HP Deskjet 2540 in 'error state'

[gasmark5]

I bought my parents an HP deskjet 2540 a while ago, which was fine, it did everything they needed. However just recently (as in, a week after the warranty expired), it has seemingly given up the ghost. It sits there flashing every light on and off constantly, including the LCD screen. I tried updating the firmware, but I can't get any computers to even recognise there is a printer plugged in. HP support said the lights flashing means it is in 'error state' and they helpfully suggested turning it off and on again. When that invariably failed to improve matters, they suggested I send I send it back or buy a new one.

I don't know of anywhere local that services printers, and I'm sure it would not be worth the cost of posting it - thankfully it is only a cheap printer.

Still, it annoys me. I opened it up and I cannot find anything physically wrong with it, it seems a shame to throw it away if it's just a silly software fault.

Is there anything I can try to resurrect it? It doesn't respond to any button presses and neither windows or linux can detect anything when I plug it into a computer.

Any advice appreciated, thanks

George

 

[hang-the-9]

If your printer died right after warranty, there is an engineer somewhere that got a raise

For a deskjet, I would just replace it. The consumer inkjet printers are made to be basically disposable, as you can tell by the price. A good business inkjet is about $200-300, the ones you find on the WalMart shelves are 50-60.

Just replace it, and think of it as a one year use item. They cost about what a dinner for two in a cheaper restaurant does.