HP ENVY 6500e will not print, shows error on the printer LED E orange flashing light

[Bob1174]

HP ENVY 6500e will not print, shows error on the printer LED E orange flashing light.

I've tried reinstalling the drivers, it shows the printers off-line, but I suspect that's just because whatever error the printers having, is there any way to reboot to factory settings?

[Max3Aj]

@Bob1174, Welcome to the HP Support Community – it’s great to have you here!

I appreciate you taking the time to share your question. I'm more than happy to assist with this and provide a solution that works for you.

The orange flashing "E" light on the HP ENVY 6500e typically indicates a critical error, such as a cartridge issue, paper jam, or internal hardware fault. Let's walk through the steps to troubleshoot and reset your printer.

Power Reset the Printer

This clears most temporary errors:

• With the printer powered on, unplug the power cord from the back.
• Unplug the cord from the wall outlet.
• Wait 60 seconds.
• Plug the cord directly into a wall outlet (avoid surge protectors).
• Reconnect to the printer and power it on.

Check for Cartridge Issues

• Open the cartridge access door.
• Remove and reinsert both cartridges.
• Ensure no protective tape is left on the contacts.
• If the error persists, try replacing the cartridges with genuine HP ones.

Check for Paper Jam or Carriage Obstruction

• Open all access doors and inspect for stuck paper or debris.
• Gently move the cartridge carriage to ensure it’s not jammed.

Restore Factory Defaults

If the issue persists, restoring factory settings may help:

Factory Reset via Control Panel:

1. Open the cartridge access door.
2. Press and hold the Power and Wireless buttons on the printer for at least 3 seconds.
3. Wait about 20 seconds.
4. Close the cartridge access door.

This will reset the printer to its default state.

Reinstall Printer in Windows 11

After resetting:

1. Remove the printer from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Reinstall using the HP Smart app: HP Smart
3. Ensure the printer is connected to Wi-Fi and appears online.

HP DeskJet, ENVY 6000, 6400 - Blinking lights and error codes | HP® Support

I hope your issue is now resolved. If not, feel free to reply and we’ll continue helping until everything’s sorted!

If the post helped, please click “Accepted Solution” to help other users easily find it. And if you’d like to say thanks, just tap the “Yes” button!

Cheers,

Max3Aj

HP Support

[Bob1174]

I have performed each of those steps about 20 times with the same results: it changed nothing, which is really frustrating. At least putting in new drivers would clear the problem. I have probably built around 20 computers, but the HP printers will be the death of me yet. Hee Hee!  I definitely appreciate the time you took to respond to my problem. Do you think a sledgehammer could produce some positive results? Just lightly tapping it with a 15-pound sledge. Just mild taps. It may sound like I'm frustrated, but I'm actually not. I think more like suicidal, just kidding, suicide is not funny. But I'm keeping my options open, Hee Hee!

[Max3Aj]

@Bob1174, Thanks for getting back to me. I can really feel the persistence (and sense of humor!) you’ve put into this, and I appreciate the patience you’ve shown. I know how frustrating it is when you’ve already gone through the full reset steps multiple times with no change. Let’s take this a step further.
 

The flashing “E” with orange light that doesn’t clear after resets usually points to one of two things:

Cartridge system failure – even if they’re genuine HP cartridges, a fault with the printhead/cartridge electrical system can cause this hard error.

Hardware fault inside the printer – something the reset cannot clear (often in the carriage, sensor, or logic board).

Here are two additional things you can try before we determine if service/replacement is needed:

Semi-Full Reset (deeper than factory restore)

• With the printer ON, unplug the power cord.
• Hold down the # (pound) + 3 buttons on the control panel.
• While holding, reconnect the power cord.
• Keep holding until the printer powers on, then release.
  (This performs a semi-full reset, which clears deeper system states than a normal reset).

Remove Cartridges and Power On Without Them

• Take both cartridges out.
• Power the printer on with the cartridges removed.

If the error changes or asks for cartridges, insert them back one at a time to check if one is triggering the error.

If the error still persists and won’t clear, then unfortunately this points to an internal hardware failure that can’t be resolved by resets or drivers. In that case, please visit the nearest HP authorized service center, the service team will check and assist you. 
Kindly follow this link to locate the nearest HP service center: HP® Service Center Locator - United States | HP® Support
(Select the country from the dropdown menu and enter the city name or pincode)

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Yes” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support