It won't "catch" the paper to print. It goes through all of the normal sounds, but won't print.

SOURCE: Printer will not catch paper in tray

The rollers need to be clean or replaced.

SOURCE: Dell 3100 CN printer...message on printer reads load tray

Cycle Power on the Printer

1. Turn the printer off.
   
2. Wait 10 seconds.
   
3. Turn the printer on.
   
4. Determine if the issue still occurs.

Verify There is Paper in the Tray

Verify the Paper Size
Look at the chart below to verify that the paper size meets the 3000cn / 3010cn / 3100cn-series specifications.


Verify the paper size in the tray matches the size set in the 3000cn / 3010cn / 3100cn-series printer´s operator panel.

To verify the paper size in the tray matches the size set in the printer's operator panel, perform the following steps:

1. Press the MENU button.
2. Press the down arrow until Tray Settings appears and press the button.
3. Press the down arrow until Paper Size appears and press the button.
4. Press the down arrow until the specific paper tray (Tray 1, Tray 2, or MPF) appears and press the button.
5. Press the down arrow to select the specific paper size, as shown in Figure 1, and press the button.
6. Press the MENU button.

*1 Denotes country-specific factory default values.
*2 Available for the optional 250-sheet cassette only.

Figure 1 - Paper Size Chart




Verify the Paper Type Matches the Type Set in the Printer´s Operator Panel

To verify the paper type matches the type set in the printer's operator panel, perform the following steps:

1. Press the MENU button.
   
   
2. Press the down arrow until Tray Settings appears and press the button.
   
   
3. Press the down arrow until Paper Type appears and press the button.
   
   
4. Press the down arrow until the specific paper tray (Tray 1, Tray 2, or Multipurpose Feeder) appears and press the button.
   
   
5. Press the down arrow to select the specific paper type, as shown in Table 1, and press the button.
   
   
6. Press the MENU button.

Table 1: Paper Type Chart

All media types that are not Plain 1 should be printed from the MPF only.


Verify the printing preferences on the Dell™ 3000cn / 3010cn / 3100cn / 5100cn-series printer.
To verify the printing preferences is set to print from the correct tray with the correct paper size, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button, go to Settings, and click Printers and Faxes.
   The Printers and Faxes window appears.
2. Right-click Dell Laser Printer 3000cn / 3010cn / 3100cn / 5100cn-series and click Printing Preferences.
   The Printing Preferences window appears.
3. Verify the Paper Size drop-down is set to the correct paper size loaded in the specific tray to be printed from..
4. Click the Paper Tray tab.
5. Click the Paper Source drop-down menu and select the specific tray to be printed from.
   This sets the size and tray defaults.

Verify the Paper Size From the Printing Application Matches the Designated Printer Tray
To verify the paper size from the printing application matches the designated printer tray, perform the following steps:

1. Open the application being used to print the document. (Example: Microsoft Word)
   
2. Click File and click Print.
   
3. Verify the paper size.

Verify the Paper Source From the Printing Application Matches the Designated Printer Tray

1. Open the application being used to print the document.
   
2. Click File and click Print.
   
3. Verify the paper source.
   

Do not replace any printer hardware as this is not a printer hardware issue.

SOURCE: Will not print

This usually happens when the paper tray is set to the incorrect paper size.
This printer determines what size paper is installed in it by the little "fingers" on the left side of the tray. When you adjust the paper tray, it determines how those fingers are positioned, and therefore, how the switch reads the paper size.

If the tray setting is off, even by one little click, then the machine may read the paper size as other then letter. If this happens, you send a letter size job to the printer, and it doesnt think it has letter size paper, it will tell you to put letter paper in the MPF feeder.

If the tray is definately set to letter, but the machine still thinks it does not have letter, then the tray or the switch that reads the tray is defective, but 99% of the time it is just the tray is not set correctly.

The MPF door can be open or closed 100% of the time with NO EFFECT on how the printer works.

Testimonial: "Absolutely useful although I didn't see it when I worked it out by my own."

SOURCE: Dell s2500 printer - multipurpose feeder not taking paper - never been used

I had the same problem and resorted to making sure that there were several envelopes in the tray -- and hand feeding them. I suspect we both have a pickup roller problem, which is typical of the printer, and is the source of a lot of phantom jams.

SOURCE: I have 2 Dell model 1700n laser printers and they

Take off the two rubber rollers, turn them inside out and replace them, Voila!