HP Z3100 startup problem

[Ian99]

HP Z3100

This is my second Z3100 and I would appreciate some help in diagnosing a problem.

I moved the studio about 6 months ago and have not had the opportunity to print with it other than a successful nozzle check three months ago. It has been powered on constantly and I hear it frequently doing its self-maintenance checks. Now it will not start.

On power on it:
a.   Shows the HP Invent logo and counts up to 100%
b.   Displays “Initializing please wait”. The carriage moves a little.
c.   Displays “Preparing Print System”  but never changes from 0% with the power light flashing.

Does any HP guru have any idea what the issue is or how to proceed.
Thanks.

[Mark Lindquist]

Does any HP guru have any idea what the issue is or how to proceed.
Thanks.

You rang?

Here's the deal.  Having sat for a long time and then never used for a long time (6 Months or more) many things can have happened that are preventing it from initializing.  You may have a bad formatter board and drive.  But let's try a little troubleshooting and see what can be done.

Certain procedures cause the printer to re-initialize.  First step, try this to see if an easy fix is possible.

1.  Shut the switch off in the back.  Unplug the printer.  Let it sit 5 minutes unplugged.
2.  Plug back in and turn switch in back on.  Printer will go through it beginnings of initialization.
3.  Wait 1 minute and repeat step 1, and two.
4.  Do this three times in total , then let the printer try to initialize fully.

It may be doing an FSCK (File System Check).  AWatch the front panel on the fourth startup carefully to see if the printer throws any error messages.  Write them down.

If there are no error messages, Let the printer continue to initialize as long as it takes, even if overnight.

If after waiting for a long time with it plugged in and turned on and it still will not initialize, let's try phase II of trouble shooting:

1.  Turn printer switch off.
2.  Unplug printer.
3.  Take out all inks and printheads.
4.  Plug printer back in.
5.  Turn switch on and watch panel screen.
6.  Write down what it says.
7. Turn printer off and unplug.

While inks and printheads are all out, open printer and clean everything that you can see that needs cleaning.  Lubricate guide rail.

Put the inks and printheads in plastic bags and shake vigorously.

Turn printer on and see if it asks for inks and printheads.
If not, turn switch off and unplug.

Replace all inks one at a time - wait until you hear a beep- if you don't hear a beep that ink cart is bad..

Try restarting again.
If nothing, shut down again.

Replace all printheads one at a time - wait until you hear a beep- if you don't hear a beep that printhead is bad.

Replace any bad inks or printheads.

Restart.

By this time, the printer being shut down and restarted should have reset itself and should be doing either a FSCK or initializing.

IF it doesn't work after all this, then it is time to look at limit switches and circuit boards.

If you can fix things, you can look at THIS PAGE ON REPAIRING THE PRINTER

Then you're looking at getting a tech guy out to look at it, or finding a different printer.

Try the above process.  I know it looks tedious, but it is in many cases what HP prescribes before doing invasive procedures and replacements.

Keep us in the loop.  If it works, don't just go off without reporting, please.

There are many parts that can fail that can cause your problem and are hard to diagnose.
Since your printer sat unused for so long it's hard to say what may have gotten fried.
A power surge can cause the problem you're experiencing.


Try the process, let's see what happens.

Mark



Presumably it will not initiate.

[kers]

The only time my ( dear) Z3100 would not start it was helped by simply cleaning the right part of the printer... where the service station is ...

It turned out to be so dirty that it gave all kind of messages...old ink was becoming a kind of glue

if Marks suggestion does not help , open the right side and clean what you can... I used sprititus ( methanol) and earsticks etc,...

(the idea is to clean it with the printer heads some where  along the track...)

If it does not help it cant do any harm either... and save you some dirt on your prints in the future..

[Ian99]

Feedback:

Thanks Pieter and double and triple thanks to Mark. However no cigar!

Mark, I followed your steps in Phase I and II religiously. Even with no ink in the machine it will not complete initializing.

I cleaned everything – it was not really dirty.

I replaced the Control Panel.
I replaced the Formatter.
I then stripped it all the way down and replaced the complete Electronics Module.
All to no avail.

Occasionally I could get into the Service Tests menu for engineers. Choosing any of the tests just sent the machine into a freeze with a high pitched beep sound.

Bottom line is that there is only so much time and effort that should be invested into this and I will spend another $10 and take it to the local dump.

Given that I live in the North end of Toronto where HP printers are an endangered species, I will be forced to turn to the dark side and cross my fingers with a Canon or even worse an Epson. I can’t believe I said that!

Thanks again to both of you.

[Mark Lindquist]

Ian,
Try one more thing.
Pull the formatter board out and look on the board where there is a small battery.
Pull that out and replace it, then put the formatter board back in.

Do the start re-start drill and then lets see what happens.

-Mark

Can't believe you went to all that work and expense.
Just humor me and do a few things.
Plug the computer into a different receptacle - use an extension cord if you have to, and plug it in to a different circuit.

However you have the computer connected to the printer, connect it the other way. 
Try USB if you are on LAN, Try LAN if you are USB.

Try starting it with just one ink cartridge missing.  See if you can get it to beep asking for a cartridge.

Don't quit, man.  You might be almost there.

Try to get it back almost there and it will tip over to start.
Don't quit.  Be calm, relax, sit with it.  Become the printer. LOL.

[kers]

Ian,
Try one more thing.Qq
Don't quit.  Be calm, relax, sit with it.  Become the printer. LOL.

And become a working printer:)
Zen and the art of printing

[Mark Lindquist]

Pieter, Leave it on all night.  Let it work.  It could be the disc needs to swap around a lot of files.  Possibly the CRON tasks were not completed.
When you get done with the other things, just turn it on and leave it on.  Be patient, let it come back if it's going to.

One last thing:

Check to see if there might be an ink smear on your encoder strip.  Try to make sure the micro printing that is on one side of the clear mylar isn't smeared in any way. Be careful - use a light and some Q-tips with distilled water.

Also, check to see the REAR CARRIAGE BUSHING  is not broken and in good shape.

Put a drop of lubrication in there.

Check to see that the limit switch on the cover is aligned correctly.  Use a continuity tester and check the switch is working properly.

Read through your manual and look at all the limit switches.  Make sure all the cable connections are plugged in properly and carefully seated.

[Ian99]

Mark,
Success almost!

I am sure that it was either your zen approach or changing the battery on the formatter board which did the trick.

It came up doing a full FSCK, then continued normally but required me to reseat some ink cartridges. It then stopped dead telling me I had to replace the B/GN printhead.

That is on order and should be here on Monday and I will report back then.

Many thanks it is now starting to look like Lazarus.

[Mark Lindquist]

Mark,
Success almost!

I am sure that it was either your zen approach or changing the battery on the formatter board which did the trick.

It came up doing a full FSCK, then continued normally but required me to reseat some ink cartridges. It then stopped dead telling me I had to replace the B/GN printhead.

That is on order and should be here on Monday and I will report back then.

Many thanks it is now starting to look like Lazarus.

Alright!!!!  This was a tough one.  Kudos for not quitting!
You should be good to go.  Replace everything it wants, do printhead diagnostic chart, etc.

Above all, let it run as long as it needs to do the FSCK.

The learning goes slowly but the printer is patient.   

[Ian99]

Final feedback for Mark:

Many thanks for keeping me going on this problem. It is really good to have knowledgeable people share solutions with you.

That was the nice part!

I have changed everything I know of: print heads, inks formatter, electronics module etc. The Fedex guy and I are now on first name terms. It will sometimes print some of the colors. Strangely the Lan connection seems to have some impact on the result.

Anyway I have pulled the plug on this machine, literally and actually. I will not spend any more time and money to try and solve some highly elusive problems. It is going to the dump. I will pull some parts off it in case anyone locally needs some bits but this is my last Z.

Thanks again Mark.

[Mark Lindquist]

Final feedback for Mark:

Many thanks for keeping me going on this problem. It is really good to have knowledgeable people share solutions with you.

That was the nice part!

I have changed everything I know of: print heads, inks formatter, electronics module etc. The Fedex guy and I are now on first name terms. It will sometimes print some of the colors. Strangely the Lan connection seems to have some impact on the result.

Anyway I have pulled the plug on this machine, literally and actually. I will not spend any more time and money to try and solve some highly elusive problems. It is going to the dump. I will pull some parts off it in case anyone locally needs some bits but this is my last Z.

Thanks again Mark.

Say it isn't so Ian.  Take deep breaths.  What happened?
Don't shoot it yet.  Talk to me.

[deanwork]

When I once had this issue, HP suggested I turn it off, unplug it and remove the formatter board from the back with those two screws. Then put it back in and restart the printer. That did it for me. Sometimes the board can get loose when moving.

j

[Ian99]

Mark,
I am having more problems with the PMs than I have with my Z and neither seems to work as it should.
So I will repeat:

Mark,
You are definitely the winged lion when it comes to Zs and your offer will get you many brownie points in heaven.
There are crossroads in life and one must make decisions which may be right or may be wrong. I have made the decision on the Z.

I would not want to put you to the trouble of endlessly helping me on this machine and I am not going to spend another hour or dollar on it.

Many thanks again.

Regarding locality, I said in an earlier post in this thread that I lived in the north end of Toronto. That is the place a bit to the North of you and the place where Lula resides, at least for now until Kevin moves it to Indy. And by the way, we are not allowed to shoot things up here, not even politicians.

The next time I do the snowbird thing I might stop in and say hello.
Ian

Deanwork: thanks for the suggestion. I think the most important thing I learned in this whole event is to change the battery on the formatter board. That got me many steps forward. In trying to get this beast started I have had several formatter boards installed (I seem to collect them!) and wiggling it is a bit difficult. It either slides in fully or not at all.

Ian

[Mark Lindquist]

I got your PM Ian, and I understand your position. You want out, and I can't blame you.  After all your Z is a 10 year old printer.  The sad part of quiting now is that if in fact the printer has initialized, you would have been over the hump.  The next step would have been to do a paper advance calibration, then a head alignment, then a printhead diagnostic image.  Once done, check the chart carefully with a magnifying glass and see which printheads are acting up.  Do printhead cleanings, new diagnostic images, then fine tune from there.  If one or more of the lines are clogged, simple procedures to fix that.

This not the time I would have thrown in the towel.  Like a boxer, you have to believe in yourself and those in your corner behind you.

I do understand about having to prioritize when it comes to decisions and I don't fault you at all for it.

Too bad you can't roll it over in a corner, put a sheet over it, and let it sit for a while.

But you've got to do what you've got to do man.  Good luck with your next printer.

Mark

[Ian99]

Final feedback on this thread.

Super thanks to Mark for Z knowledge as well as emotional support!!

I figure that computers and printers are essentially female. You need to treat them nicely to get results and even then you are not sure what makes them respond.

So, I let the Z sit for a while. I talked to it about trading her in for a new model. I actually went out and bought a P800, which I left sitting in a box next to the Z. I then left it for a bit to think about its future.

I have to say that I did replace a Red/MK print head and a few more ink cartridges.

After a few days I gave her a test to see how she would respond.

Back online printing like she used to!!! All of the old ICC profiles are gone with the replacement of the formatter but no problem with the built-in spectro.

I wish all male/female relationships were that simple to solve. Change a few bits and they respond like they should.

Mucho thanks to Mark. I now have two printers and all I need are customers.

As a Scot I would say “lang may yer lumb reek” and best wishes for 2017.
Happy printing.

[tonywong]

Thumbs up to you for sticking it out and to Mark for being such a great support. Happy New Year everyone. 

[Mark Lindquist]

Final feedback on this thread.

Super thanks to Mark for Z knowledge as well as emotional support!!

I figure that computers and printers are essentially female. You need to treat them nicely to get results and even then you are not sure what makes them respond.

So, I let the Z sit for a while. I talked to it about trading her in for a new model. I actually went out and bought a P800, which I left sitting in a box next to the Z. I then left it for a bit to think about its future.

I have to say that I did replace a Red/MK print head and a few more ink cartridges.

After a few days I gave her a test to see how she would respond.

Back online printing like she used to!!! All of the old ICC profiles are gone with the replacement of the formatter but no problem with the built-in spectro.

I wish all male/female relationships were that simple to solve. Change a few bits and they respond like they should.

Mucho thanks to Mark. I now have two printers and all I need are customers.

As a Scot I would say “lang may yer lumb reek” and best wishes for 2017.
Happy printing.

I'm very proud of you Ian, for calming down, relaxing, and not giving in.  You've been rewarded for your diligence and stick-to-it-ness. Your analogy is interesting. The old book Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance comes to mind.  Although now it's a cliche, working on these printers is like that. I was concerned about you when you made the statement that you were done with it. We all can come to this point with many things in life, in many areas in our lives, because there are so many things that can defeat us, standing in the way of success.  Working on resurecting a failed printer is a simple parable reflecting our individual situations. As you have discussed the analogy to the feminine  mystique, for others it may be about other things in their lives that are equally evasive.

It did my heart good to read that you overcame the obstacles and got that little sweetheart purring again.
It imparts a renewed sense of pride and ownership to get your hands dirty, to scratch your head, to be beaten by it, then to come back with a fresh rested approach, and above all, dogged determination, then to finally suceed. It's a little like jacob wrestling with the angel. Finally, the blessing.
Congratulations to you Ian.  Thanks for the kind words. I help a lot of people with these printers and not all come back to say thanks.

Long may she run!  Happy New Year!

Mark

[Mark Lindquist]

Thumbs up to you for sticking it out and to Mark for being such a great support. Happy New Year everyone. 

Happy New Year to you too Tony!

Mark