I have a Canon Pixma MG5220 color printer [actually it’s what Canon calls an “all-in-one printer” -DT] and all of a sudden it’s popping the error code B200, showing the message “Printer error has ocurred. Unplug the power cord and contact the service center.” on the tiny screen. Windows 7 has no idea there’s anything wrong when I try to print. It just doesn’t work. What does “B200” mean and how do I fix it?
That’s the same printer my Dad has, by coincidence. It’s very nice, actually, offering up color printing, photo printing, copying capabilities and more. But there’s something about printers, color or otherwise, that makes them often the most problematic of all computer peripherals. If it’s not a cartridge that’s running out or a specific color running low, it’s something with the drum or the paper feed.
So while the MG-5220 is a nice all-in-one printer, it’s not a complete surprise to me that there’s a problem, and that the error message shown is rather ambiguous.
As with just about every hardware or software error, however, the first line of defense is an online search. Before we do that, however, my standard approach with all printer issues, especially if it’s related to Microsoft Windows, as in this situation, is to start by upgrading the printer driver to see if that fixes the problem.
Here’s what the printer looks like, in case you’re not sure yours is the same:
So how do you search for a printer driver update? Well, one way would be to go to the manufacturer’s Web site — in this case that’d be canon.com — but I’m a big Google fan, so simply start typing in your query and autocomplete will finish the job:
That looks good. Click on “canon pixma mg5220 driver for windows 7” and the top match is exactly what we seek:
Easy enough! Click on it and you’ll be on the Canon site, ready to search for the printer driver download.
It seems like the link should take you directly to the link, but Canon doesn’t quite work that way, as you can see:
The link you want is, ingeniously enough, labeled “Drivers & Software”.
Click on it and you’ll have a chance to identify your operating system:
Almost there. Select “Windows”, then version “Windows 7” and you’ll finally have the needed link:
Download. Install. Restart.
Fixed?
If not, there’s another thing you can do to try and fix the mysterious “B200” problem: Google the error code or, if that fails, the error message itself. Add a “site:canon.com” to the search phrase and you might just find yourself learning this useful snipet of information from the Canon customer forums:
So that’s the scoop, straight from Canon’s product expert. And if that doesn’t work, well, your next step is to call up Canon on the phone and hope they can help you fix the problem without it having to go in to service.
Good luck with your printer!
I gave up and ordered a new printer! My time was worth more than the time it took to try to fix this printer.
False information is given!
As said previously it happens with no computer connection.
The B200 error is high head voltage detected, this usually related to a duff print head, each pixel is a ‘mini kettle’ for the layman – isn’t that is why they call them bubble jets?
But, you are taking a chance on blowing a brand new print head should you not change the logic board at the same time….. you go out buy a new print head, what if the logic board is the actual fault.
Yes, yes it can be argued electric kettles do blow like a nozzle in a print head, that’s what boils the ink -right? Now Epson and HP they use a different method they use a vibrating nozzle that squirts the ink on paper tha’s why they are called INKJETS, a bubble jet boils the ink the bubble burst and splatters the media with ink – in the right spot, and there is a element for every dpi. Changing the print head alone ‘could’ be a gamble…. you might be lucky you might be unlucky.
But B200 nothing at all to do with the drivers, sometimes cleaning the head contacts on removable heads NOTE: NOT THE NOZZLES, this is what connects the head to the ink tank holder.
This issue has absolutely nothing to do with drivers. The error occurs without even interfacing with a computer; you simply turn on the printer and the error occurs.
I tried installing/updating the drivers, but it’s not detecting the printer. ??