Officejet 5740 photo tray blocked

[Skins99]

Intemittent problem...error message is "photo tray is blocked please adjust the trap."  I'm just printing normal, no photos.  I move the tray all the way forward, and sometimes this corrects the problems, sometimes it doesn't.  I don't even print pohotos.  Is it possible to remove the photo tray, if there is no other permanent solution?  Thanks, Chris

[E-roq]

Hey @Skins99, 

Welcome to the HP Support Forum.  I hope you enjoy your experience here.  :robothappy:

I understand you're encountering an intermittent error on your HP Officejet 5740 e-All-in-One Printer.  I would like to assist you with this.

Is your printer situated on a level, stable surface?  It's a long-shot but a wobbly desk might be setting off different sensors within the printer when it's handling its regular cycle of print jobs. Aside from this I do have some suggestions that might help.  

From what I've read in your printer's user guide it's not sounding like removing the photo tray is feasible as there's no entry indicating that your printer would continue to function with it removed.  

Try some basic troubleshooting; I recommend you  perform a 'hard reset':

1. Ensure your printer is powered on.
2. Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
3. Wait 60 seconds.
4. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.
5. Press the Power button to turn on the printer.

Next, remove all paper from the printer and re-insert it as noted: 

To load full-size paper

1. Pull out the paper tray, slide the paper-width guides outward, and then remove any previously loaded media.
   Figure : Graphic - Slide the paper-width guide to its outermost position
   
2. Load paper.
   • Insert a stack of paper into the paper tray with the short edge forward and the print side down.
   • Slide the paper forward until it stops.
   • Slide the paper-width guides inward until they stop at the edges of the paper.
     Figure : Graphic - Adjust the paper-width guide
     
3. Push the paper tray back in.
4. Change or retain the paper settings on the printer display.

Source

If you're still encountering the same error status, try restoring your printer's factory defaults*:

*Note that completing this step will reset your printer's wireless configuration, ePrint address, and other customized printer settings. If you have created a custom @hpeprint.com address it will be permanently erased. For more information on custom ePrint addresses, click here.

• From your printer's front panel, touch the Setup/Wrench Icon
• Touch Printer Maintenance
• Touch Restore
• Select Restore Factory Defaults

Please let me know the result of your troubleshooting by responding to this post.  If I have helped you resolve the issue, feel free to give me a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon below.

Thank you for posting in the HP Support Forum.  Have a great day!  :robotvery-happy:

[JulieVan]

The suggestion to unplug the printer did not work.  

The suggestion to restore factory settings did not work as it keeps the error that says photo tray is blocked.  I can't even finish resetting the factory settings. 

I am not happy with this printer and have not been able to print on this device since it was initially set up.

[E-roq]

Hi @JulieVan, 

I recommend you reach out to our tech support team. You can click on the following link to initiate a case:

www.hp.com/contacthp/

Once you fill out the online form to create your case you can choose from different direct contact methods.

Regards, 

[Camville]

I have the exact same issue. The printer worked great for a couple weeks and that's it. Nothing I do solves the problem. The error displays "photo tray is blocked" I click okay, and after doing it 10 - 15 times it finally prints. It's by far the most frustrating printer I've ever had.

[E-roq]

Hi @Camville,

Did you try any of the troubleshooting steps listed above? Let me know if those are helpful. 

Regards, 

[jeffL7]

I'm having the same frustrating problems also. Have only had the printer for about 2 months and is now usless. What is the fix??? A return credit for a new one?? would be the fix.

[E-roq]

Hi @jeffL7, 

Did you try the troubleshooting steps listed above? If you're still having the same issue afterwards, I recommend you reach out to our tech support team. You can click on the following link to initiate a case:

www.hp.com/contacthp/

Once you fill out the online form to create your case you can choose from different direct contact methods.

Regards, 

[#9]

www.hp.com/contacthp/

Once you fill out the online form to create your case you can choose from different direct contact methods.

Regards, 

[bjgee]

I have the same message, tried the suggestions, but nothing works.

[edrex100]

I am so thankful to find this forum.   The HP Officejet 5740 is the printer equivalent of lawn darts.  This things sucks.  The HP customer service rep was very nice, but I'm sure many of the British soldiers who gave the Native Americans small pox infested blankets were also very polite.  

Meg Whitman should take a page from Chipotle's playbook and shut down HP until they figure out how to stop shoving e coli down the throats of their customers in the form of execrable printers.

Not only did I try every suggestions that tech support suggested several times, I tried the same suggestions on the SECOND rerfurbished 5740 they sent me.

HP will not give me a refund.  I bought this ugly hunk of functionless desktop art less then 3 months ago, and HP refuses to stand by their warranty.  

Nice going HP!