I have an HP all-in-one Photosmart C8180, problem, blinking lights, blank control panel. no codes

[HowardPerry]

I have a pc, windows xp, and a laptop HP Passport with Windows 7, both print on the Photosmart printer.  The printer has suddenly started having all the lights on the front bliking like a stroblight, very fast and the display panel is lit up but blank.  Most of the time it will not turn off and I have to unplug it.  Is it fisable?

[LNF]

I am having the same issues.  Does anyone have a solution!!

[alanonthego]

There was another thread that I can't find reguarding this problem. It seems that this problems has been happening to many of these printers over the last few weeks. 

They all have the same problem, lights blinking, blue screen with error code. B00A7CD2

No one has found a solution and some posters have claimed no help from HP.

I originally unplugged the printer from the power cord in the back of the printer. Plugged it back in and it was fine for a few hours.

After reading the ideas from other posters I tried the following.

Unplug the cord from the rear of the printer,

then

Unplug the printer from the wall or power strip.

WAIT at least 30 seconds. Plug back in.

After a few minutes printer returned to lights blinking etc.

Second attempt.

Do the above but hold down cancel & print photo buttons at the same time while plugging in the cord to the rear of the printer.

Same result printer lights began to blink etc after a few minutes.

Third attempt.

Unplug printer cord from rear of printer. Wait 30 seconds. Plug back in.

When printer does come back on quickly go into set up - tools - restore factory defaults.

Printer worked for about a day and a half. Back to lights blinking etc.

Might help if you have to get something printed.

I think we now have a boat anchor. Can't wait days or weeks for HP to find solution. Need new printer NOW.

Seems funny how so many of these printers are all failing at the same time.

[lyle2]

We have the same problem with blinking lights...we have reset, removed cartridges, and done all of the suggested things others have tried.  Still doesn't operate reliably.  We get no codes on the LCD display.  After years of preferring HP we are ready to stop purchasing HP products because of this problem.  we have two offices set up at home and this is a deal breaker...not fix apparently...

[steelyp]

We are also having the same problem. The printer will go strobe lights until you unplug it. Then when plugging it back in it will begin a long period of turning itself on and off and after awhile display an error such as B053B710 or B00A7CD2. We've tried the holding red eye and black buttons which almost work until it shuts itself off again. We've also done the reset with removing all the cartridges to no avail. This is very reminiscent of the last time we had troubles with an HP printer and our answer was "it's obsolete, buy a new one." It's a printer. I should not have to update technology who's sole purpose is to print a one page text document. This will be the last time I buy any of HP's products.

[lyle2]

We are certainly in agreement there....the is an HP product problem and even if these units are out of warranty they should be paying attention to what is going on here...these are upscale units and if HP wants us to continue to purchase their products they should make sure that the appropriate software/firmware upgrades are automatically downloaded to our printers..Ours worked for about a year.  The odd thing is that the last one had error problems that we couldn't resolve with H.P. and that is why we purchased this one.  My wife uses this one on her new windows 7 HP computer.  The C8180 worked for many months until it started this business...Maybe Meg Whitman needs to pay attention to these issues, since she is now the boss...

[steelyp]

Well as of today I threw that HP printer away and will no longer be purchasing any HP products. On our way to Staples today to purchase either an Epson or Canon printer. As long as it lasts longer than 2 years they're already much better than HP in my book.

[alanonthego]

Overdue update. Bought new HP printer at Staples, got $50 for recycling old broken printer. Had to buy HP there are simply the best printer. Only paid 200. for an all in one, very nice, last years model  8500 on closeout. 

[jmillsp]

Same problem here. Have had the problem for a couple of months off and on. Now, I can't get anything done at all. Unplugging the machine doesn't help to resolve the issue. Before, I could unplug it and then plug it back in and everything was back to normal. Now, I just get a new error code on a blue screen each time. I am like others, you got to have a printer. This is ridiculous!

[oroit]

Same problem here in Spain. 10/12/2011 our HP Photosmart C8180's leds started to blink...the office looks now like a disco.