Screwed up printer

[shadowdude]

When trying to print out an e-mail this afternoon, my printer went beserk and started printing stuff out like this:

!#@@()-=_~``84($#@!*$:</\]%$#^% over and over again

I had to disconnect it and reconnect to get it to work properly, any idea what caused this?

 

[Dell19]

I've had a printer print out random stuff before when something has gone slightly wrong like it hasn't properly cancelled the last print order so just starts randomly printing characters. Turning it off and on worked for me I think.

 

[Hawkster]

usually one of two reasons for this

1.corrupt print job - clearing the print queue off the pc and rebooting the printer to flush it's memory clears it and things carry on as normal

2.incorrect print drivers installed - or wrong type of printer selected.

Sounds like option 1 was the problem in your case.