At my job my printer spits out papers that read
PCL XL error Warning: IllegalMediaSource
What does that mean? And how can I fix it. It uses a lot of paper and is wasting a lot of unccessary money... Please help!
2007-09-20 05:41:32 · 3 answers · asked by Rayve 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Printers
The printer is a HP laserjet4250.
2007-09-20 06:03:53 · update #1
yea, what he said!
2007-09-21 18:29:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anju 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"PCL" means "Printer Command Language". It is a way for your printer to interpret certain things like "bold" or "italic", et al. "XL" is the old name for "PCL version 6", or "PCL 6" for short.
Your printer may not understand all the commands (i.e., an older printer won't "understand" all of a newer language's commands). Older printers may not understand newer downloads, unless that download fixes something in the specific printer. Similarly, older computers may not "understand" newer printers.
It could also mean that your printer and computer are not "in sync" with each other (no, nothing to do with the boy band!). This is a communication problem, that *might* be solved just by checking the network connections on the back of both the computer and printer.
It could also mean that you are trying to output a file for which the printer simply can't interpret (e.g., if you are trying to output a picture without using the proper "interface" software, such as - - I chose this at random - - MS-Paint). As a computer programmer, I've often accidentally told the printer to output a program instead of the user manual page that I meant to print! Asking a printer to output a "program" is akin to asking directions in a country where you don't know the language; or, to put it in computer-ese: Garbage-in, garbage-out!
You might have requested the printer to output something that was meant for a different printer with a different "command language", or that you requested a size or type of paper that the printer doesn't know about and can't handle.
So, given the above, you'd understand when I say that 99% of the time, this problem is caused by human error!
Unfortunately, as soon as any such mistakes occur, it is usually "permanent", until the printer is turned off then turned back on (it's hard to explain to non-computer folks).
You should contact your job's "system administrator" or help desk personnel before asking anyone in "Yahoo Answers"!
BTW, since you are so concerned about waste, you could have saved a lot of time and effort by entering "PCL XL error Warning: IllegalMediaSource", without the quotes, into your favorite search engine, and found the answers much sooner!
2007-09-20 06:51:59 · answer #2 · answered by skaizun 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like a print driver error. Since you did not give us the name of the printer manufacturer, the print driver, what you are trying to print or the operating system all we can do is guess.
2007-09-20 05:57:39 · answer #3 · answered by smgray99 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋