scanner failure

Hello,

I also have a HP PSC 750.  I have had intermittent trouble with it and get the same error you are reporting. I have been getting this error from the day I bought this printer and can't find anything I am doing to cause it.  The only way I can get it to allow me to use the copy feature is to turn the printer off (I unplug the power and USB cable just for good measure, but I don't think it has anything to do with it) and let it rest for a while, then turn it on again and try to make a copy.  That usually works for me.  Sometimes I have to go through those steps a couple of times before it lets me make a copy.

You can go to HP's website and see what they say about the error you are getting:  http://h20015.www2.hp.com/hub_search/document.jhtml?lc=en&docName=bpu00675&prodId=hppsc750pr28086&cc=us#P123_14050  I've pasted HP's explanation for you below. 

Peace

"Scanner system failure" front panel error message

This error occurs if the scanner bulb is not heating to the correct temperature or there is some other problem with the scanner hardware. If the all-in-one works correctly, there is generally not a problem. Perform the following steps to resolve the problem:

1. Verify that the scanner bulb is lit. If the scanner bulb will not light up, the all-in-one must be serviced.
2. Unplug the power cord and then plug it in again. If the error comes back, remove the power cord from any power strip and plug it directly into a wall power outlet. The power strip may not be supplying enough power to the product.
3. Cold ambient room temperatures may also cause this error. Move the all-in-one to a warmer room and see if the error reoccurs.
4. The all-in-one will need to be serviced if these steps cannot correct the problem.

UPDATE - I did some more research.  Here are a couple of links that may hold the answer to our problems.  According to these folks, taking apart the printer and cleaning the scanning mirrors inside the printer is the ticket.  Here are the downloadable instructions: http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/getattachment.do?attachmentId=22089&ext=.rtf

It seems there are a ton of people experiencing this exact same problem on several HP printer/scanner units, and HP is doing nothing to assist.

According to what I found on a HP User forum: "This isn't an uncommon problem. It comes from dirty mirrors in the scan head. The light from the bulb is thus diminished, or the little target on the underside of the glass can't be read, hence the error message."

"The problem is, that the warm-up of the scanner lamp is recognized by the intensity of the reflection from a white area underneath the Original glass plate. If the mirrors are dusty, the light intensity can not reach a level that tells the scanner that the lamp is warmed up!".

You may first want to try just doing a "semi-full reset" of the printer by doing this:  "For the PSC750s, unplug it, hold down Cancel and the Left Arrow buttons, and plug back in, then release the buttons. "

Also, make sure the printer is plugged directly into a wall outlet, not a power strip.

Here is a lot of discussion form other people experiencing the same problem:

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=195738

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=61403

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=214488

Hope you have luck!

Message Edited by Xplornaz on 11-26-2003 10:40 PM

Well, after having the "scanner error" coming up for nearly a year I was about to get another one when I saw your link on cleaning the windows and such.  It took me around an hour or so and it seems to have worked.  I didn't get that much dirt and fuzz off the mirrors or lamps but some did come off, apparently enough to get the sensor working again.  I'll see how long it last.  Either way, its saved me over 200 bucks so far as long as I don't have to get another printer.  I hope everybody has the luck I've had.