Why does the equipment not work and how to fix it?

Trade equipment is an integral part of trade automation, and customers sometimes have problems with equipment. Most problems in the operation of devices you can fix by yourself.

Why does the equipment not work: problems and how to solve them?

The device is turned off or not connected. Everything seems to be connected, turned on, but someone walked by, hit it with their foot, moved a chair and pulled the cable, or even a cat ran through and the cable was pulled out. So the situation «equipment is not connected» actually occurs very often, and the first tip when a printer, scanner or other equipment does not work is to check if everything you need is turned on and connected.

Damaged cable or connector. The causes are similar: a door or a chair cut it, a dog played with it, or the cable simply dried up, wore out and no longer transmits a signal. The same goes for the connector on the cable: due to repeated connection and disconnection, the connectors break, wear out, and the equipment does not work — Just replace the cable or connector with a new one.

An «inappropriate» power supply. Some models of printers have a power supply that is very similar to a laptop power supply. People get confused or think they are the same. When using an inappropriate power supply, at least the firmware crashes, and at worst, the device or the power supply itself burns out. — If the power supply burns out, you need to find not just a similar one, but one just with the same characteristics.

USB-hub (port splitter) of low power. Some splitters do not have a separate power supply. Their power may not be enough for stable operation of the equipment. — For commercial equipment, buy high-quality splitters with their own power supply.

Error «Device is not recognized». If such a message appears when connecting the equipment via a USB hub, then please follow the previous paragraph «Low-quality USB hub»

Change the USB port. When you switch the printer to another port, the device may stop working. It happens because each connector has its own number, and the drivers do not automatically replace it. Do not change ports unnecessarily. If you have already done it, specify the correct port in the printer's settings on the computer to which it is connected:

• Go to the Windows control panel and select «Devices and Printers»
• Right-click on the driver name and go to «Printer properties»
• In the «Ports» tab, select a USB port with another number
• Click «Ok» to save changes.

Local network. In stores and supermarkets, equipment is often connected to a local network. But not all printers work equally in a network. Therefore, when choosing printers, buy proven models and contact specialists to set it up.
What to do if you bought the equipment in an online store? Remote equipment setup. — When you buy equipment in the Torgsoft online store, specialists help you to set it up remotely.

The scanner is not calibrated and does not scan the barcode. Some scanners need to be calibrated, and calibration barcodes are often thrown away with the packaging. Without calibration, the scanner still works, but it reads the barcode without simulating the «Enter» button, so it looks like the scanner is broken. — Find the manual for the scanner model online, print out a sheet with barcodes, and calibrate the device. 

You can also use the scanner without calibration — for this, you need to press the «Enter» button after each scan.

Terminal mode. When working with a remote server and client connections, to ensure that printers work properly, install drivers for them on both the server and client computers.

Drivers for scales and fiscal registrars. You have installed the driver, connected the equipment, but the scales or fiscal registrar do not work — Perhaps the drivers were installed on the computer incorrectly. Try to reinstall the drivers again, and if this does not help, contact the equipment dealer for assistance.

The driver does not have an electronic signature. It happens that you installed the hardware correctly, downloaded the drivers from the vendor, and the hardware does not work, or stops working after an operating system update. — Most hardware vendors do not send drivers for certification. And some operating systems, such as Windows 10, automatically check for an electronic certification signature from Microsoft. If there is no signature, the operating system considers the driver potentially unsafe, so it does not work. In addition, operating systems are periodically updated globally and all such drivers are automatically deleted. What to do? — In Windows 8, 8.1, and 10, you can turn off automatic signature verification, set the time and mandatory request to decide whether to install updates.

The equipment is defective. If you have tried all of the above options and none of them worked, contact your supplier to have a technician check your hardware.

Summary

Most problems with commercial equipment can be avoided if it is chosen and installed correctly. Torgsoft specialists help with all stages of automation: selecting the right equipment, purchasing, installing, and configuring it to make using the equipment convenient and easy.

Useful links:
What is trade equipment, and what is it for
Commercial equipment
How to set up a printer
How to check if the payment terminal is working
What is automation, and why is it needed
Ліцензії Торгсофт