Lights Flashing A friend has given me his old printer to use. The problem is, the power light and paper light are continuously flashing together and I can not get them to go out or reset the printer. Can anyone help please.

Hi Cameron,

My name is Pradeep and I work for Dell's Social Media Team.

Please steps in this link: http://lt.dell.com/lt/lt.aspx?CID=285905&LID=5547632&DGC=SM&DGSeg=DHS&RED=301&DURL=http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3528/t/18328881
Please try the steps in this link: http://lt.dell.com/lt/lt.aspx?CID=285905&LID=5547631&DGC=SM&DGSeg=DHS&RED=301&DURL=http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3528/t/18766348

Pradeep Lokesh
Social Media and Community Professional
Order Status: http://del.ly/61822hij
Download Drivers: http://del.ly/61832hid

The printers first error code show all lights flashing:
Flashing Ready'Data
Flashing Toner Low
Flashing Load'Remove Paper
Flashing Paper Jam
Flashing Error
Flashing Press Continue
By pressing continue twice to get to second error codes the lights show:
Flashing Ready'Data
Off Toner Low
Flashing Load'Remove Paper
Flashing Paper Jam
Flashing Error
Flashing Press Continue
Pressing continue twice more shows:
Off Ready'Data
Flashing Toner Low
Off Load'Remove Paper
Off Paper Jam
Off Error
Off Press Continue
Pressing continue twice more brings back to all lights flashing
The computers ( I have tired more than one with diff USB and A parallel cables) do not see the printer as being attached. My toner is half full. I checked the internal power board in base of printer and the fuse is good. The error should not have anything to do with being connected to a computer or not because when it was working and not connect to a computer it would not blink all the indicator lights (If I remember correctly, just the Press Continue light would be lite).
Information I have found so far:

1. http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/p1500/en/index.htm#online_documentation

o Under PDF Documents Owner's Manual(English) (.pdf) (1.33 MB) shows very little about the indicator lights.
o Under HTML Documents User's Guide shows more information about the indicator lights but mentions nothing about the secondary error codes.

1. The Lexmark E321/E323/E220 are very close cousins to the P1500 and on Lexmark's website the manuals have more info on secondary codes but nothing that matches my error.

• Lexmark E220 User's Reference Starts on Page 45 Secondary codes start on Page 47
• Lexmark E321, E323 User's Reference Starts on Page 47 Secondary codes start on Page 49

Information I am guessing could be the problem:

1. The fuser has gone out (need to know how to check) Why else would they sell the fuser if it didn't go out regularly Part Number: 56P1053
2. Clutch Assembly I'm not sure of the accuracy of the info on this page.

I hope this will help you :)
* Green Power light flashes- The printer is receiving a print job, replacing an ink cartridge, charging ink, or cleaning the print head.
* RED paper light is On- If the CD/DVD try guide is open, close the CD/DVD tray guide, load paper, then press the paper button. Your paper ran out or multiple sheets loaded at the same time . Load paper and press the paper butoon to resume printing.
* RED paper light flashes- Paper is jammed in the printer. Press the paper button to eject the jammed paper. If the light is still flashing , open the cover and remove all paper, including any jammed or torn pieces. Then reload paper and press the paper button to continue printing.
* RED Ink Light Flashes - One or more cartridges are low on ink. Check the message that appears on your screen to determine which cartridge is low, or follow the instructions in " Checking the Ink Supply". Make sure you have a replacement cartridge.
* RED Ink Light is ON- One or more cartridges are out of ink or not installed. If you have just installed a new cartridge, it may be incomaptible with the printer or incorrectly installed. Reinstall it or replace it with the correct cartridge
* RED Ink and RED paper lights flash alternately- The CD/DVD tray guide was left open when you turned on the printer or when printing on paper. Just simply close it/
* Green Power Light is Off; RED paperand RED Ink Lights flashing- Paper may be blocking movement of the print head. Turn off the printer, then open the cover and remove any jammed paper or other foreign objects. Turn the printer back on again. Or it may have an internal error. Turn off the printer, wait a few seconds, then turn it on again.

A fix from a forum:

Procedure 1 We found this procedure to work for the Stylus Photo 1270 type printer, and understand that it also works for the 870 range and even earlier models like the Stylus Color 740. The error is indicated on these printers by all four lights on the printer flashing. Even if you press the power switch on the printer, the lights continue to flash, and the printer does not turn off!

1. Turn off your printer, ensuring that the print head is at it's home location and locked in place as normal;
2. Power off the printer at the wall or by removing the power cable, for at least 20 seconds;
3. When you restore power to the printer at the wall socket or by reinserting the cable, if the lights come back on straight away, the printer's power switch was 'on' - switch it off and return to step 1;
4. Hold down the paper-feed button and the button with the ink-drops next to it, and then turn on the printer, still holding the buttons down;
5. When the paper-out LED flashes, release the buttons;
6. Press and hold the Cleaning button, until several lights flash - this will take a few seconds (i.e. then release the button);
7. The printer will now attempt to reset, including resetting the EEPROM memory and running a short (about 10 seconds) cleaning cycle.

Procedure 2

1. Turn off your printer, ensuring that the print head is at it's home location and locked in place as normal;
2. Hold down the paper feed button only;
3. Turn on the printer;
4. As the paper feed light starts flashing, release the button;
5. Immediately hold down the ink-drops button for some 10-20 seconds or until the printer springs into life;
6. Allow printer to complete it's processing, then turn off for a few seconds, and back on again for a newly working printer!

Procedure 3 - for 1290 and possibly 890 printers 1290 printer with green (power / data) and red (ink / paper feed) lights flashing alternately:

1. Switch off printer with panel switch;
2. Switch off printer at mains switch - leave off for 20+ seconds;
3. Hold down roll feed and sheet feed buttons;
4. Switch on at mains;
5. Switch on at printer panel;
6. Continue to hold down roll and sheet feed buttons until both green and red lights flash together in synchronisation, not alternately;
7. Switch printer off and then, after a few seconds, on again at mains switch;
8. When red and green lights are both flashing in synchronisation, release the roll and sheet feed buttons;
9. Press and hold down the ROLL FEED button (the one at the extreme left) and keep it down until the machine finishes whirring, cleaning etc and the green light comes on steady;
10. Release the roll feed button and all should be well.

Depending on what type of printer you have:

Procedure 1 We found this procedure to work for the Stylus Photo 1270 type printer, and understand that it also works for the 870 range and even earlier models like the Stylus Color 740. The error is indicated on these printers by all four lights on the printer flashing. Even if you press the power switch on the printer, the lights continue to flash, and the printer does not turn off!

1. Turn off your printer, ensuring that the print head is at it's home location and locked in place as normal;
2. Power off the printer at the wall or by removing the power cable, for at least 20 seconds;
3. When you restore power to the printer at the wall socket or by reinserting the cable, if the lights come back on straight away, the printer's power switch was 'on' - switch it off and return to step 1;
4. Hold down the paper-feed button and the button with the ink-drops next to it, and then turn on the printer, still holding the buttons down;
5. When the paper-out LED flashes, release the buttons;
6. Press and hold the Cleaning button, until several lights flash - this will take a few seconds (i.e. then release the button);
7. The printer will now attempt to reset, including resetting the EEPROM memory and running a short (about 10 seconds) cleaning cycle.

Procedure 2

1. Turn off your printer, ensuring that the print head is at it's home location and locked in place as normal;
2. Hold down the paper feed button only;
3. Turn on the printer;
4. As the paper feed light starts flashing, release the button;
5. Immediately hold down the ink-drops button for some 10-20 seconds or until the printer springs into life;
6. Allow printer to complete it's processing, then turn off for a few seconds, and back on again for a newly working printer!

Procedure 3 - for 1290 and possibly 890 printers 1290 printer with green (power / data) and red (ink / paper feed) lights flashing alternately:

1. Switch off printer with panel switch;
2. Switch off printer at mains switch - leave off for 20+ seconds;
3. Hold down roll feed and sheet feed buttons;
4. Switch on at mains;
5. Switch on at printer panel;
6. Continue to hold down roll and sheet feed buttons until both green and red lights flash together in synchronisation, not alternately;
7. Switch printer off and then, after a few seconds, on again at mains switch;
8. When red and green lights are both flashing in synchronisation, release the roll and sheet feed buttons;
9. Press and hold down the ROLL FEED button (the one at the extreme left) and keep it down until the machine finishes whirring, cleaning etc and the green light comes on steady;
10. Release the roll feed button and all should be well.

Rubbish light?? Do you mean the paper light is flashing?

When both the ink and paper lights are flashing together and the power light is off, the printer has an internal failure. Turn the printer off, wait a little while and turn it back on. If the error persists, decide if the printer is worth servicing. Since it is no longer sold by Epson, I assume it is out of warranty.

If the ink and paper lights are flashing in an alternating pattern, something may be blocking the print head from moving. Check for jams and clear them. If the error persists, it's service time (if you want to spend a minimum of ~$50 for diagnosis).

I wish that I could be of more help.

Cindy Wells

The flashing lights are a "Maintenance request error" or a "Fatal error". Most of the time it is a "Maintenance request error" which means the waste ink pads need to be serviced. You can reset the waste ink counter but the ink pads will need to be serviced at some point.
Use the Service option from Printer Properties to start service--maintenance----or you need to service your printer from vendor.....

do you or have you recently started using recycled paper. I know for a fact that recycled paper and Dell printers dont get along very well. It's the dust and it will block the hole for the sensor which could show an error or make the printer think there is a paper jam. Youneed a can of compressed air and thoroughly clean it out. If that does not work you can remove completely the software from the pc, let the pc reboot and reload the drivers and software. good luck

hello!

You will see 3 led lights on the printer. They will blink continously if:

if the print cartridge status light is flashing
-- check if the top cover is open, Close the top cover.
-- there may be a problem with a print cartridge
1. Verify that the correct print cartridges are installed.
2. Check if a print cartridge is low on ink or improperly installed.

if the resume light is flashing
-- the printer may be out of paper
1. Place paper in the In tray.
2. Press the Resume button on the front of
-- the printer may be ready to print the second side of a two-sided document
1. Follow the onscreen instructions for printing the second side.
2. Press the Resume button.

if the power light is flashing
-- the printer is preparing to print
-- The light stops flashing when the printer has received all data.

if all lights are flashing
-- the printer may need to be restarted
1. Press the Power button to turn off the printer, then press the Power button
to restart the printer.Proceed to step 2 if the lights continue to flash.
2. Press the Power button to turn off the printer.
3. Disconnect the printer from the power source.
4. Reconnect the printer to the power source.Press the Power button to turn on the printer.

More or less your printer fuser has gone bad. Replace the fuse. I suggest that when buying a printer you don't with dell 1710N these printers gives a lot a problem. I work with them every day at work.

I suggest that you go with HP.