intermittent or incorrect data transmission. This can manifest as the printer printing unknown characters because it is not receiving the correct information from the computer. Checking and securing all cables, or even replacing them if they are damaged, can help fix this problem.

It’s important to address both software (driver) and hardware (connection) aspects when troubleshooting printer issues like this.

Understood, the two possible causes for the issue of a printer printing unknown characters, based on the provided options, are:

1. The Wrong or an Outdated Printer Driver is Installed: This is a common cause of printing issues. Printer drivers are crucial for the proper communication between the computer and the printer. If the driver is incorrect or outdated, it may not translate the print commands correctly, leading to the printer outputting unknown or garbled characters. Updating or reinstalling the correct printer driver often resolves this problem.
2. The Printer has a Loose Connection: A loose connection between the printer and the computer can result in incomplete or erratic data transmission. This can lead to the printer receiving incomplete or corrupt data, resulting in the printing of unknown characters. Checking and securing all cables and connections between the printer and the computer (or network, if applicable) is important for ensuring reliable communication and proper printing.

The other provided options are less likely to cause this specific issue:

• The Printer Lid has Not Been Closed Securely: While important for the operation of some printers, an unsecured lid typically leads to mechanical issues (like paper jams) rather than the printing of unknown characters.
• The Room Temperature is Above Normal: While extreme temperatures can affect hardware performance, a slightly elevated room temperature is unlikely to cause a printer to output unknown characters.
• The Printer Does Not Have Enough RAM: Insufficient RAM in a printer might lead to issues with processing large or complex documents, but it’s more likely to slow down printing or cause incomplete prints rather than the printing of unknown characters.

Ensuring that the printer driver is up to date and correct for the printer model, along with checking for secure and proper connections, are the key steps in resolving the issue of unknown characters being printed.