HP Deskjet Printers - Blinking Power Light

Blinking Power light

The Power light ( ) might blink (flash) or be off. A blinking Power light indicates that the product requires maintenance, or is in an error state. Figure 1: Blinking Power light

Illustration of the product Power light NOTE: Your product might look slightly different from the graphics in this document, but the solutions still apply. The following sections describe the most common issues related to the Power light. Find the issue related to the problem you are experiencing with your product, and then use the solutions provided to resolve the issue.

Issue: The Power light blinks and a message might display on the computer
The Power light blinks, and a message might display on the computer. The following sections describe the most common messages that might display on the computer in combination with a blinking Power light. How do I resolve this issue? Find the message that displays on your computer (from the following choices), and then expand that section for solutions.

A 'Cover is open ' message might display on the computer

The Power light blinks and a 'Cover is open ' message might display on the computer. Cause : The product cover is open.

Solution Close the cover.

A 'Printer is out of paper ' message might display on the computer

The Power light blinks and a 'Printer is out of paper ' message might display on the computer. Cause : The product is out of paper. Solution Follow these steps to load paper in the product. 1. Open the cover on the product, and then lower the paper tray. Figure 2: Open the cover on the product

Image: Opening the cover on the product 2. Flip the paper tray extender down so that it is even with the rest of the paper tray. Figure 3: Flip the paper tray extender into position

Image: Flipping the tray extender down

3. Press in on the tab on the top of the paper width guide, and then slide the paper width guide as far to the left as it will go. 4. Take a small stack of plain white paper, and then lightly fan it to ensure that the paper is not sticking together. 5. Insert the paper into the paper tray, and then slide the paper width guides inward to rest against the edges of the paper. Figure 4: Slide the paper width guides inward

Image: Sliding the paper width guides inward 6. Close the cover on the product.

A 'Paper jam ' message might display on the computer

The Power light blinks and a 'Paper jam ' message might display on the computer. Cause : There is a paper jam. Solutions To resolve the issue, try each solution in the order presented. Solution one: Clear the paper jam Follow these steps to clear a paper jam. Step one: Remove loose paper from the tray Remove any loose sheets of paper from the input tray and the output tray. CAUTION:Do not remove jammed paper at this stage. Trying to clear jammed paper from the front of the product can damage the print mechanism. Step two: Clear the paper jam from the rear of the printer 1. Disconnect the USB cable from the rear of the product. 2. Press the Power button ( ) to turn off the product. 3. Disconnect the power cord from the back of the product.

4. Remove the rear access door. Press in on the tab on the left side, and then pull the door away from the product to remove it. Figure 5: Remove the rear access door

Image: Opening the rear access door 5. Grasp any jammed paper, and then pull the paper out towards you. 6. Reattach the rear access door. Figure 6: Reattach the rear access door

Image: Reataching the rear access door Step three: Clear the paper jam from the front of the printer Follow these steps to remove jammed paper from the front of the product.

1. Make sure that the power cord is disconnected from the back of the product. If the power cord is not disconnected, disconnect it now. 2. Open the cover on the product. Figure 7: Open the cover on the product

Image: Opening the cover on the product 3. Carefully remove any jammed paper through the front of the product. CAUTION:Remove the paper carefully. If the paper tears, part of it might remain inside the paper path and damage the product. Carefully remove all traces of paper that you can find. 4. Close the cover on the product. 5. Reconnect the power cord to the back of the product. 6. Press the Power button ( ) to turn the product on. Step four: Make sure that the carriage can move freely Follow these steps to make sure that the carriage can move freely. 1. With the product turned on, open the cover on the product. The carriage might try to move into the access area. If so, allow the carriage to move to that position. Figure 8: Open the cover on the product

Image: Opening the cover on the product 2. With the product turned on, disconnect the power cord from the back of the product. WARNING: You must disconnect the power cord to move the carriage by hand without the risk of an electrical shock. 3. Check for any paper or objects that might be stopping the carriage. CAUTION:If the paper tears when you remove it from the rollers, check the rollers and wheels for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the product. If pieces of paper remain in the product, more paper jams can occur. 4. Reach inside through the front of the product, and then manually move the carriage. o If the carriage is stuck on the right side of the product , move the carriage to the left side of the product. o If the carriage is stuck on the left side of the product , move the carriage to the right side of the product. o If the carriage is stuck in the middle of the product , move the carriage to the right side of the product. 5. Remove any loose paper or obstructions found. 6. Make sure that the carriage can move freely across the width of the product by gently pushing the carriage to the left and then to the right. 7. Close the cover on the product. 8. Reconnect the power cord to the back of the product. 9. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product. Step five: Print a self-test report Follow these steps to print a self-test report. 1. Make sure the product is turned on.

2. Press and hold the Power button ( ). 3. While holding the Power button, open and close the cover four times. 4. Release the Power button ( ). The self-test report prints.

If these steps resolved the issue , and the self-test report prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , continue with the next solution. If the self-test report does not print , continue with the next solution.

Solution two: Clean the paper rollers Dust, paper fiber, and other debris might accumulate on the paper rollers and cause paper jams and paper feed issues. Follow these steps to clean the paper rollers inside the product. Step one: Clean the paper rollers 1. Disconnect the power cord from the back of the product. 2. Remove the rear access door. Press in on the tab on the left side, and then pull the door away from the product. Figure 9: Remove the rear access door

Image: Removing the rear access door 3. Dampen a lint-free cloth with bottled or distilled water, and then squeeze any excess water from the cloth. CAUTION:Tap water might damage the product. 4. Press the cloth against the rollers and rotate them upward with your fingers. Apply a moderate amount of pressure to remove dust or dirt buildup.

Figure 10: The rollers

Image of the rollers 5. Allow the rollers to dry for 10 or 15 minutes. 6. Reattach the rear access door. Figure 11: Reattach the rear access door

Image: Reattaching the rear access door 7. Reconnect the power cord to the back of the product. 8. If the product does not automatically turn on, press the Power button ( ). Step two: Print a self-test report Print a self-test report to determine if the issue is resolved. How to print a self-test report 1. 2. 3. 4. Make sure that the product is turned on. Press and hold the Power button ( ). Open and close the cover four times. Release the Power button ( ). The self-test prints.

If these steps resolved the issue , and the self-test report prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , continue with the next solution. If the self-test report does not print , continue with the next solution.

Solution three: Perform a power reset Follow these steps to reset the product. Step one: Reset the printer 1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product. 2. With the product turned on , disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product. 3. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet. 4. Wait at least 15 seconds. 5. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet. 6. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the product. 7. If the product does not turn on by itself, press the Power button ( ) to turn it on. Step two: Print a self-test report Print a self-test report to determine if the issue is resolved. How to print a self-test report 1. 2. 3. 4.

Make sure that the product is turned on. Press and hold the Power button ( ). Open and close the cover four times. Release the Power button ( ). The self-test prints. If these steps resolved the issue , and the self-test report prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , continue with the next solution. If the self-test report does not print , continue with the next solution.

Solution four: Service the printer If you have completed all the steps listed above and are still experiencing a problem, continue to the Service the printer section at the end of this document.

An 'Incorrect Print Cartridge ' message might display on the computer

The Power light blinks and an 'Incorrect Print Cartridge ' message might display on the computer. Cause : There is a problem with the cartridge. Solutions Try the following solutions in the order presented to resolve the issue. When one of the solutions resolves the issue, there is no need to continue troubleshooting. IMPORTANT: Before you begin, make sure that the cartridges are compatible with your product. Which cartridges you use depends on your country or region. To check the cartridge compatibility for your product, click this link, HP SureSupply . If your language or country does not display next to the globe icon ( ) select your language and location.

If the cartridge is compatible, continue with the steps in this document. If the cartridge is not compatible, skip to Solution two: Replace the cartridges.

Solution one: Determine the problem cartridge, and then inspect and clean the cartridge Follow these steps to determine which cartridge is causing the problem, and then inspect and clean the cartridge. Step one: Determine which cartridge is the problem cartridge Follow these steps to determine which is the problem cartridge. If the message on the computer does not identify a particular cartridge but instead says 'Print cartridge error ,' follow these steps to determine which cartridge is causing the problem. 1. Open the cover on the product. 2. Remove either cartridge (not both). 3. Close the cover on the product. o If the 'Print Cartridge Error ,' message still displays on the computer, then the cartridge that remained in the product is the problem cartridge. o If the 'Print Cartridge Error ' message does not display, but instead the message 'Either missing, not detected, or incorrectly installed ,' displays, then the cartridge you removed is the problem cartridge. 4. To remove and inspect the problem cartridge, proceed to the next step. Step two: Remove, inspect, and reseat the problem cartridge

Follow these steps to remove, inspect, and reseat the problem cartridge.

1. Open the cover on the product, and then wait for the carriage to move to the center of the product. 2. Press down on the end of the problem cartridge to snap it out of the carriage. Figure 12: Remove the problem cartridge

Image: Removing the problem cartridge 3. If there is tape on the cartridge, remove it. Do not remove the copper-colored strip. Figure 13: Remove the tape

Image: Removing the tape 4. Replace the cartridge. Insert the cartridge into the slot at a slight angle, and then press up and forward until the cartridge snaps into position. Figure 14: Replace the cartridge

Image: Replacing the cartridge The black or photo cartridge goes on the right. The tricolor cartridge goes on the left. 5. Close the cover on the product.
o o

If these steps resolved the issue , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , see the next step.

Step three: Clean the problem cartridge contacts Follow these steps to clean the cartridge contacts. NOTE: If your product has the option, first clean the cartridges automatically using the Clean Cartridges option in the product Assistant. 1. Gather the following items to clean the cartridge and carriage: o Clean distilled water. Use bottled or filtered water if distilled water is not available. Tap water can contain contaminants that damage the cartridge.

Clean cotton swabs or any soft, lint-free material that will not stick to the cartridges (coffee filters work well). o Sheets of paper or a paper towel to rest the cartridge on during cleaning. 2. Open the cover on the product, and then wait until the carriage is idle and silent. 3. Disconnect the power cord from the back of the product. 4. Remove the cartridge and place it on a piece of paper with the nozzle plate facing up. NOTE: Clean the contacts quickly so that the cartridge is not outside of the product for more than 30 minutes. If the cartridge is outside of the product for too long, the ink can dry and clog the nozzles. 5. Dip a swab in the clean water and squeeze it to remove most of the moisture. The swab should be only slightly damp. 6. Clean the cartridge contacts with the damp swab. . CAUTION:Do not touch the ink nozzles. 7. Figure 15: Cartridge contacts

8. Image: Cartridge contacts 9. Lightly moisten another swab with distilled water, and then squeeze any excess water from the swab. 10. Use the swab to clean the contacts in the carriage, inside the product. Figure 16: Carriage contacts

Image: Carriage contacts

11. Either let the cartridge sit for 10 minutes to allow the cleaned area to dry, or use a new swab to dry it. 12. Reinsert the cartridge. 13. Reconnect the power cord to the back of the product. 14. Close the cover on the product.

If these steps resolved the issue , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , see the next step.

Step four: Repeat the reseating and cleaning steps If the issue is not resolved, repeat the reseating and cleaning procedures above. Solution two: Replace the cartridges Follow these steps to replace and align the cartridges. Step one: Replace the cartridges If you do not have a replacement cartridge, you can still print in ink backup mode. Remove the problem cartridge and print with the remaining cartridge.

If you remove the tri-color cartridge, printouts will be in grayscale. If you remove the black or photo cartridge, the product will print more slowly and the colors in the printouts will vary.

Use the following steps to replace the cartridge. 1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn the product on. 2. Open the cover on the product. Figure 17: Open the cover on the product

Image: Opening the cover on the product

3. Lower the paper tray to access the cartridges, unless it is already down. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent. Figure 18: Lower the paper tray

Image of lowering the paper tray 4. Press down on the top of the cartridge, and then pull it out of the slot. Figure 19: Remove old cartridge

Image: Removing old cartridge 5. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging, and then pull the pink pull tab to remove the plastic tape. Figure 20: Remove the tape from the new cartridge

1 - Copper-colored contacts

2 - Plastic tape with pink pull tab (must be removed before installing) 3 - Ink nozzles under tape

Image: Removing the tape from the new cartridge CAUTION:Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or ink nozzles. Touching these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections. Figure 21: Do not touch the copper contacts or ink nozzle

Image of a caution symbol to indicate the importance of not touching the contacts and ink nozzle 6. Insert the new cartridge in its slot at a slight angle, and then press up and forward until the cartridge snaps into position. o The black or photo cartridge goes on the right o The tri-color cartridge goes on the left Figure 22: Replace cartridge

Image: Replacing the cartridge 7. Close the cover on the product. Step two: Align the cartridges Follow these steps to align the cartridges. 1. Make sure that paper is loaded in the paper tray 2. Open HP Solution Center: o Windows XP:

On the Windows taskbar, click Start , click All Programs , point to HP, and then click HP Solution Center .
o

Windows Vista: On the Windows taskbar, click the Windows icon ( click All Programs , point to HP, and then click HP Solution Center . ),

3. Click Open Toolbox . The printer Toolbox window opens. 4. Click Align the Print Cartridges . The Align the Print Cartridges window opens. 5. Click Align . The product aligns the cartridges, calibrates the product, and prints a test page. 6. Wait for the test page to print, and then follow the on-screen instructions. 7. Click Done .

If these steps resolved the issue , you do not need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , continue to the next solution.

Solution three: Service the printer If you have completed all the steps listed above and are still experiencing a problem, continue to the Service the printer section at the end of this document.

An 'Incompatible Print Cartridge ' message might display on the computer

The Power light blinks and an 'Incompatible Print Cartridge ' message might display on the computer. Cause : There is a problem with the cartridge. Solutions Try the following solutions in the order presented to resolve the issue. When one of the solutions resolves the issue, there is no need to continue troubleshooting. IMPORTANT: Before you begin, make sure that the cartridges are compatible with your product. Which cartridges you use depends on your country or region. To check the cartridge compatibility for your product, click this link, HP SureSupply . If your language or country does not display next to the globe icon ( ) select your language and location.

If the cartridge is compatible, continue with the steps in this document. If the cartridge is not compatible, skip to Solution two: Replace the cartridges.

Solution one: Determine the problem cartridge, and then inspect and clean the cartridge Follow these steps to determine which cartridge is causing the problem, and then inspect and clean the cartridge. Step one: Determine which cartridge is the problem cartridge Follow these steps to determine which is the problem cartridge. If the message on the computer does not identify a particular cartridge but instead says 'Print cartridge error ,' follow these steps to determine which cartridge is causing the problem. 1. Open the cover on the product. 2. Remove either cartridge (not both). 3. Close the cover on the product. o If the 'Print Cartridge Error ,' message still displays on the computer, then the cartridge that remained in the product is the problem cartridge. o If the 'Print Cartridge Error ' message does not display, but instead the message 'Either missing, not detected, or incorrectly installed ,' displays, then the cartridge you removed is the problem cartridge. 4. To remove and inspect the problem cartridge, proceed to the next step. Step two: Remove, inspect, and reseat the problem cartridge Follow these steps to remove, inspect, and reseat the problem cartridge.

1. Open the cover on the product, and then wait for the carriage to move to the center of the product. 2. Press down on the end of the problem cartridge to snap it out of the carriage. Figure 23: Remove the problem cartridge

Image: Removing the problem cartridge 3. If there is tape on the cartridge, remove it. Do not remove the copper-colored strip. Figure 24: Remove the tape

Image: Removing the tape 4. Replace the cartridge. Insert the cartridge into the slot at a slight angle, and then press up and forward until the cartridge snaps into position. Figure 25: Replace the cartridge

Image: Replacing the cartridge The black or photo cartridge goes on the right. The tricolor cartridge goes on the left. 5. Close the cover on the product.
o o

If these steps resolved the issue , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , see the next step.

Step three: Clean the problem cartridge contacts Follow these steps to clean the cartridge contacts. NOTE: If your product has the option, first clean the cartridges automatically using the Clean Cartridges option in the product Assistant. 1. Gather the following items to clean the cartridge and carriage: o Clean distilled water. Use bottled or filtered water if distilled water is not available. Tap water can contain contaminants that damage the cartridge.

Clean cotton swabs or any soft, lint-free material that will not stick to the cartridges (coffee filters work well). o Sheets of paper or a paper towel to rest the cartridge on during cleaning. 2. Open the cover on the product, and then wait until the carriage is idle and silent. 3. Disconnect the power cord from the back of the product. 4. Remove the cartridge and place it on a piece of paper with the nozzle plate facing up. NOTE: Clean the contacts quickly so that the cartridge is not outside of the product for more than 30 minutes. If the cartridge is outside of the product for too long, the ink can dry and clog the nozzles. 5. Dip a swab in the clean water and squeeze it to remove most of the moisture. The swab should be only slightly damp. 6. Clean the cartridge contacts with the damp swab. . CAUTION:Do not touch the ink nozzles. 7. Figure 26: Cartridge contacts

8. Image: Cartridge contacts 9. Lightly moisten another swab with distilled water, and then squeeze any excess water from the swab. 10. Use the swab to clean the contacts in the carriage, inside the product. Figure 27: Carriage contacts

Image: Carriage contacts

11. Either let the cartridge sit for 10 minutes to allow the cleaned area to dry, or use a new swab to dry it. 12. Reinsert the cartridge. 13. Reconnect the power cord to the back of the product. 14. Close the cover on the product.

If these steps resolved the issue , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , see the next step.

Step four: Repeat the reseating and cleaning steps If the issue is not resolved, repeat the reseating and cleaning procedures above. Solution two: Replace the cartridges Follow these steps to replace and align the cartridges. Step one: Replace the cartridges If you do not have a replacement cartridge, you can still print in ink backup mode. Remove the problem cartridge and print with the remaining cartridge.

If you remove the tri-color cartridge, printouts will be in grayscale. If you remove the black or photo cartridge, the product will print more slowly and the colors in the printouts will vary.

Use the following steps to replace the cartridge. 1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn the product on. 2. Open the cover on the product. Figure 28: Open the cover on the product

Image: Opening the cover on the product

3. Lower the paper tray to access the cartridges, unless it is already down. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent. Figure 29: Lower the paper tray

Image of lowering the paper tray 4. Press down on the top of the cartridge, and then pull it out of the slot. Figure 30: Remove old cartridge

Image: Removing old cartridge 5. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging, and then pull the pink pull tab to remove the plastic tape. Figure 31: Remove the tape from the new cartridge

1 - Copper-colored contacts

2 - Plastic tape with pink pull tab (must be removed before installing) 3 - Ink nozzles under tape

Image: Removing the tape from the new cartridge CAUTION:Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or ink nozzles. Touching these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections. Figure 32: Do not touch the copper contacts or ink nozzle

Image of a caution symbol to indicate the importance of not touching the contacts and ink nozzle 6. Insert the new cartridge in its slot at a slight angle, and then press up and forward until the cartridge snaps into position. o The black or photo cartridge goes on the right o The tri-color cartridge goes on the left Figure 33: Replace cartridge

Image: Replacing the cartridge 7. Close the cover on the product. Step two: Align the cartridges Follow these steps to align the cartridges. 1. Make sure that paper is loaded in the paper tray 2. Open HP Solution Center: o Windows XP: On the Windows taskbar, click Start , click All Programs , point to HP, and then click HP Solution Center .

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Windows Vista: On the Windows taskbar, click the Windows icon ( ), click All Programs , point to HP, and then click HP Solution Center . Click Open Toolbox . The printer Toolbox window opens. Click Align the Print Cartridges . The Align the Print Cartridges window opens. Click Align . The product aligns the cartridges, calibrates the product, and prints a test page. Wait for the test page to print, and then follow the on-screen instructions. Click Done . If these steps resolved the issue, you do not need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists, continue to the next solution.

Solution three: Service the printer If you have completed all the steps listed above and are still experiencing a problem, continue to the Service the printer section at the end of this document.

A 'Printing in back up mode ' message might display on the computer

The Power light blinks and a 'Printing in back up mode ' message might display on the computer. When the product detects that only one cartridge is installed, ink-backup mode is initiated. The product still functions in this printing mode, but the printing speed is slower and the quality of the printouts is affected. Cause : There is a problem with the cartridge. Solutions If you receive the ink-backup mode message and two cartridges are installed in the product, follow the steps in Solution one. If you receive the ink-backup mode message when one cartridge is installed in the product, follow the steps in Solution two. Solution one: Remove the tape from second cartridge If you receive the ink-backup mode message and two cartridges are installed in the product, verify that the plastic tape has been removed from each cartridge. When the protective piece of plastic tape covers the cartridge contacts, the product cannot detect that the cartridge is installed. 1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn the product on. 2. Open the cover on the product.

Figure 34: Open the cover on the product

Image: Opening the cover on the product 3. Lower the paper tray to access the cartridges, unless it is already down. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent. Figure 35: Lower the paper tray

Image of lowering the paper tray 4. Press down on the top of the cartridge, and then pull it out of the slot. Figure 36: Remove the cartridge

Image: Removing the cartridge 5. Verify that the plastic tape has been removed from the cartridge. 6. Remove the plastic tape if it is still attached to the cartridge.

Figure 37: Remove the tape from the cartridge

1 - Copper-colored contacts 2 - Plastic tape with pink pull tab (must be removed before installing) 3 - Ink nozzles under tape

Image: Removing the tape from the cartridge CAUTION:Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or ink nozzles. Touching these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections. Figure 38: Do not touch the copper contacts or ink nozzle

Image of a caution symbol to indicate the importance of not touching the contacts and ink nozzle 7. Insert the cartridge into the slot at a slight angle, and then press up and forward until the cartridge snaps into position. Figure 39: Reinsert the cartridge

Image: Reinserting the cartridge 8. Repeat the previous steps to remove and reinsert the other cartridge if necessary.

9. After installing both cartridges, close the cover on the product. The product will automatically align the cartridges. Solution two: Insert the missing cartridge 1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn the product on. 2. Open the cover on the product. Figure 40: Open the cover on the product

Image: Opening the cover on the product 3. Lower the paper tray to access the cartridges, unless it is already down. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent. Figure 41: Lower the paper tray

Image of lowering the paper tray 4. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging, and then pull the pink pull tab to remove the plastic tape. Figure 42: Remove the tape from the new cartridge

1 - Copper-colored contacts 2 - Plastic tape with pink pull tab (must be removed before installing) 3 - Ink nozzles under tape

Image: Removing the tape from the new cartridge CAUTION:Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or ink nozzles. Touching these parts can result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections. Figure 43: Do not touch the copper contacts or ink nozzle

Image of a caution symbol to indicate the importance of not touching the contacts and ink nozzle 5. Insert the cartridge into the slot at a slight angle, and then press up and forward until the cartridge snaps into position. o The black or photo cartridge goes on the right. o The tri-color cartridge goes on the left. Figure 44: Insert the missing cartridge

Image: Inserting the missing cartridge 6. Close the cover on the product. The product will automatically align the new cartridges.

Issue: The Power light blinks when trying to print labels

The product is not picking up labels or paper correctly.

Cause The type of labels or paper might be inconsistent with the product settings.

Solutions
Follow these solutions to resolve the issue of the product not feeding labels or paper correctly. Solution one: Change the print mode setting Follow these steps to change the product's print mode setting and paper type selection. 1. Open the document that you were trying to print when the issue occurred. 2. Click File , and then click Print . The Print dialog box opens. 3. Open the Properties dialog box. Depending on the software program, select one of the following options to open the Properties dialog box: Properties , Options , Printer Setup , Printer , or Preferences . 4. Click the tab that provides paper type and size settings. The tab might be Features or Paper/Quality . 5. From the Size is drop-down menu, select the paper size that matches the paper in the tray. 6. From the Type is drop-down menu, select the paper type that matches the paper in the tray. 7. Click OK , and then click OK again to print the document. Solution two: Use different labels

HP Deskjet Printers - The Carriage is Stuck and Does Not Move

Issue
The Power light ( ) blinks, and the carriage is stuck. This condition is called a carriage jam. The product might also have the following issues:

A paper jam The product will not print Printing stopped unexpectedly

How to use the solutions in this document

A carriage jam can occur for a number of reasons, such as obstructions in the path

of the carriage, a paper jam, or even issues with the product software. To solve the carriage jam, try each solution in this document, and then use the steps in this section to print a self-test report to determine if the product hardware functions correctly. Once you have solved the carriage jam, and the product successfully prints a self-test report, there is no need to continue trouble shooting.

Print a self-test report

Follow these steps to print a self-test report. 1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn the product on. 2. Press and hold down the Power button ( ). NOTE: Try using a pen or a pencil to hold down the Power ( 3. Open and close the carriage access door four times. Figure 1: Open and close the carriage door four times ) button.

Illustration of opening and closing the carriage door. 4. Release the Power button ( ).

IMPORTANT : Try to print a self-test report after every solution even if the solution appears to resolve the issue.

Solution one: Turn the printer off, and then turn it on

Follow these steps to turn the product off and then to turn it on.

Step one: Turn the printer off, and then turn it on

1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn the product off.

2. Wait 15 seconds. 3. Press the Power button (

) to turn the product on.

Step two: Print a self-test report

Print a self-test report. Refer to the section on how to use these solutions at the beginning of this document.

If these steps resolved the issue , and the self-test report prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. Reconnect the USB cable, and then try to print again. If the issue persists , continue with the next solution. If the self-test report does not print , continue with the next solution.

Solution two: Clear all paper jams

Follow these steps to clear any paper jams.

Step one: Remove any loose paper

1. Disconnect the USB cable from the product. 2. Disconnect the power cord from the back of the product. 3. Remove all unused paper from the tray. CAUTION:At this point, remove only the unused paper. Do not try to remove jammed paper from the front of the product. Continue with these instructions to clear any paper jam from the back of the product first to help prevent damage to the product and to avoid tearing paper inside the product.

Step two: Remove all paper from inside the back of the printer
1. Turn the product around to access the back. 2. Press the latch on the rear access door, and then remove the rear access door. Figure 2: Remove the rear access door

Illustation of removing the rear access door. 3. Remove all traces of paper from inside the product. 4. Reinstall the rear access door.

Step three: Remove jammed paper from the front of the printer
Follow these steps to remove jammed paper from the front of the product. IMPORTANT : Remove the paper very carefully. If the paper tears, part of it might remain inside the paper path and damage the product. Carefully remove all traces of paper that you can find. 1. Reconnect the power cord to the back of the product. 2. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product. 3. Open the carriage access door. The carriage might try to move into the access area. If so, allow it to move to that position. Figure 3: Open the carriage access door

Illustration of opening the cartridge door. 4. With the product turned on, disconnect the power cord from the back of the product. 5. Unplug the power cord from the power source or electrical outlet. WARNING: You must unplug the power cord to allow you to move the carriage by hand and to reset the paper feed mechanism without the risk of an electrical shock. 6. Check for any paper or objects that might be stopping the carriage. CAUTION:If the paper tears when you remove it from the rollers, check the rollers and wheels for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the product. If pieces of paper remain in the product, more paper jams can occur. 7. Reach inside the product, and then manually move the carriage. o If the carriage is stuck on the right side of the product , move the carriage to the left side of the product. o If the carriage is stuck on the left side of the product , move the carriage to the right side of the product. o If the carriage is stuck in the middle of the product , move the carriage to the right side of the product. 8. Remove any loose paper or obstructions found. 9. Make sure that the carriage can move freely across the width of the product by gently pushing the carriage to the left and then to the right. 10. Close the carriage access door. 11. Reconnect the power cord to the product and to the power source. 12. Reconnect the USB cable to the product. 13. Load plain paper in the tray.

Figure 4: Load plain paper

Loading paper 14. Press the Power button ( ) to turn the product on.

Step four: Print a self-test report

Print a self-test report. Refer to the section on how to use these solutions at the beginning of this document.

If these steps resolved the issue , and the self-test report prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. Reconnect the USB cable, and then try to print again. If the issue persists , continue with the next solution. If the self-test report does not print , continue with the next solution.

Solution three: Make sure that the cartridges are installed correctly
Improper placement or installation of the cartridges can cause a carriage jam. Installing only one cartridge can also cause a carriage jam. Follow these steps to make sure that the cartridges are installed correctly:

Step one: Remove the cartridges

1. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product. 2. Open the carriage access door. Figure 5: Open the carriage access door

Illustration of opening the carriage access door. 3. Push down on one cartridge. 4. Slide the cartridge out of the carriage. Figure 6: Remove the cartridge

1 - The Power button 2 - Open the carriage access door 3 - Push down on the cartridge

4 - Slide the cartridge out of the carriage

Uninstalling the cartridge NOTE: While the cartridges are not in the product, store the cartridges either in a cartridge protector or in an airtight container. 5. Repeat the previous steps to remove the other cartridge. 6. Look under and around the carriage, and then remove any obstructions.

Step two: Reinstall the cartridges

1. Hold one cartridge with the HP logo on top. 2. Slide the cartridge into its slot with the matching icon, and then press at a slight upward angle until the cartridge snaps into place. Figure 7: Reinstall the cartridge

Illustration of cartridge installation 3. Repeat the previous steps to install the other cartridge. 4. Close the cartridge access door.

Step three: Print a self-test report

Print a self-test report. Refer to the section on how to use these solutions at the beginning of this document.

If these steps resolved the issue , and the self-test report prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. Reconnect the USB cable, and then try to print again.

If the issue persists , continue with the next solution. If the self-test report does not print , continue with the next solution.

Solution four: Connect the printer directly to a wall outlet

If the product is connected to a power strip or a surge protector, follow these steps to connect the product directly to a wall outlet.

Step one: Connect the printer directly into a wall outlet

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Press the Power button ( ) to turn off the product. Disconnect the power cord from the back of the product. Disconnect the power cord from the power device. Plug the power cord directly into a wall outlet. Connect the power cord to the back of the product. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product. Try to print.

NOTE: If the product prints when plugged directly into a wall outlet, the power strip or surge protector might not provide sufficient power to print.

Step two: Print a self-test report

Print a self-test report. Refer to the section on how to use these solutions at the beginning of this document.

If these steps resolved the issue , and the self-test report prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. Reconnect the USB cable, and then try to print again. If the issue persists , continue with the next solution. If the self-test report does not print , continue with the next solution.

Solution five: Perform a power reset

Follow these steps to reset the product.

Step one: Perform a power reset

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Press the Power button ( ) to turn on the product. Disconnect the power cord from back of the product. Disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet. Wait at least 15 seconds. Connect the power cord into wall outlet.

6. Connect the power cord to the back of the product. 7. If the product does not turn on by itself, press Power button ( turn it on. 8. Try to print.

) to

Step two: Print a self-test report

Print a self-test report. Refer to the section on how to use these solutions at the beginning of this document.

If these steps resolved the issue , and the self-test report prints , there is no need to continue troubleshooting. If the issue persists , continue with the next solution. If the self-test report does not print , continue with the next solution. If the self-test prints, then your carriage jam issue is resolved. Connect the USB cable to continue the print job.

Step three: Search for more information

If you detect another issue, go to the HP Product Support Home Page, and then search for another document that relates to the issue you are experiencing. Right-click this link, Product Support Home Page , and then click Open in New Window . NOTE: If the page displays in the wrong region or language, click the Region Language link in the upper right corner of your browser. Then you can select the correct region and language.