Error Printer Head is too hot, no paper (there is), no carbon (there is).

The following is from the Epson Users Manual:
Troubleshooting
No lights on the control panel
Check the power supply cable connections and the power outlet.
ERROR LED on (not flashing) with no printing
If PAPER OUT is on, the roll paper is not installed or is near the end.
If PAPER OUT is off, the printer cover is not closed properly.
ERROR LED flashing with no printing (and no paper jam)
Printing stops if the head overheats and resumes automatically when it cools.
If overheating is not the cause, turn the printer off, and after 10 seconds, back on.
Removing Jammed Paper
CAUTION:
Do not touch the thermal head because it can be very hot after printing.
1. Turn the printer off and press the cover open button.
2. Remove jammed paper, reinstall the roll, and close the cover.
3. If paper is caught in the cutter and you cannot open the printer cover, open
the cutter cover as shown in illustration J.
4. Turn the knob until you see a triangle in the opening. This returns the cutter
blade to the normal position. There is a label near the cutter to assist you. See
illustration K.
5. Close the cutter cover.
6. Open the printer cover and remove the jammed paper.
Cleaning the Thermal Head
CAUTION:
After printing, the thermal head can be very hot. Be careful not to touch it and
to let it cool before you clean it. Do not damage the thermal head by touching
it with your fingers or any hard object.
Turn off the printer, open the printer cover, and clean the thermal elements of the
thermal head with a cotton swab moistened with an alcohol solvent (ethanol, or
IPA).
Epson recommends cleaning the thermal head periodically (generally every
3 months) to maintain receipt print quality.

It sounds like your print head is overheating. Clean as instructed above.

Press the OK button.
- If paper is being fed at error occurrence, the
error is indicated after the paper is ejected.
- If the error occurs, the print head alignment
values are not changed.
- After exit from the error by the OK button,
the automatic print head alignment will not
be re-done.
The error will occur when the print head
alignment pattern is not printed due to no ink
or non-ejection of ink.

here are some error code list for you for your s300 printer.

Got this from slayo.com

hope this list will help you find answers to your questions. Goodluck!

ERROR CODE LIST
Error codes are displayed on the monitor of the host computer connected to the printer. For error
code display, keep the status monitor open.
Error Code
Error Corrective Action
1000 Paper out error Load paper, and press RESUME button.
1200 Front cover open error Close front cover.
1300 Paper jam error Remove jammed paper, and press RESUME button.
1401 Head ID error Replace print head, as it has failed.
1403 Head temperature sensor rank error Replace printer, as it has failed.
1405 Head EEPROM error Replace print head or printer, as one of the two has failed.
1700 Waste ink near-full error Replace printer, as it has failed.
5100 Carriage error Replace printer, as it has failed
5200 Head temperature rise error Replace printer, as it has failed
5400 Printer temperature rise error Replace printer, as it has failed
5B00 Waste ink full error Replace printer, as it has failed
5C00 Purging operation error Replace printer, as it has failed
5800 EEPROM/NVRAM error Replace printer, as it has failed
6810 EEPROM print head information error Replace printer, as it has failed
Operator Call Error
Orange lamp
Error Corrective Action
2 times Paper out error Load paper, and press RESUME button.
3 times Paper jam error Remove jammed paper, and press RESUME button.
6 times Print head not-installed error Install print head.
7 times Print head error Replace print head, as it has failed.
8 times Waste ink near-full error Replace printer, as it has failed.
Service Call Error
Toggle blinking
Error Corrective Action
2 times Carriage error Replace printer, as it has failed.
4 times Purge error Replace printer, as it has failed.
6 times Internal temperature rise error Replace printer, as it has failed.
7 times Waste ink full error Replace printer, as it has failed.
8 times Print head abnormal temperature rise error Replace printer, as it has failed.
9 times EEPROM error Replace printer, as it has failed.
10 times EEPROM print head information error Replace print head or printer, as one of the two has failed.

Try this to clean the print head;
Canon will hate me for this.

1. Remove ink cartridges.
2. Remove print head.
3. Go to sink or tub (stainless steel, not plastic type), pick up a roll of paper towel on the way.
4. Fold several layers of paper towel and place on flat surface.
5. Run hot water until HOT!
6. Turn hot water back to a dribble.
7. Run the dribbling hot water through print head being careful not to wet the gold contacts.
8.When water running through print head is clear, place print head on paper towel.
9. Repeat number 7 and 8 until no colour shows on paper towel.
10. Gently DAB print head (DO NOT WIPE) inside and out with dry paper towel until dry.
11. I normally replace print head after drying, but you may wish to let it air-dry overnight.
12. Replace print head in printer and install cartridges
13. Start printing.

I do this to all 4 of my Canon printers every 6 months or so.

If any colour fails to print after this process it means your print head probably needs replacing.

Try this;



Canon will hate me for this.

1. Remove ink cartridges.
2. Remove print head.
3. Go to sink or tub (stainless steel, not plastic type), pick up a roll of paper towel on the way.
4. Fold several layers of paper towel and place on flat surface.
5. Run hot water until HOT!
6. Turn hot water back to a dribble.
7. Run the dribbling hot water through print head being careful not to wet the gold contacts.
8.When water running through print head is clear, place print head on paper towel.
9. Repeat number 7 and 8 until no colour shows on paper towel.
10. Gently DAB print head (DO NOT WIPE) inside and out with dry paper towel until dry.
11. I normally replace print head after drying, but you may wish to let it air-dry overnight.
12. Replace print head in printer and install cartridges
13. Start printing.

I do this to all 4 of my Canon printers every 6 months or so.

If any colour fails to print after this process it means your print head probably needs replacing.

If its a Canon printer try this.
OK, Canon will hate me for posting this.

1. Remove ink cartridges
2. Remove print head
3. go to sink or tub (stainless steel, not plastic type), pick up a roll of paper towel on the way.
4. Fold several layers of paper towel and place on flat surface.
5. Run hot water until HOT!
6. Turn hot water back to a dribble.
7. Run the dribbling hot water through print head, be careful not to wet the gold contacts.
8.When water running through print head is clear, place print head on paper towel.
9. Repeat number 7 and 8 until no colour shows on paper towel.
10. Gently DAB print head (DO NOT WIPE) inside and out with dry paper towel until dry.
11. I normally replace print head after drying, but you may wish to let it air dry overnight.
12. Replace print head in printer and install cartridges
13. Start printing.

I do this to all 4 of my Canon printers every 6 months or so.

If any colour fails to print after this process it means your print head probably needs replacing.

You can try this.
OK, Canon will hate me for posting this.

1. Remove ink cartridges
2. Remove print head
3. go to sink or tub (stainless steel, not plastic type), pick up a roll of paper towel on the way.
4. Fold several layers of paper towel and place on flat surface.
5. Run hot water until HOT!
6. Turn hot water back to a dribble.
7. Run the dribbling hot water through print head, be careful not to wet the gold contacts.
8.When water running through print head is clear, place print head on paper towel.
9. Repeat number 7 and 8 until no colour shows on paper towel.
10. Gently DAB print head (DO NOT WIPE) inside and out with dry paper towel until dry.
11. I normally replace print head after drying, but you may wish to let it air dry overnight.
12. Replace print head in printer and install cartridges
13. Start printing.

I do this to all 4 of my Canon printers every 6 months or so.

If any colour fails to print after this process it means your print head probably needs replacing.

I think your problem is blocked print head, try this.
OK, Canon will hate me for posting this.

1. Remove ink cartridges
2. Remove print head
3. go to sink or tub (stainless steel, not plastic type), pick up a roll of paper towel on the way.
4. Fold several layers of paper towel and place on flat surface.
5. Run hot water until HOT!
6. Turn hot water back to a dribble.
7. Run the dribbling hot water through print head, be careful not to wet the gold contacts.
8.When water running through print head is clear, place print head on paper towel.
9. Repeat number 7 and 8 until no colour shows on paper towel.
10. Gently DAB print head (DO NOT WIPE) inside and out with dry paper towel until dry.
11. I normally replace print head after drying, but you may wish to let it air dry overnight.
12. Replace print head in printer and install cartridges
13. Start printing.

I do this to all 4 of my Canon printers every 6 months or so.

If any colour fails to print after this process it means your print head probably needs replacing.

Well... here it is :

The POWER Lamp Flashes Orange An error has occurred in the printer. The number of flashes indicates the type of error, as outlined below. Check the cause and take the appropriate action.
When a printer error occurs, the POWER lamp flashes. The number of flashes indicates the type of error that has occurred. Count the flashes and take the appropriate action to correct the error.
Two flashes: Printer is out of paper /Paper does not feed
Reload paper to the sheet feeder or cassette and press the RESUME button.
Three flashes: Paper jam/Paper output tray is closed
If paper is jammed, remove the jammed paper, reload paper in the printer, and then press the RESUME button. If the paper output tray is closed, open it.
See Paper Jams
Four flashes: Empty ink tank
Press the RESUME button to resume printing with an empty ink tank. Replace it with a new ink tank immediately after the printing. It may damage the printer if you continue printing with an empty ink tank.
Five flashes: Print head not installed/Print head not installed correctly/Print head is defective
Install the Print Head. If the Print Head is already installed, remove the Print Head and check the electrical contacts for foreign matter, then reinstall.
After reinstalling the Print Head, you may need to realign it.
If this error still remains, the Print Head may be damaged. Contact a Canon service representative.
Six flashes: Inner cover error
To print on paper:
Close the inner cover. Then press the RESUME button to start printing.
Do not move or close the inner cover during printing. It may damage the printer.
Seven flashes: The CD-R or DVD-R is not set on the CD-R tray
Reset the CD-R tray feeder with a CD-R tray containing a CD-R or DVD-R, and then press the RESUME button. Printing will resume.
This function only works with models that support CD-R printing.
Eight flashes: Waste ink absorber almost full
The printer has a built-in waste ink absorber for the ink used during print head cleaning. Eight flashes indicates that the waste ink absorber is nearly full. Press the RESUME button to cancel the error so you can continue printing. Before the waste ink absorber becomes completely full, contact a Canon service representative.
Important
Canon recommends that you call for service as soon as this error occurs. Once the waste ink absorber becomes completely full, printing will no longer be possible.
Nine flashes: A specified period of time has lapsed without receiving no response from the digital camera / The digital camera or digital video camcorder connected is not compatible with this printer
Disconnect the camera cable, press the printer's RESUME button and reconnect the cable.
If the error is still not solved, there is a possibility that you are using a digital camera or digital video camcorder that is not supported by this printer. Use a digital camera or digital video camcorder compatible with this printer.
Ten Flashes: Cannot print on both sides of the page
The size of paper may not be compatible with automatic duplex printing. For information on the size of paper compatible with auto duplex printing, see "Automatically Printing on Both Sides of the Page." Pressing the RESUME button will discharge the paper, and restart printing from the front side of the next paper. The reverse side will not be printed when an error occurs.
Eleven flashes: Cannot perform automatic print head alignment correctly
Possible causes are as follows:
A4 or Letter-sized paper is not loaded on the sheet feeder.
Ink has run out or ink tanks are not installed correctly.
See Ensure that the ink tank is installed properly.
Ink level is low.
Print Head nozzles are clogged.
Press the RESUME button.
For information on how to print a nozzle check pattern, see "Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern."
The paper output slot has been exposed to a strong light source preventing correct print head alignment.
Press the RESUME button to resolve the error. Align the printer so the paper output slot will not be exposed directly to a strong light source.
After carrying out the above measures, if the problem continues after aligning the print head again, press the RESUME button to resolve the error, and then perform manual print head alignment. For details on manual print head alignment, see "Aligning the Print Head."
POWER lamp flashes alternate green and orange:
An error that requires contacting a Canon service representative may have occurred.
Disconnect the printer cable from the printer, and then turn the printer off and unplug the printer from the power supply. Plug the printer back in and turn the printer back on after leaving it for a while.
If the problem remains, contact a Canon service representative.

you can try this to really clean the print head: Canon will hate me for this.

1. Remove ink cartridges.
2. Remove print head.
3. Go to sink or tub (stainless steel, not plastic type), pick up a roll of paper towel on the way.
4. Fold several layers of paper towel and place on flat surface.
5. Run hot water until HOT!
6. Turn hot water back to a dribble.
7. Run the dribbling hot water through print head being careful not to wet the gold contacts.
8.When water running through print head is clear, place print head on paper towel.
9. Repeat number 7 and 8 until no colour shows on paper towel.
10. Gently DAB print head (DO NOT WIPE) inside and out with dry paper towel until dry.
11. I normally replace print head after drying, but you may wish to let it air-dry overnight.
12. Replace print head in printer and install cartridges
13. Start printing.

I do this to all 4 of my Canon printers every 6 months or so.

If any colour fails to print after this process it means your print head probably needs replacing.