HP PSC 1600 will not print.

[or97355]

I have an HP PSC 1600 all in one. Operating system is Mac OSX 10.6.8. ( laptop)

I get a message that says the printer has " no mech mode" & Communication Failure: The computer is no longer able to communicate with your printer. Turn the printer off, check your printer connections and check for printer errors, and turn the printer back on."  Also says, "Printer offline. Paused." Can't seem to reset that mode from the printer preference box. I know the printer is old, but it has been working great till now.

It still scans from the computer & sends e-mail. I have unplugged several times & reset the default  from the printers "setup" button. 

The ink cartridge carriage doesn't seem to move when I plug the printer back in and turn on printer. Usually when I turn on the printer, the carriage sounds like it moves back & fourth. But not now. Have not had any "new" things installed. 

Thank you for any help! or97355

[8lives · Accepted solution]

Take a look at this help link.

[or97355]

Thank you , Thank you!!! The'set up' button & all other buttons on the panel were fluid. I had tried to unplug from the back of the printer, but did not know to hold in the 'set up' button. Boy, the things they don't tell you in the info. Everything works now!!! Thanks!

BTW, I noticed a big glob of black ink just below the cartridge on the far right side. That can't be 'normal.' How can that happen? I use my printer all the time? I did not see anything in the manual about cleaning ink out of the inside of the printer. Can you advise me?

Thanks again!

or97355

[8lives]

That is the used ink well.

Normally you should not need to empty it.

Please leave it alone.

[or97355]

Thanks for you response.

The black used Ink well side that I mentioned has a glob of ink that has stacked up & looks like there is a Hershey's Kiss inside. Shouldn't I do something? 

Also, I'd like to ask you another question: Sometimes the read out screen on the printer reads backwards and sometimes it looks like what I call 'gobbley goop,' which is just varied characters, lines, etc. The machine still works, but I can't tell what i says. I did reset it a couple more times as you suggested in our first correspondence.

What else can I do? Is this a normal occurance?

Thanks

[8lives]

Unless the ink well leaking I would not attempt to empty it.

The screen problem is most likely caused by a component slowly failing on the printer board.

[or97355]

Oh, no, I hate the thought of 'breaking' in a new printer.
Thanks for all the help.