Scan bar does not move

[Seadog1902]

Hp 178 laser printer. Scan bar makes brief noise but does not move. Scanner busy error on scree

[Deep_World]

Hi  @Seadog1902 
 
Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

I understand the scanner on your HP Laser 178 series printer is making a brief noise during startup, but the scan bar does not move and the printer displays a "Scanner Busy" error. Don't worry I'll be glad to help you with this.

To assist you better, could you kindly provide a few details?

• Are you able to print normally, or are both printing and scanning affected?
• Do you hear any grinding, clicking, or unusual noises from the scanner area?
• Does the scanner light come on when the printer powers up?

In the meantime, kindly try the below steps and confirm :

1. Turn off the printer and disconnect the power cord from both the printer and wall outlet.
2. Wait for about 60 seconds.
3. Reconnect the power cord directly to a wall outlet and turn the printer on.
4. When the printer starts, gently open the scanner lid and observe whether the scanner bar attempts to move.
5. Check under the scanner lid for any protective tape, packaging material, debris, or any obstruction that may restrict scanner movement.
6. Ensure the scanner lid closes completely and is not misaligned.
7. If your model supports it, restore the printer to factory defaults from the control panel menu and test scanning again.
8. If connected to a computer, try scanning from the HP Smart app as well as directly from the printer control panel to compare the results.

Based on the symptoms you've described, the printer is attempting to initialize the scanner during startup. 

The brief noise indicates the scanner mechanism is receiving power and trying to perform its calibration process. If the scan bar cannot move correctly or cannot detect its home position, the printer may display a "Scanner Busy" or scanner-related error. 

This can occur due to an obstruction, a scanner calibration issue, a loose scanner mechanism, or a hardware-related problem within the scanner assembly.

I hope this helps.