ok so couple days ago my printer was working perfectly. today i turn it on and i get clicking noises. i try to print something and it says "collecting printer status" or something like that in the printer queue. anyone know what could have happened?

Hi again blazin6543,

Sounds like you're having lots of trouble with that printer. Might want to throw it out of the window [this however will probably not help].

In all serious though, it sounds like you've got a paper jam. Look for flashing lights that do not normally flash. Open up all the compartments, and look for something at the back of the printer which you can open.

It would also be useful if you could specify the printer make and model, so we can investigate how it responds to paper jams.

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i dont think that "throwing out the window" idea will work cuz i started punching it and slamming it against the table...... any other ideas?

mines a cheapo, canon i455 ...... ok stupid question, i dont have any paper in the printer how is it a paper jam problem? *looks around and hopefully doesnt see anyone giving me looks*

The paper could be jammed inside the mechanism that feeds paper, so you may not be able to see it.

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i've tried opening it up but i dont want to risk wrecking the whole thing.... i looked inside and couldnt see what the problem was, except for some gears that are the source of that clicking ..... im not sure if it'd be a paper jam because the last time i printed everything was perfect ..... i made a short video if anyone wants to see what im taking about about the clicking (its only 2mb) http://petermorawski.com/printer.zip

ok, ill take a look at that tomorrow, im going to bed now, ill get back to you tomorrow. is the printer a ink jet? if so you might want to consider investing in a laser printer. best thing i've ever done, even though mine is black and white, you can get colour ones.

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I had a similar problem with my old DeskJet. It would occur after installing a new cartridge but not snapping down the holder properly.

The way I solved it was turning off the power, leaving one piece of paper in the tray and turning a little plastic cog around inside manually until the paper had been fed, moved through the printer and the flip down arms went up [It was a bottom feed tray-loading printer]

But if the printer is not in warranty you might just want to get a new one. A month or so ago, I purchased a new Lexmark all-in-one printer and scanner for less than £25 [around $49US] - the same price as an original HP colour cartridge for my old printer. I got it from Asda, which is Walmart's UK division.

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Nah, just kidding. Why would you use a sledge hammer?
Well, there's probably something stuck in the buffer. I had this problem before. Try uninstalling the printer then re-installing it.

~Sean

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Your ink cartridges/printer may need cleaning, I found some good tips and products on a website

I have added some of the tips below

Cleaning Cartridge Guide

Cleaning Carts for Tip

Cleaning Cartridges are designed to recover print heads that have become blocked with dirt and dried ink. They should only be used when the regular print head cleaning procedures are not effective. The cleaning cartridges contain a special fluid which dissolves the dried ink and clears the tiny jets in the print head.

How to use Cleaning Cartridges

First of all, ensure you have a new ink cartridge available to install in the printer after you have used the cleaning cartridge.

Important note: We do not recommend you re-use a partially used ink or cleaning cartridge, as removing and replacing the same cartridge can cause air to enter the print head, which can disrupt the ink flow and dry it up. Also, if your printer uses ‘chipped’ cartridges it may reject a partially used cartridge.

1. Remove the inkjet cartridge from the printer and replace with the Cleaning Cartridge.
2. Perform at least 3 head cleaning cycles, more if the print head is blocked or the printer has been left standing for some time. (Refer to your printer’s documentation for instructions on how to do this).
3. If possible, leave the printer to stand overnight. This allows the cleaning fluid to dissolve any dried ink.
4. With the Cleaning Cartridge still in the printer, print 3 full pages of each affected colour. Use software with drawing facilities, e.g. MS Paint to create a large rectangle filled with the required colour. Set the print quality option to ‘Best’, ‘Fine’ or ‘Photo’ (whichever is appropriate for your printer).
5. Replace the Cleaning Cartridge with NEW inkjet cartridges and perform 3 head cleaning cycles to flush any residue cleaning fluid out of the print head.

Tips to avoid future print-head blockages

* Use your printer regularly. When a printer is left unused for a long time the ink can dry out!
* Try to avoid removing an ink cartridge until directed to by the printer software or LED status indicators. Removing and replacing a partially used cartridge can allow air to enter the print head and disrupt the ink flow. It can also make the ink outlet hole bigger which increases the risk of leaks.
* When the cartridge is empty, do not remove it until you have a new one to replace it with. Leaving a printer stand without a cartridge in allows air to enter the print head and can cause the ink to dry out.