Final answer:
The most logical reason to conclude that a dirty drum is causing issues in a laser printer is 'd) Ghost images on printouts,' as this is a common symptom of a dirty or defective drum unit affecting the printing process.
Step-by-step explanation:
When troubleshooting a laser printer that is producing printouts with issues, finding that the drum is dirty can lead to specific types of printing problems. The most logical reason to conclude that a dirty drum is causing the problem would be 'd) Ghost images on printouts.' Ghosting is a phenomenon where a faint replica of the image prints elsewhere on the page, which is a common symptom of a dirty or defective drum unit in a laser printer. This happens because residue or debris on the drum can hold a residual charge and attract additional toner, leading to these repeated images.
Other issues like 'a) Frequent paper jams' can point to problems with the paper feed mechanism, 'b) Faded printouts' might indicate low toner levels, and 'c) Smudged printouts' could suggest issues with the fuser unit. Given the precision with which the laser beam can be controlled in laser printers to produce high-quality images on the photoconductive drum, maintaining a clean drum is essential for ensuring crisp, clean printouts without defects such as ghosting.