Performing a Hardware Self-Test on Star Printers

Star printers provide the ability to perform a hardware self-test to verify of the different printer configurations, providing information critical for proper troubleshooting. Among other information, the self-test confirms the printers’ Firmware version, interface details, memory, and DIP switch settings.

The printer’s firmware version can be found at the very top of the self-test. It will appear similar to: “*** TSP650II Ver7.0 -b2.0 ***” where “TSP650II” is a printer model and “Ver7.0 -b2.0” is the Firmware version.

It is necessary to have the printer powered OFF to begin the hardware self-test.

With the printer powered OFF, please press and hold down the “FEED” button. Power the printer ON, only releasing the FEED button when the self-test starts to print. For most Star printers, the hardware self-test will begin right away, if it does not, hold the FEED button until the printer starts to print.

Depending on the printer’s interface, the self-test will print one or two tickets. One if USB, Serial or Parallel, and two if Bluetooth, Ethernet or WLAN. The first will include the memory and DIP switch settings, while the second will include information related to the Interface (Interface MAC Address, Network IP, Dynamic/Static IP Assignment, etc.)

If the hardware self-test did not print, key reasons might include: FEED button released before self-test has begun to print, wrong type of paper, network connection (if Ethernet or WLAN) printer not powered.