CMYK dots printing on page

[EmEd1984]

Hi there

I've just noticed there are a sequence of tiny little CMYK dots (not splodges) in 3 perfectly spaced separate places running down about 2 inches from the right of the A4 page. It's not showing anything actually on the document I'm printing out, so it must be a printer error - it looks sort of like it's testing the colour perhaps.

It's on every page I print, not just the first one and it doesn't start to get any fainter. Does anyone know what this might be?

The printer is a Dell Colour Laser 3010cn if that makes a difference and the document is in Word.

It's barely noticeable if you didn't know it was there, but it's bugging me now I've noticed it! >:(

TIA x

[ACtheTROLL]

questions - in no particular order

does it do it with a blank page?

can you print a printer test page (windows printer properties)

can you print a test page from the printer (sometimes switch on holding a printer button or buttons)

have you checked the normal template?

have you gone through the word options menu?

what happens with a notepad or excel document


look at the printers properties ... anything about test or registation options

[EmEd1984]

on a blank, notepad or excel page just the 'K' (black dot) of the CMYK comes out but on the windows test page i get the full set again (i guess because i'm using colour). the normal template, test, registration and word options are all ok too! i can't find anything online that covers the same problem so i'm at a bit of a loss :(

[ACtheTROLL]

how about ringing dell support?

it will be something really stupid - it always is .... but only when you know

when just printing text ... is there a print in black and white option?