Are there common key combinations to print self-test page?

[Hogwild]

Hi everyone:

I have a couple of printers I'm checking out here. I always wondered, are there common
key combinations for printing self-test pages on MFCs/laser printers/laser faxes?

I just contacted Brother, who by the way have discontinued all phone support. A Brother support rep on Live Chat told me the combination for one model, but said he didn't know the combinations for others. Obviously this isn't too practical if you want to test a batch of printers.

It will take too much time to connect each printer to a PC and install dirvers. And besides, that's still not a self-test.

So, are there common key combinations across printer lines, or is each model different?

Thanks

 

[stratman]

You did not say where you will be testing the printers. It would be very cumbersome to test in your home using the method you describe. So, big guess, you are going to do it in a store.

Ask the employee to print you a test page. If you want, take paper you will be using at home/work and print on that. In the old days you could bring a USB stick with an image to print out as well. YMMV

Barring this simple way, you could drill down in the printers LCD screen to find a selection to print a test page of some sort.

 

[Hogwild]

I'll actually be testing used printers. When I help buy for family
members, I compare what's new-ish with what's older,
because as you know, many older models are generally built
like tanks compare with today's models.

Often, I"m talking to ebay sellers or sellers of used gear
on other websites. So I'd need to be able to send instructions
easily and not have them drill down through the menus
(which they're not willing to do anyways).

 

[stratman]

I'll actually be testing used printers.

OK. Maybe you can find Service Manuals that may explain the input to to what you want.

 

[Hogwild]

Thanks. Unforunately, the reason I'm here asking is I've been through
a decent number of service manuals and user guides and I haven't
found any yet that include that info.

I used Google, I called the manufacturers. "No one knows" they told
me. Nonsense. This kind of info. used to be included in manuals, back
in the days when companies cared about making good products.