A user reports that scanned or copied pages from an MFP show vertical lines down the page. The printer processes print jobs correctly. What should the technician do?
CompTIA A+ teaches that vertical lines on scanned or copied documents but not printed documents indicate a dirty or smudged scanner glass or ADF glass strip. Dust, ink smears, or debris create a line because the scanning sensor repeatedly passes over the same contaminated area.
If printing works normally, internal printer components such as the transfer roller or pickup rollers are not at fault. Maintenance kits apply to internal wear components like rollers, belts, or fusers not scanning artifacts.
Cleaning the scanner glass or ADF strip directly addresses this common problem. The A+ exam frequently includes troubleshooting questions about print vs. scan artifacts, and this scenario is a classic example.
Therefore, the correct solution is to clean the glass bed (or ADF strip).
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