When I try to feed a piece of paper into the shredder, the overload light comes on and the motor stops running. It will run in reverse. Oh and when the overload light comes on, the pull out basket is empty. Is there anything I can do to salvage my shredder or is it dead?

If the motor will not run, then probably there's paper clogged in the shredder. Turn over the shredder, after unplugging the power cord, and remove the papers.

If the motor will run but not shredding any paper, then the drive gear has broken teeth. This is not usually worth fixing.
Hope this helps.

Hopefully there is a reverse switch, see if that will unclog.
Possible the overload tripped a circuit breaker on the machine. If so reset and try the reverse switch.

Most likely the cutters are still stuffed with paper shreds and needs to be dismantled and cleaned

Try running the machine in reverse...see if it will at least do that...if it does then get some oil onto the turning cutting blades. If it wont even run in reverse then you may have a fried pcb or motor, you can contact Royal for parts assistance at 1-800-524-0799.

Have you ever "oiled" the machine...get shredder oil and put some into the cutting blades and run the machine in reverse..then put some of the oil on some paper and run the paper thro" the machine.

Try running the machine in reverse and putting some shredder oil onto the cutting blades to loosen things up. Then try running the machine in the forward direction but hold the paper in the eyes but dont let it go into the shredding blades...see if it runs forward.!
If it will do this then slowly try paper 1 sheet at a time..but put some shredder oil onto the sheets of paper you are shredding.
If the overload light still comes on without even letting you shred 1 sheet of paper then you likely have another problem...maybe the motor or pcb..you can contact Royal at 1-800-524-0799 for parts assistance.

Some shredders aren't designed to shred anything more than paper. Credit cards, staples, paper clips and the like could have jammed it up. Try running the shredder in reverse and oiling the blades. More help with paper shredder oil here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Paper-Shredder-Oil

If you can't get the paper shredder up and running, it looks like you might have to pick up a new paper shredder. Paper shredders can be pretty cheap though, great guide to cheap paper shredders here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Best-Paper-Shredders

Over load light comes on only when you have either put too thick a bundle of paper or too hard. So reduce the thickness according to the hardness of the paper. Start with a few sheets of paper only. then increase the number of sheets till you find the shredder is struggling hard to do the job. That is your limit. If you exceed this limit then it would stop shredding and may even burn the motor ultimately.

IF YOU GET A PIECE OF THICK PAPER OR AN ENVELOPE AND FEDD THAT THROUGH IT SHOULD CLEAR IT FOR YOU YOU COULD OPEN THE DOOR AND FEED THE PAPER UP FROM THE BOTTOM BY CHEATING THE DOOOR SWITCH BY PUTTING A PIECE OF PAPER IN THE SLOT FOR THE ACTUATOR THAT WILL LET THE MOTOR RUN FOR YOU...hOPE THIS HELPS a

Try pouring some shredder oil into the throat where you normally insert the paper and run the machine in reverse.Put machine back into ready condition.
Put a piece of paper in the throat just enough so the machine should run but not all the way in so that the cutting mechanism catches the paper...all you want to do is make the machine run forwards but not actually be feeding in any paper.
If it wont even run in the forward direction you may have a pcb prob...give Royal a call at 1-800-524-0799 for parts assistance.