Phone Line in Use

[peggy14]

I do not have my 8500A printer connected to a phone line, do not use the fax and have not for several years.  Yesterday, I got the Phone Line in Use message. The printer seems to work fine but does not go into sleep mode.  I have tried various suggestions of unpluging the power cord etc but nothing seems to eliminate this message.   Any suggestions?

[Drakster]

Hi @peggy14,

Welcome to the HP Support Forums!

I see that you're getting "phone line in use" on your HP Officejet 8500A Plus Printer. I will certainly do my best to help you and please remember to return to this thread and mark 'Accept as Solution', if I have successfully helped you resolve the issue. If you wish to say 'thanks' for my effort to help, click the 'thumbs up' to give me a Kudos.

It sounds like there could be a problem with the 1-Line port on the back of the printer or there could be a firmware/hardware problem. 

First, disconnect all cables other than the power cable (USB, ethernet, phone cable, etc) for testing purposes. Check the port labeled 1-Line to ensure nothing is in the port.

I would do a hard reset to see if that will resolve the issue.

• Leave the printer on and unplug the power cable from the printer and wall outlet for 60 seconds.
• Then reconnect the power cable to the printer and wall outlet rather than a surge protector. This ensures the printer is receiving full power and may help this situation.
• Make sure the printer is connected directly to a wall outlet (don't use a power bar or a surge protector). This ensures the printer is receiving full power and may help this situation.
• Do you still see the error message? 

What operating system are you using? 

• Depending on which OS you're running, click here to locate and update the printer's firmware.

If the issue persists, I recommend that we perform the Semi-Full Reset. This will set the printer back to factory default settings. The network would have to be configured again. I can send you that information in a private message. In the forum beside your handle name just click on the envelope to view it.

If you completed all the preceding steps and your product still has an issue, service the product. HP may offer you a discount towards a trade-in on a replacement unit.

Contacting HP for service in all countries/regions except Asia Pacific.
First, go to Check your product warranty to check your printer warranty status, and then go to Contact HP Support to find an authorized service dealer or to schedule a repair.
Check Warranty Status: http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/wc/public/home 
Repair fees might apply for out-of-warranty printers.
What you can do, is use the following link to create yourself a case number, then call and it may help speed up the call process: 
Step 1. Open link: http://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp
Step 2. Enter Product number or select to auto detect 
Step 3. Scroll down to "Still need help? Complete the form to select your contact options" 
Step 4. Scroll down and click on HP contact options - click on Get phone number 
Case number and phone number appear. 

I hope this information is helpful. Please respond to this post with the results. Good Luck! 

[Drakster]

Hi @peggy14,

Thanks for getting back to me. 

Did you perform the Semi-Full Reset and update the printer's firmware? If you did and you're still getting the same error message, there is a hardware issue with the device.

In addition, you will need to reconnect the cable (USB\ethernet) or reconfigure the wireless to print from the computer again.

If the issue persists, please contact HP.

[peggy14]

Unfortunately, I still have the Phone in Use error message.  I updated the firmware,  did the Semi-Full Reset multiple times and reconnected the wireless but the error message remains.  Before I asked for help, I could still print but after these attempts to fix the error message I no longer can print.  It will copy and scan.  It seems I should have just left the message and not tried to fix it. 

Thanks for your assistance.

Peggy14

[Drakster]

Hi @peggy14,

Thanks for the response.

Honestly, I'm surprised that you were able to print at all with that error message on the screen.

That being said, it is possible that there are other reasons keeping you from printing. 

Once the Semi-Full Reset completed: 

• Did the printer perform the initialization? 
• Did the printer complete the alignment? 
• What happens when you try to print? 
• Are you receiving an error message on the computer?

As a last resort, you could try clearing the error state by using the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows OS).

• Please download and run the Print and Scan Doctor, it will likely diagnose and resolve the issue you are experiencing.
• What were the results when you ran the Print and Scan Doctor (did it print or scan, any error messages)?

If the issue persists, please contact HP. 

Please respond to this post with the results. Good Luck! 

[peggy14 · Accepted solution]

Hi, again

The initializaiton was successful and the printer said the alignment was successful.  When I try to print it will show that it is printing but eventually it shows "Error Printing" in the print detail screen.  No error message shows on the computer.  I have to go to the printer screen to see that there is an error and not printing.

The Print and Scan Doc has you disconnect the power and the router which I did.  Then the network was not connected so it goes through the steps for set-up which were successful.  Then it wants me to register my machine.  It did not do any other error messages.  I did Print and Scan Doc again and then it said I needed to update the software which I did and then it found two issues which it said it fixed and it should print but it did not print.  Then I tried your Semi-Full Reset and it is printing!!!!!

Ii still has the "phone line in use message" . . . .but I am so happy that it prints I guess that is what I get with a 4 1/2 year old printer.  It may just be temporary but o.k. for now.

Many thanks for not giving up and trying various solution. 

Peggy14