Epson photo r1800 why are both red lights flashing

SOURCE: Epson stylus photo R1800 printer

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/printer/35608
this website will answer all your problems

SOURCE: epson stylus photo 950 printer flashing lights

I had the same Problem and checked the solution:
This is a Printer Maintenance request.
Ink Overflow -
you sould change the waste ink pads under the printer mechanic.

Solution:

Martin Smallridge

• 419 Answers
• Posted on Feb 22, 2009

SOURCE: EPSON R1800 END OF SERVICE LIFE

You have a few choices on this one.

1. The SSC utility mentioned by Jacklee366 is usually the first port of call but it may not work in some situations. Worth trying regardless

2. Epson have an official reset utility which is available to North American printer owners who have a valid serial number (back of your printer).
You just fill out this form and you will then get access to the utility (the one eagleflh/bos_dsl is reselling with his kits)

3. You can also get access to the official service utility that service engineers use on these printers... A copy is available here.
IMPORTANT: This utility is a lot more powerful than the other two and requires a bit more hoop jumping but it can resolve the maintenance request very efficiently. Whatever you do, read the readme files and take your time if you opt to use it.

Hope that helps.

SOURCE: How to remove print head of epson stylus photo r1800 BEWARE SPAM NUMBER +1-800-532-4187 BELOW

Had the same problem - but the print head is actually easy to remove.

1) Remove ink cartridges
2) Remove 3 Phillips head screws at the bottom of the cartridge housing. (looking down from the printer front - top left, bottom left, top right).
3) There are 2 small plastic tabs on a plastic bracket that secure the flex cable on the right hand side of the cartridge housing. Gently release the tabs with a small flat head screw driver.
4) Lift the print head straight up (don't pull on the flex).

There may be a release for the flex to separate from the print head. But I did not see one. Instead I poured 1/4" of Windex in the bottom of a small plastic container and soaked my print head for about 15 minutes (occasionally agitating).

Then put back in reverse order - be sure to seat the flex in the guide (top-back-right) of the cartridge housing before screwing down. Then run a cleaning or two to flush the cleaning fluid out of the print head. (I have a waste ink tank installed so I am not worried about dumping excessive ink into the waste sponges).

The differences was remarkable - though there was still slight banding - maybe should have soaked longer (1 hr perhaps?) - I may repeat if it remains an issue.

Additionally there were large solid deposits on the left side of the print head which were responsible for scraping heavier weight photo paper. These dissolved in the Windex too.

SOURCE: All lights flashing on the Epson Stylus photo 870

Unfortunately, the Russian software does not work on a Mac, and it crashes at launch when installed in WZ98 under Virtual PC. However, I found this on another site, and it worked immediately:

The sequence to reset the waste ink counter is as follows:

WASTE INK ROM RESET ONLY 870, 1270

1. Turn the printer off using the power button on the panel of the printer.
2. Disconnect the interface cable at the back of the printer.
3. Hold down the "LOAD/EJECT" and "CLEANING" buttons simultaneously.
4. Turn the printer on. Release all buttons as soon as paper out light flashes.
5. Quickly press (within 3 seconds while PAPER OUT light is flashing) the "CLEANING" button for 10 seconds.
6. Release the button and the printer will initialize.
7. Once initialization is complete, turn the printer off.
8. Reconnect the interface cable.
9. Turn the printer on

Works great, no muss...no fuss!