Faded print on laser printers is often due to an issue with the toner cartridge. One of the first steps in troubleshooting this issue is to check the toner levels and replace the toner cartridge if it is low or has run out. Checking software settings is less likely to be the cause of genuine physical print degradation, though it can affect printout appearance. Cable integrity would affect data transmission rather than print quality. Power supply issues typically manifest in more significant ways than just faded print.