Printer Help

[Liquidtide]

My printer at work is being really funky since some guy came in and "serviced" it. It's an HP 870Cxi . As in most HPs it only has a power button and an "other" button. Each button has a light. When I turn it on just the power light is on like it is supposed to. After about 1 min though the other light starts blinking for no reason. No my cartridges are fine. I can't print when this light is on and sometimes I get garbage characters comming out. Maybe this is my excuse to get my office to buy me a new printer.


Any Help? I even unplugged it from the computer and the wall last night... no help.

~Tide

[TheRagingGerbil]

Pull your cartridges and reinstall them.

Check to make sure they are the correct cartridges. We had a guy stick the wrong one in our printer once. The color one seemedt to work but if there was any black, it came out as garbage.

Check the nozzle to make sure it is properly seated.

Grab the manual online and look through the troubleshooting section. There is usually a way to hard reset the printer by holding down all the buttons and unplugging then plugging back in the power cord.

[Liquidtide]

I haven't touched the cartridges, I think a hard reset is what it needs, just need to find out how.

[Krinsath]

Yoinked from HP's website...check all this crap...it's listed under "Resume light blinking, Power light on" which seems to be the condition you describe. That appears to be HP's thing for a wide variety of problems. I'd check the "top cover sensor sticking" problem, and make sure there's not a tiny piece of paper stuck in the back of the printer. Good luck.

Problem
The top cover is open.
Solution
Close the top cover.

Problem
The printer prints a page with an e in the corner or prints miscellaneous letters or symbols.
Solution
http://h20015.www2.hp.com/hub_search/document.jhtml;jsessionid=USDUQW1YWPUKJQFIKSAUNZQ? reg=na&cc=us&docName=bpd09143&lc=en

Problem
The top cover sensor (black plastic arm located on the right side of the right hinge of top cover) is sticking.
Solution
Open the top cover.
1. Locate the top cover sensor (black plastic arm located on the right side of the right hinge).
2. Move the sensor up and down to stop it from sticking.
3. Close the top cover. The RESUME light should stop flashing.

Problem
The printer detects an out-of-paper condition.
Solution
1. Load paper in the IN (paper) tray.
2. Press the RESUME button.

Problem
The printer is not feeding paper correctly.
Solution
Click here for help with Paper Feed issues .

Problem
The printer did not eject paper when it should have.
Solution
Press the RESUME button. The paper will eject to the OUT tray.

Problem
The printer is waiting for you load paper.
Solution
1. Load paper.
2. Press the RESUME button.

Problem
The printer detects a defective or improperly installed print cartridge, one of both cartridges is out of ink, or a cartridge is missing.
Solution
1. Open the top cover of the printer, the RESUME light will flash and the print cartridge cradle will move to the center of the printer.
2. Lift up one of the print cartridge latches.
3. Grasp the top of the print cartridge and pull it out of its cradle.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for the other print cartridge.
NOTE: If you are going to insert new cartridges or are having problems with the cartridges that you are using, make sure that you have removed any tape covering the ink nozzles and do not touch the ink nozzles or the gold-covered contacts.
5. To insert each cartridge, tilt the cartridge towards you as you are inserting it into its cradle.
6. Push the cartridge down firmly into its cradle slot.
7. Close the print cartridge latch.
8. Make sure that you have completed Steps 5-7 for each cartridge.
9. Close the top cover of the printer
The RESUME light should stop flashing.

Problem
The print cartridge contacts are dirty.
Solution
1. Open the top of the printer, the RESUME light will flash and the print cartridge cradle will move to the center of the printer.
2. Lift up one of the print cartridge latches.
3. Grasp the top of the print cartridge and pull it out of its cradle.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for the other print cartridge.
5. Clean each print cartridge with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth to clean each print cartridge by wiping once from the bottom of the copper contact strip to the top.
6. To insert each cartridge, tilt the cartridge towards you as you are inserting it into its cradle.
7. Push the cartridge down firmly into its cradle slot.
8. Close the print cartridge latch.
9. Make sure that you have completed steps 5-8 for each cartridge.
10. Close the top cover of the printer.
The RESUME light should stop flashing.

[Liquidtide]

I got a printer off an unused computer at work :) all is good now, I just think that other printer was fried, it was a work horse but 5 years old now. It's seen better days... but thanks guys.

[Rbstr]

if its five years old stuff can start to break on the inside like little plastic bits, it happen with our old one.