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Fixing Blinking Lights

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The information about lights and buttons in this document applies to the printer models in the following table.
HP Deskjet 810cHP Deskjet 812cHP Deskjet 815c
HP Deskjet 825cHP Deskjet 830cHP Deskjet 832c
HP Deskjet 840cHP Deskjet 841cHP Deskjet 842c
HP Deskjet 843cHP Deskjet 880cHP Deskjet 882c
HP Deskjet 895cHP Deskjet 895cseHP Deskjet 895cxi
NOTE: The light patterns described in this document are also described as flashing or flashing lights . Flash means the same thing as blink in this document. If the lights flash or blink, this describes the same symptom.
Fixing blinking lights
Printer lights blink in certain patterns depending on specific issues.
Follow the steps below if your printer lights are blinking or click here to learn more about your printer lights and buttons (bpd09133) (in English).
Read this document until you see the pattern that the lights are making. The solution is below each pattern.
NOTE: There may be more than one reason why the printer lights are blinking, so you may see several solutions.
POWER LIGHT OFF
RESUME LIGHT OFF
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT OFF
Issue

The POWER light is off and the printer is not working.

Solution

Make sure the printer is connected to an active power source.

  • Try disconnecting and reconnecting to the power source, or try a different power source.
  • If connected to a surge protector or power strip make sure it is in the ON position.
  • Check any breakers to make sure the power source is active.


If the above solutions did not work and the printer does not turn on, service your product.
POWER LIGHT ON
RESUME LIGHT OFF
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT OFF
Issue

The POWER light stays on and the other lights are off.

Solution

The printer is ready and waiting for a print job. Choose the print command from the software that you are using.
POWER LIGHT BLINKING
RESUME LIGHT OFF
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT OFF
Issue

The printer is receiving information from the computer, but is not necessarily printing yet.

Solution

  • Wait for the printer to complete what it is doing.
    -OR-
  • If it continues to blink after waiting several minutes, turn the printer off, then back on. If it will not turn off, unplug the power cord, then plug it back in.
  • Restart the computer and the printer. Try printing again.
  • Make sure there is a direct connection from the printer to the computer, no scanner, switchbox, etcetera.
  • Try using another cable.
  • Try connecting the printer to another computer. If the printer prints, then the problem was with the main computer, possibly a software or device conflict.


If the solutions above did not work, service your product.
POWER LIGHT ON
RESUME LIGHT OFF
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT BLINKING
Issue

A print cartridge is missing.

Solution

Install the missing cartridge.
Issue

The printer detects a faulty, incompatible, or improperly installed print cartridge.

Solution

1. Open the top cover of the printer.

2. Make sure the correct print cartridges are installed. Click here to go to the printer/cartridge compatibility chart (bpa00585) (in English).

3. Replace or reinstall the print cartridges.

4. Close the top cover of the printer.
Issue

The print cartridge contacts are dirty and the printer does not recognize the print cartridge.

Solution

Clean the contact points on the cartridges with a dry, lint-free cloth.

1. Open the top cover of the printer.

2. Remove the print cartridges.

3. Clean the copper-colored contact points on the cartridges with a dry, lint-free cloth.

NOTE: Do not wipe the nozzle end of the cartridge or touch the silver-colored nozzle plate on the bottom of the cartridge.


4. Use a dry, lint-free cloth to remove the moisture from the contacts.

5. Insert the cartridges back into the printer.

6. Close the top cover.

7. Try printing again.
POWER LIGHT ON
RESUME LIGHT BLINKING
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT OFF
Issue

The top cover of the printer is open.

Solution

1. Close the top cover of the printer.

2. Press the RESUME button.
Issue

The printer does not sense any paper in the paper tray.

Solution

1. Load paper in the paper tray.

2. Press the RESUME button.
Issue

The printer is not feeding paper correctly.

Solution

Click here for help with paper feed problems (bud03487) (in English).
Issue

The paper is jammed in the printer.

Solution

Click here for help removing a paper jam on an HP Deskjet 800c series printer (bpd09144) (in English).
Issue

The RESUME light blinks when the computer is restarted.

Solution

This problem may occur when the printer is on before the computer is turned on or restarted. The printer should be turned on after the computer is turned on and turned off before the computer is turned off or shut down. Press the RESUME button to clear the printer.
Issue

If you are printing a banner (continuous sheet of paper), the printer is waiting for the extra banner paper to be removed from the paper tray before the printer can eject the last page of the banner.

Solution

1. Remove the banner paper from the paper tray.

2. Press the RESUME button.
Issue

The RESUME light blinks and the printer prints strange characters, blank pages, or partial pages.

Solution

Click here for instructions on resolving this issue (bud09143) (in English).
Issue

The banner lever does not match the setting in the printer driver.

Solution

1. Click the File menu in the software that you are using.

2. Select Print .

3. Select Properties . (If you do not see Properties, click Options or Setup, and then click Properties.)

4. Click the Setup tab.

5. Click Banner .

6. In the 'Paper Size' box, select A4 or Letter .

7. Click the Select Paper Type button.

8. Select Specialty Papers and HP Banner Paper .

9. Flip the banner switch up (it is located next to the paper tray).
POWER LIGHT BLINKING ALTERNATELY
RESUME LIGHT BLINKING ALTERNATELY
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT OFF
Issue

Paper is jammed in the printer or the printer is stalled.

Solution

Click here to resolve the paper jam (bpd09130) (in English).
POWER LIGHT OFF
RESUME LIGHT BLINKING
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT OFF
Issue

One or more of the following problems occur:

  • Paper is jammed in the printer.
  • The printer makes a strange noise when the RESUME button is pressed.
  • When the top cover of the printer is opened, the cartridge carriage stays to the far right.
  • On pressing the RESUME button again, the printer makes the same noise, the cartridge carriage vibrates, and the RESUME light turns off.


Solution

For help with HP Deskjet 800c series printers, click here (bpd09144) (in English).
POWER LIGHT BLINKING
RESUME LIGHT BLINKING
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT OFF
Issue

The print cartridge carriage has stalled.

Solution

1. Open the top cover of the printer.

2. Make sure all tape is removed from the print cartridges.

3. Remove any packing materials from the printer.

4. If paper is jammed in the printer, remove the paper.

Click here for instructions on removing a paper jam (bpd09130) (in English).

5. Turn the printer off.

6. Turn the printer on.
POWER LIGHT ON
RESUME LIGHT BLINKING
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT BLINKING
Issue

The banner lever needs adjusting.

Solution

1. Turn the printer off.

2. Move the banner lever (next to the paper tray) up and down a few times.

3. Turn the printer on.

If this does not resolve the problem, service your product.
POWER LIGHT BLINKING
RESUME LIGHT BLINKING
PRINT CARTRIDGE LIGHT BLINKING
Issue

All three lights are blinking and the printer is not working.

Solution

  1. Turn the printer off.
  2. Turn the printer on.
  3. If the lights continue to blink, turn the printer off.
  4. Unplug the power cord and printer cord from the printer.
  5. Plug the power cord and printer cord into the printer.
  6. Turn the printer on.


If this does not resolve the problem, service your product.
BANNER LIGHT ON STEADY
NOTE: Not all printer models have a banner lever and light.


Issue

Paper Mismatch error.

Solution

Push the banner lever to the OFF position (down). If the light remains on, try pushing the lever up and down several times in quick succession. If the light remains on, you can get around the issue by disabling the printer's bidirectional communication (bpd06455) (in English). Doing this will not turn the light off, but it will allow you to print.
For information on how to fix blinking lights on other 800 series printers, select and click your printer in the table below.
HP Deskjet 820cxi (bpd09174) (in English) HP Deskjet 820cse (bpd09174) (in English) HP Deskjet 850c (bpd09171) (in English)
HP Deskjet 855cse (bpd09171) (in English) HP Deskjet 855cxi (bpd09171) (in English) HP Deskjet 870cse (bpd09171) (in English)
HP Deskjet 870cxi (bpd09171) (in English) HP Deskjet 890cse (bpd09171) (in English) HP Deskjet 890cxi (bpd09171) (in English)


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