Which of the following is the most likely symptom of a dirty drum or roller in a laser printer?

The most likely symptom of a dirty drum or roller in a laser printer is the appearance of lines or splotches repeated at regular intervals on the print job. This is because a dirty drum or roller can leave marks on the printed page in a consistent pattern, as the contaminants can create irregularities in how the toner is transferred onto the paper. When the roller comes into contact with the drum, any debris or residue can imprint onto the paper, resulting in these repeated lines or splotches.

Faded prints or blank pages typically indicate issues with the toner cartridge itself or problems in other parts of the printer that affect toner application, rather than a dirty drum or roller. Frequent paper jams usually stem from mechanical issues, such as misaligned paper paths or feed rollers, rather than from a dirty drum or roller. Inconsistent color output on printed pages may suggest problems with the toner cartridges or clumping of toner, rather than just dirt on the drum or roller. Each of these other symptoms points to different printer maintenance or component issues, which helps clarify why lines or splotches are the best indication of a dirty drum or roller.