Dell A940 User Manual

Dell™ AIO Printer A940 User's Guide

Click the links to the left for information on the features and operation of your printer. For information on
other documentation included with your printer, see Finding information.

To order ink or supplies from Dell:

Double-click the icon on your desktop.1.

Visit Dell's cartridge ordering Web site:

www.dell.com/supplies
www.dell.euro.com/supplies

2.

You can also order Dell printer supplies by phone.
For best service, have your Dell printer Service Tag available.
For help, locating your Service Tag number, see Express Service Code and Service Tag number.

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to

avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

© 2003 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is
strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell and DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation; Microsoft
and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the
marks and names of their products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in
trademarks and trade names other than its own.

____________________
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS

This software and documentation are provided with RESTRICTED RIGHTS. Use, duplication or disclosure by
the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical
Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013 and in applicable FAR provisions: Dell
Computer Corporation, One Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, 78682, USA.

June 2003 SRV 7Y849 Rev. A02

Finding information

Refer to:

When you need help with:

Setup diagram

This document contains complete setup information.

Drivers and Utilities CD

The Drivers and Utilities CD contains drivers for your AIO printer.
Documentation and drivers are already installed on your printer when shipped

from Dell. You can use the CD to uninstall/reinstall drivers or access your
documentation.

Readme files may be included on your CD to provide last-minute updates about
technical changes to your printer or advanced technical reference material for
experienced users or technicians.

Owner's Manual

This document contains information about:

Basic usage
Scanning, printing, copying, and faxing
Creative projects
Ink cartridge ordering information
Setup troubleshooting
General troubleshooting

Express Service Code
and Service Tag number

Express Service Code and Service Tag number
This label is located on your printer.

Dell Support Website

The Dell Support Website provides several online tools, including:

Solutions - Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, and
online courses
Upgrades - Upgrade information for components, such as memory
Customer Care - Contact information, order status, warranty, and repair
information
Downloads - Drivers
Reference - Printer documentation and product specifications

You can access Dell Support at support.dell.com. Select your region on the
WELCOME TO DELL SUPPORT page, and fill in the requested details to access
help tools and information.

Understanding your printer

Use the:

When you want to:

1

Paper support

Load paper in the All-In-One.

2

Display

Check the status of the All-In-One.

3

Operator panel

Operate your All-In-One (attached to a computer or unattached).
Your operator panel has a FAX button. In order for the FAX button to function

properly:

Your computer must be connected to a data/fax modem.
The data fax modem must be connected to an active analog phone line.
The printer must be connected to the computer with a USB cable.

NOTE: You cannot fax with a DSL (digital subscriber line) or cable modem.

4

Paper exit tray

Stack paper as it exits the All-In-One.

5

Top cover

Place an item on or remove an item from the scanner glass.

6

Paper guide

Make sure paper feeds correctly into the All-In-One.

7

Printer (scanner
unit)

Change cartridges.
Unlock the scanner.
Lock the scanner.

NOTE: Lift the scanner unit to do these things.

8

Scanner lock

Lock or unlock the scanner.

NOTE: Unlock the scanner before use. Lock the scanner if you are moving your

All-In-One.

9

Scanner support

Keep the scanner unit open to change cartridges, unlock the scanner, or lock the
scanner.

10

USB cable

Connect your All-In-One to a computer.

11

Power supply

Supply power to the All-In-One.

Printer specifications

Overview
Physical specifications
Environmental specifications
Power consumption and requirements
Fax mode capabilities
Print and scan mode capabilities
Operating system support
Memory specifications and requirements
Paper
Cables

Overview

Base memory

8 MB

Maximum memory

8 MB

Emulation

Host based data stream printing

Connectivity

USB

Duty cycle (average)

3000 pages/month

Duty cycle (maximum)

5000 pages/month

Printer life

36,000 pages or one year (Letter size 5% coverage)

Physical specifications

Physical dimension

240mm (H) x 469mm (W) x 395mm (D)

9.4 in. (H) x 18.5 in. (W) x 15.5 in. (D)

Weight

8.2 kg
18 lb

Environmental specifications

Temperature/Relative Humidity

The recommended temperature and relative humitiy for all conditions
61° to 90° F

40 to 70%

Condition

Temperature

Relative humidity (non-condensing)

Operation

16° to 32° C
61° to 90° F

15 to 85%

Storage

-40° to 60° C

-40° to 140° F

10 to 90%

Shipping

-40° to 60° C

-40° to 140° F

Power consumption and requirements

Rated AC Input

100V–240V

Rated Frequency

50/60 Hz

Minimum AC input

100V AC

Maximum AC input

240V AC

Maximum input current

1.5A

Average power consumption

Standby mode
Operational mode

15W
35W

Fax mode capabilities

When you scan to fax, your document will scan in at 100 dpi (dots per inch). You can fax both color and
black and white documents. You can also fax multiple pages. For help, refer to the Owner's Manual.

In order for the FAX button to function properly:

Your computer must be connected to a data/fax modem.
The data fax modem must be connected to an active analog phone line.
The printer must be connected to the computer with a USB cable.

NOTE: You cannot fax with a DSL (digital subscriber line) or cable modem.

Printer and scan mode capabilities

Your Dell AIO Printer A940 can scan from 50 to 19,200 dpi. Even though your All-In-One has this capability,
we recommend using the preset resolutions.

Print and scan resolution

dpi

Equivalent print resolution

Quick

150 x 150

600 x 300 dpi

Normal

300 x 300

600 x 600 dpi

Better

600 x 600

1200 x 1200 dpi

Best

600 x 600

4800 x 1200 dpi

Operating system support

The Dell AIO Printer A940 supports:

Windows XP
Windows 2000

Memory specifications and requirements

Your operating system must meet the minimum system requirements.

Operating system

Processor speed (Mhz)

RAM (MB)

Hard disk (MB)

Virtual memory (MB)

Windows XP

Pentium 300

128

500

286

Windows 2000

Pentium 200

128

286

286

Paper

Refer to your Owner's Manual for information on what paper sizes and types are supported with your Dell
AIO Printer A940.

Cables

Your Dell Personal AIO Printer A940 uses a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable (sold separately).

Troubleshooting

Transparencies or glossy photo papers stick together
Transparencies or photo papers contain white lines
Document prints slowly
Document prints poorly
Auto-cropping of scanned image is unsatisfactory
Edges of copied documents are cut off
Copied objects appear in a different location on the page
Fit to Page function is not working properly
Auto detect is set but not working properly
Fax function does not work

If your All-In-One has a problem, make sure:

Your All-In-One is on.
The scanner is unlocked.
You removed the stickers and tape from the bottom of the ink cartridges. For help, refer to the

Placemat.
The paper is loaded correctly.
You installed both of the ink cartridges. The Dell AIO Printer A940 will only work if you have both

cartridges installed.

If you experience other problems, refer to your Owner's Manual.

Transparencies or glossy photo papers stick together

Remove each page as it exits the printer and let it dry completely before stacking.
Use a transparency or photo paper designed for inkjet printers.

Transparencies or photo papers contain white lines

Clean the nozzles. For help, refer to the Owner's Manual.

Document prints slowly

Close applications not in use.
Select Quick Copy or Normal on the Document/Quality tab of Print Properties, Preferences, or from

the All-In-One Center:

Open the Dell All-In-One Center. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.a.

From the Copy... section, click See More Copy Settings.b.
From the Copy quality area, select Quick Copy.c.

Consider purchasing more RAM (Random Access Memory) for your computer.

NOTE: Photos or documents containing graphics may take longer to print than regular text.

Document prints poorly

If your documents have any of the following problems, see the following instructions to solve the problem.

Vertical, straight lines are not smooth

To improve the print quality of vertical, straight lines in tables, borders, and graphs:

Select a higher quality from the Document/Quality tab of Print Properties, Preferences, or from the All­In-One Center:

Open the Dell All-In-One Center. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.a.

From the Copy... section, click See More Copy Settings.b.

From the Copy quality area, select a higher print quality than what you are currently using.c.
Test the cartridge alignment. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.
Clean the nozzles. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.

Characters are missing or unexpected

Make sure the scanner glass is clean:

Dampen a clean, lint-free cloth.1.
Gently wipe the scanner glass.2.

NOTE: Make sure all ink or corrective fluid on the document is dry before placing the document on the

scanner glass.

Print is too dark or smudged

Make sure:

You let the ink dry completely before handling the paper.
You select the correct paper type and size in Print Properties, Preferences, or in the All-In-One Center.
The paper is straight and unwrinkled.
You select the appropriate quality for the paper type. If you are printing on regular paper, select the

Quick Copy setting from the Document/Quality tab of Print Properties, Preferences, or from the All-In­One Center.

The nozzles are clean. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.

Print quality is poor at the edges of the page

Like other All-In-Ones, your All-In-One cannot print in the extreme left, right, top, or bottom edges of a
page. Use these minimum settings:

Left and right margins:

6.35 mm (0.25 in.) each for all paper sizes except A4

3.37 mm (0.133 in.) each for A4 size paper

Top margin:

1.7 mm (0.067 in.)

Bottom margin:

16.51 mm (0.65 in.)

Colors are faded or not printing completely

Use a different color setting.
Use a different brand of paper. Every paper brand accepts ink differently and prints with slight color

variations.
Clean the nozzles. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.
An ink cartridge may be out of or low on ink.

To check the ink levels from the operator panel:

Press Options until Cartridges displays.a.

Press + until Ink Levels displays.b.

a.

b.

Press Select.c.

Press one of the arrow buttons:d.

To check the ink level in the black cartridge, choose Black Ink.

To check the ink level in the color cartridge, choose Color Ink.

Press Cancel to return to Normal quality.e.

To check the ink levels from the Dell Printer Solution Center, refer to your Owner's Manual.

Auto-cropping of scanned image is unsatisfactory

First, try cleaning the scanner glass. If that does not work, you can either turn the auto cropping feature off
or adjust how the image is cropped.

To clean the scanner glass:

Dampen a clean, lint-free cloth.1.
Gently wipe the scanner glass.2.

NOTE: Make sure all ink or corrective fluid on the document is dry before placing the document on the

scanner glass.

To turn the feature off for your next scan:

Open the Dell All-In-One Center. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.1.

The All-In-One Main Page appears.
From the Scan... section, click See More Scan Settings.2.
From the What is being scanned? option, select anything but Photo.3.

Or
Open the Dell All-In-One Center. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.1.

The All-In-One Main Page appears.
From the Scan... section, click See More Scan Settings.2.

2.
Click Display Advanced Scan Settings.3.
Click the Scan tab.4.
Click Select area to be scanned, and then select a size from the drop-down menu.5.
Click OK.6.

To adjust the auto-cropping:

Open the Dell All-In-One Center. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.1.

The All-In-One Main Page appears.
From the Scan... section, click See More Scan Settings.2.
Click Display Advanced Scan Settings.3.
Click the Scan tab.4.
Select Auto-crop the scanned item.5.
Slide the bar to the left to crop less or to the right to crop more.6.
Click OK.7.

To adjust cropping manually:

Open the Dell All-In-One Center. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.1.

The All-In-One Main Page appears.
Click Preview Now to view your scanned image.2.
To resize and crop the image, drag the box around the image in the preview area until the size is

satisfactory for your scan.

3.

Edges of copied documents are cut off

If you are using your All-In-One without it being attached to a computer and scanning a document that is
getting cut off on the edges:

Move the document to a different place on the glass.1.
On the operator panel, press the Reduce/Enlarge button repeatedly until Fit to Page appears.2.
Press Select.3.

3.

If you are using your All-In-One attached to a computer:

Move the document to a different place on the glass.1.
From the software, select a copy setting with autocrop on (Color Photo or Black and White Photo) to

make sure that autocrop finds the object and prints it completely.

2.

NOTE: When autocrop is on, the object (wherever it is placed on the glass) will be printed in the

upper left corner of the page. This may make your copy look different from the original.

Copied objects appear in a different location on the
page

This will only happen if your All-In-One is attached to a computer. When the default for auto crop (Color
Photo) is on for copying, any object found on the scanner glass will be positioned at the top left corner of the
page.

To fix this:

Open the Dell All-In-One Center. For help, refer to your Owner's Manual.1.
From the Copy... section, select Color Document or Black and White Document (these settings

have auto crop turned off).

2.

Fit to Page function is not working properly

On the operator panel, press Options until Original Size displays.1.
Make sure the default, Auto Detect, is selected.2.
Press Select.3.
On the operator panel, press Reduce/Enlarge repeatedly until Fit to Page appears.4.
Press Select.5.
On the operator panel, press Options until Blank Paper Size appears.6.
Press + until your blank paper size is displayed.7.
Press Select.8.

The scanner will pre-scan to determine the size of the original, and then fit it onto the specified Blank

Paper Size and begin scanning to perform the copy.

Auto detect is set but not working properly

Make sure the glass is clean.
Turn off Auto Detect and specify the size of the original.

Fax function does not work

In order for the FAX button to function properly:

Your computer must be connected to a data/fax modem.
The data fax modem must be connected to an active analog phone line.
The printer must be connected to the computer with a USB cable.
The memory may be full. Wait until the faxes in memory have been sent, and then send the
current fax again.

NOTE: You cannot fax with a DSL (digital subscriber line) or cable modem.

See "Faxing" in your Owner's Manual for more information.

Appendix

Dell technical support policy
Contacting Dell
Warranty and return policy

Dell technical support policy

Technician-assisted technical support requires the cooperation and participation of the customer in the
troubleshooting process and provides for restoration of the Operating System, application software and
hardware drivers to the original default configuration as shipped from Dell, as well as the verification of
appropriate functionality of the computer unit and all Dell-installed hardware. In addition to this technician
assisted technical support, online technical support is available at Dell Support. Additional technical support
options may be available for purchase.

Dell provides limited technical support for the printer and any Dell-installed software and peripherals.
Support for third-party software and peripherals is provided by the original manufacturer, including those
purchased and/or installed through Software & Peripherals (DellWare), ReadyWare, and Custom Factory
Integration (CFI/DellPlus).

Contacting Dell

You can access Dell Support at support.dell.com. Select your region on the WELCOME TO DELL SUPPORT
page, and fill in the requested details to access help tools and information.

You can contact Dell electronically using the following addresses:

World Wide Web
www.dell.com/
www.dell.com/ap/ (for Asian/Pacific countries only)
www.euro.dell.com (for Europe only)
www.dell.com/la/ (for Latin American countries)

Anonymous file transfer protocol (FTP)
ftp.dell.com/
Log in as user: anonymous, and use your e-mail address as your password.

Electronic Support Service
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (for Asian/Pacific countries only)
support.euro.dell.com (for Europe only)

Electronic Quote Service
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (for Asian/Pacific countries only)

Electronic Information Service
[e-mail]

Warranty and return policy

Dell Computer corporation ("Dell") manufactures its hardware products from parts and components that are
new or equivalent to new in accordance with industry-standard practices. For information about the Dell
warranty for your printer, refer to your Owner's Manual.