Methods to Improve Print Speed in Windows

To improve print speed, you can try the following:

• Close all programs not required for printing.
  
• Delete temporary (.tmp) files on your system.
  
• Set a lower print quality resolution.
  
• Ensure the computer's parallel port (LPT) mode is set to ECP (Extended Capabilities Port).

To close background programs:

1. On the keyboard, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete. This will bring up the Close Program window. If you have no programs running from your Start menu, all programs displayed are running in the background.
   
   
2. To close a program, highlight it on the list, then click on 'End Task'. (Do not close Explorer; this is the name of the main Windows program).
   
   
3. Repeat from step 1 until all programs except Explorer have been closed.
   
   Note: Some programs may display a 'Program not Responding' box. Click 'End Task' in this box.

To remove temporary files:

1. Open Windows Explorer by selecting Start | Programs | Windows Explorer.
   
   
2. On the left side of the screen, go to the yellow Windows folder and click on the + sign to the left of it.
   
   
3. Go down, and click on the Temp folder to highlight it.
   
   
4. At the top of the screen, click on Edit | Select All.
   
   
5. Next, click on File | Delete. Answer 'Yes' to confirm sending these files to your Recycle Bin.
   
   
6. Close Windows Explorer.
   
   
7. Click Start | Find | Files or Folders.
   
   
8. In the 'Named' window type *.tmp.
   
   
9. Ensure that the 'Look In' window shows C:\ and that the 'Include Subfolders' box is checked. Click OK.
   
   
10. Again, click Edit | Select All. Click File | Delete. Click OK.

To check print quality resolution:

1. Click Start, Settings, and then Printers. For Windows XP, click Start, Control Panel, Printers and Other Hardware, then Printers and Faxes.
   
   
2. Click the Canon printer icon to highlight it.
   
   
3. From File menu, select Properties for Windows 95, 98 or Me; or Printing Preferences for Windows 2000/XP; or Document Defaults for Windows NT 4.0. The Printer Properties dialog box opens.
   
   
4. On Canon Printer Properties window, click Main tab then click the Advanced button.
   
   
5. On the Quality tab, move the Print Quality slide bar towards Fast.

To check the computer's parallel port mode:

1. Click Start | Settings | Printers.
   
   
2. Double click on SYSTEM, and then click on the Device Manager tab.
   
   
3. Double-click Ports (COM & LPT) to expand the options.
   
   
4. Confirm the printer port (LPT1, LPT2, etc.) assigned to your printer states ECP Printer Port (LPT1). If the printer port does not list ECP to the left of it, contact your computer manufacturer to set the printer port to ECP in the computer's BIOS.