Deskjet 820Cxi (windows printer) not printing

[johnhenson]

Anyone know why my deskjet doesn't work?

A freind lent it to someone but it wouldn't work on their PC so they gave it back but then it wouldn't work on my friends PC. My freind gave it to me and it won't work on my PC either.

I've got the latest drivers off the net, LPT1 set to EPP in BIOS and a cable that I know to be good.

When I power on the printer it does a lot of initialising and the print head settles down at the left end of the carriage rail after a lot of jigging at that end of the rail. The a second or two later both the page feed and power light star to blink simultaneously. This, according to the HP website means, "Printer Error".

When I try to print I get "The computer has lost communication with the printer" errors. But it will do the "Test two way communication" test OK from the printer toolbox.

I've tried piping a directory listing to the printer from a DOS box but still get the "The computer has lost communication with the printer" error.

Anyone know what's up. Is this some kind of known fault with HP's?

Thanks

John.

 

[KeyTech]

check that your printer cable isint damaged, and that the printer cable socket at the printer is ok too... Jay~

"I have to think of a funny footer to
put in here!!!???"

~KeyTech

 

[johnhenson]

Thanks KeyTech.

I know my cable is good also the connectors on PC and printer look fine. I'm worried that the logic board has semi-died on me. I'd appreciate any other ideas you might have.

John.

 

[Daire]

Try printing a test page direct from the printer. I think you hold in the power button for a few seconds as you turn it on. If it doesn't print a test page you've got major problems. HP deskjets have a 12 month warranty, if its outside warranty, bin it.

b-)

 

[ID10T16]

Hey,
I work on HP's alot, and reading what you've said, I would say that there is some sort of interface card problem. However, I do believe in the inkjet printers, that the interface is integrated into the logic board, but It's been a long day, & so I may not be recalling correctly. As far as the communication error...
If there is something else wrong besides the interface, then you sometimes will only get a com error. The best I can say, is bring it to a service technician located in your area & get an estimate on it. I would gladly give you an estimate, but it's hard to do without something tangible.

 

[GaOx]

I once had a problem just like yours -- requiring me to send the printer to HP for repair. Later, it happened again, this time a techy told me to do many things -- the the ones that really stuck with me was to completly disconnect the printer from the PC and also disconnect the power cord as well -- and wait several seconds. After that it worked. Go figure.

Another time it happened -- but to a lesser degree. If I recall correctly, I found a fix on HP's website.

Odd thing: I built a new PC -- have not had the problem since. Again: Go figure.

Wish I had better, more explicit help for you.

Gary