Fixing the HP Blinking Indicator Light Problem

DJ 1400 Printer Guide | Printing Envelopes >

The HP DeskJet 1420 printer is poorly designed, having no readout and only one monotone indicator light on a single, multipurpose switch making troubleshooting specific issues virtually impossible. However, in some cases the cause of the BIL is obvious (e.g., paper runs out). Every once in a while the spooler will actually tell you what the problem is, although this is rare.

Worse, virtually every problem, no matter how insignificant seems to trigger a BIL

1.  Fixing BILs triggered by specific events

1.1  Paper jam or misalignment

Carefully clear the jammed/misaligned paper from the intake. Re-seat the paper evenly. Then press the multipurpose button. The printer might continue printing, do not resubmit your print job! If the BIL does not go away see "Printer Reset"

1.2  Exhausted Paper Supply

Load more paper into the tray. Press the multipurpose switch. The printer might continue printing, if the BIL does not go away, do not resubmit your print job yet! see "Printer Reset"

2.  Out of Ink

Replace the cartridge. Close the lid then press the multipurpose switch. If the BIL goes away but the print job does not continue within a few minutes you may need to resubmit your job, use the "Page Range" feature to print only the pages that have not already printed. If the BIL does not go away do not resubmit your job, see "Printer Reset".

2.1  Accidental lid opening

Close the lid. If the BIL does not go away press the multipurpose button. If the BIL still does not go away see "Printer Reset".

2.2  Unknown cause

See "Printer Reset"

3.  Printer Reset

If you are experiencing an unresolvable BIL you may need to reset the printer. Due to the obtuse design of this model, the printer does not have an actual reset button, this complicates things.

1. Look at the rear of the printer. You will see two (2) cables (see diagram). You will be removing the cable on the left with the wider connector.

The printer cables

#Firmly grasp the connector and pull the connector straight out. Be careful not to pull at an angle as this risks bending the connector.

Do not pull by the cord. Grasp the connector only.

1. Re-insert the connector, being careful not to bend or break it. This connector is polarized. The top of the connector has a rectangular tab to ensure that it cannot be inserted wrongly see diagram. If the connector will not re-insert rotate 180 degrees.

Keying of power connector

#Wait. The printer will move the cartridges and sometimes expel blank sheets. Remove the blank sheets. If the BIL persists press the multi-function button and wait some more.

If the BIL goes away but your job does not continue resubmit your job; use the "Print Range" function to print only the pages that have not printed already,

3.1  If a Reset Does not fix the Problem

If this does not resolve the BIL problem you need to file a Problem Report.