I am working on solving a problem with a HP Deskjet 840c for someone and would like your help.
This person was using the printer on a Windows 98 computer and it was working fine. Then she bought a new computer with Windows XP and connected the printer to it. When her daughter tried to print something, it started printing and then suddenly stopped, ejected the paper and the print cartridge light started blinking so the printer will not print.
Now, I've been looking to see what the problem is and I've noticed that the sockets for the ink should have ESD blades (part # C2145-00037). I've also noticed that the socket for the black ink does not have one. I am wondering if this might be the problem, since I've already tried cleaning the ink cartridge contacts, but the light is still blinking.
Can anyone please tell me what this blade does? What it is for? I've done searches to find out but haven't found any info at all. If the problem is not the blade, then any suggestions will be helpful.
Thank you for your help.
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Bert (12/30/04 10:03 PM) reply
We get lots of questions about 'missing' ESD blades. Many HP printers only have one on the color cartridge side. After disassembling a carriage, I cannot imagine how one could fall out, i.e. if one is 'missing', HP did not originally install it.
ESD means electro static discharge, so it is used to drain static electricity from the cartridge.
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Luigi (12/31/04 7:05 AM) reply
You may be right Bert, but stranger things have happened. I'm just making sure this is not one of them.
So then, how come does the printer cartridge light keep blinking and the printer won't print? This printer was printing before it suddenly stopped and spit out the paper it was printing. So, I wouldn't think it's a bad cartridge problem unless one of them went bad when printing. I have cleaned the cartridge contacts and tried a self test mention on the HP website with no luck.
Please help!
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Bert (12/31/04 10:47 AM) reply
Clean the cartridge and carriage electrical contacts again with a cotton swab and alcohol.
It is impossible to know for sure if a cartridge has failed without installing it in a known working printer or replacing it. People have even reported multiple defective cartridges. Frustrating? Yes!
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Billye (1/12/05 3:51 PM) reply
Help! My printer is going crazy! If a paper jam occurs, the printer malfunctions and prints page after page of strange symbols. The only way to stop it is to turn off the computer and restart it. I cannot even purge the job from the queue when this is going on. Can you help? I would greatly appreciate it!
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Bert (1/12/05 4:58 PM) reply
The "strange symbols" are caused by a corrupted driver. Uninstall and reinstall the driver. Go here to get the latest version. http://h10025.www1.hp.com
To limit paper jams, remove the rear access door and clean the feed rollers with a damp cloth as a temporary fix. Use rubber rejuvenator as a long term solution. http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/specials/misc/all/S03
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Anonymous (5/10/06 6:44 PM) reply
To fix funny symbol. Go into control panel, click on System. Goto the Device Manager. Goto your printer port, open its properties, and select "don't use this device". Turn off the printer, turn it back on. It should be happy. Go back into the properties and reenable the device.
-- Be happy!
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by sugarbear (7/27/06 11:37 AM) reply
my hp deskjet 840c will not print. The cartridge light is blinking. I change the cartridge and the light is still blinking. The printer is not recognizing the cartridge. What can I do to resolve this matter.
Re: Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Anonymous (7/31/06 4:20 AM) reply
Do you have refilled the cartridge? HP printers remember 3 different cartridges (because they have a serial number). When you refil a cartridge and put it back in, the printer does not know that it is refilled. There are two solutions for your poblem:
1. If you have 4 different cartridges, put them one after another in the printer. Keep the one you refilled for the last. After the previous 3, the printer will have forgotten te refilled one, and you can print again with te refilled one.
2. You do not have 4 cartridges. This one is a little bit more difficult, and I cannot explain it without a picture, so you will have to look on the internet.
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by dammy (11/3/07 4:52 PM) reply
i av the same problem. my hp deskjet 840c will not print. The cartridge light is blinking. I change the cartridge and the light is still blinking. The printer is not recognizing the cartridge. What can I do to resolve this matter.
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Bert (11/3/07 5:12 PM) reply
Clean the electrical contacts on the cartridges and carriage with a cotton swab and alcohol. If that does not solve the problem you probably have defective cartridge.
Please help me with this wierd printer problem!! by Manidipa (12/12/07 9:30 AM) reply
I had a wierd problem. After the printing command, the printer started preparing as usual, but as soon as it began, it made an unfamiliar noise and stopped. The power light and paper light started blinking simultaneously. I opened the rear access door, cleaned the rollers, and all of it seemed ok. Then I put in a paper and switched the printer on. It made that strange sound and again the same lights blinked. The paper was not taken in. I observed that the movement of the cartridge carrier was the problem.It had no obstruction in its path as it could be moved mechanically when switched off. but on switching on, the cartridge carrier vibrated (moved to and fro very little) in its positon, made that noise and stopped dead. This happened irrespective of the position of the carrier along its path. I am totaly confused what the problem is. Is it possible that one of the pins at the port has been damaged? Is it unrepairable??
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Bert (12/12/07 3:28 PM) reply
Make sure that the encoder strip is connected on both ends. The encoder strip is made of thin plastic about 1/4" wide and runs horizontally the length of the printer. If it has become disconnected it must be rethreaded through a slot in the carriage before being reconnected.
If the encoder strip appears to be ok, clean it on both sides using water. Use caution or you will disconnect it from one of its mounting hooks.
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Anonymous (12/16/07 1:56 AM) reply
my printer is ok until i refilled an ink. it prints but there is some sort of line thru the letters that i am printing. the cartridge was used only 3 times. ink comes out of it. is it the printer? what seems to be the problem? how can i open the printer and clean it?
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Bert (1/5/08 7:48 PM) reply
Paper is not detected until it feeds into the mechanism. If paper is not picked up the printer assumes the paper tray is empty. Remove the rear cleanout door and clean the feed rollers with water.
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by ofor (7/25/08 11:09 AM) reply
my hp 840 printer prints double characters in some columes, i think the catridge is not allinged very well. i have tried to alinge them but the problem persists. i need help
HP Deskjet 840c problem by mikfar (8/31/08 10:04 AM) reply
I have a problem with my printer, when i switch it on the cartridge carrier moves to the left and all of a sudden the rollers rotate fast afterwards the cartridge carrier moves back to the right again and the out of paper button starts to blink.
Can any one help please?
Thanks
Re: HP Deskjet 840c problem by Bert (8/31/08 5:20 PM) reply
Hi, My Deskjet 840c does weird things, it can print one paper without trouble but when I need to print more than one paper it fails into trouble: the second paper is blocked in half the way and the printer shows paper jam, it does that everytime. I open the rear door to clean the paper jam and push on the paper feed button (the one which is blinking, an orange led) then the printer turns off. Turning it on the head printer goes one way then stops with a strange sound, the paper jam mode hasn't been cleared even when there is no paper stuck in (I have already removed the paper!).
Turning off an on doesn't help. I have found that the mechanic is blocked at certain point, this is maybe why the printer cannot get out of its paper jam trouble. Pushing in some part of the mechanic helps the printer running again. I am not so much good in english, and my problem is a bit difficult to explain... Please, I really need help with my Deskjet.
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