Blue screen of death

[Gator70]

I have an office jet 4650. Not a new one by any means. Also my OS is Linux Mint 22.1. When I upgraded to the latest version earlier this week and went to print, the printer stopped working half way through loading the first page. I’ve followed everything I can find on the HP website and other forums including a hard restart and trying to reconfigure my system as per instructions from HP. Nothing has yet to work. Does anyone have any suggestions other than those I’ve tried?   also tried to connect it to my laptop via USB.  Didn't work.  Have reset the computer and the router.  Neither worked.  All I have is a blue screen.  It has power but shows no menu etc.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Gator70 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for laying out the situation so clearly—it’s genuinely frustrating to face a blue screen on your HP OfficeJet 4650, especially after a system upgrade and multiple recovery attempts. 

Based on similar cases and HP’s support guidance, this behavior typically points to a firmware-level fault or a controller freeze within the printer.

Here’s a structured recovery plan that may help bring your printer back to life:

 

Step-by-Step Fix for Blue Screen on HP OfficeJet 4650

1. Perform a Full Power Reset

This clears residual power and may reset the internal controller.

• Press the Power button to turn on the printer.
• With the printer still on, disconnect the power cord from the rear.
• Unplug the cord from the wall outlet.
• Wait at least 60 seconds.
• Plug the cord directly into a wall outlet (avoid surge protectors).
• Reconnect the cord to the printer and press Power if it doesn’t turn on automatically.

 

2. Attempt Firmware Recovery via USB

Even with a blank screen, some users have successfully restored functionality using a firmware update.

• Download the latest firmware from HP’s official page:
  HP OfficeJet 4650 Firmware & Drivers
• Connect the printer to your Linux Mint system via USB.
• Run the firmware updater using a Windows or macOS system if Linux tools fail to detect the device.
• If the printer is recognized, proceed with the update—even if the screen remains blue.

 

3. Check for Internal Activity

If the printer doesn’t respond at all:

• Open the cartridge access door and observe whether the carriage moves.
• Listen for startup sounds (fan, motor, carriage movement).
• If completely silent, the issue may be with the main board or display controller.

You’ve clearly done everything within reach, and it’s deeply disappointing to see a trusted device fail after a system upgrade. 

Let’s do everything possible to restore your printer without unnecessary expense.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye