C3180 suddenly stopped printing.

[pusscat]

OS Windows XP. HP Photosmart C 3180 suddenly stopped printing having done so with no problems the day before. When asked to print, it made various loud, clattering noises followed by the error light blinking. The message "carriage jam" appeared a couple of times as did "paper jam". Since then I am continually told the printer is "out of paper". The carriage moves ok, if a bit noisily; there is no paper jam and there is plenty of paper in the paper tray. I have followed all the steps provided for cleaning the cartridge contacts and carriage contacts but nothing has changed. I am at my wits end to know what is wrong and how to fix it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[FrancisN]

Hi,

try to run this one Hardware Diagnostic Utility and then try to reinstall the ink cartridges

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?cc=us&lc=en&jumpid=ex_r4155/hho/ipg/ccdoc/h...

please give us a feedback asap

^_^...

*f*p

[pusscat]

Unfortunately the suggested diagnostic utility did not support my particular printer. Having found one that did, it gave the hardware a clean bill of health. Attempting to then print the suggested test page generated "print cartridge cradle cannot move" message although with cover open I can actually see it sliding back and forth. I am at a loss to know what to try next.