If not all users who use Canon MFPs in their daily work, then many of them often observe the appearance of the Canon B200 printer error. This code, of course, may indicate a malfunction of the physical plane (which, in fact, is usually associated with this type of failure). However, this is not always the case. The software part should not be discounted either. Canon B200 printer error may also appear due to incorrectly installed drivers and related software. This problem can be corrected in several ways, including physical intervention and software solutions. The first option should only be used when the proprietary software tools installed when installing the drivers do not work.

What does the B200 error mean on a Canon printer?

As a rule, everyone who encounters such a failure sees a message on the computer monitor screen indicating that a failure has occurred and printing is not possible.

The printer (error code B200) can display the message either in Russian or in English. This is most often due to physical damage to the printhead or incomplete cartridges.

The main misconception

Some owners of this type of equipment believe that the printer fails (error B200) only because there are physical faults in it, and they are deeply mistaken. Software should not be discounted either. At least the drivers are so accurate.

First remedy

In the simplest case, for all devices of a given manufacturer, you can use a standard and universal solution to the problem.

Suppose, when trying to print, a failure with the B200 code occurred (a printer error has occurred) The standard remedy for this situation, by the way, for all printing devices, is clearing the print queue.

This is done quite simply if you go to the file section of the printer after calling the menu from the system tray. Here you can use the line to clear the print queue. True, this method does not always help. It may be such a situation that the B200 error (the Canon MG5340 printer sometimes issues it) is observed even after that. In this case, even if the device is networked, you can simply restart the computer terminal. When restarting, printing starts automatically (provided that the computer is turned on, to which the device is directly connected).

Replacing Ink Cartridges

The main problem of ink cartridges when the Canon B200 printer error appears may be due to the fact that not an original ink cartridge is being used, but a Chinese one.

This can cause the print head to overheat. It can simply burn (or melt). So that should be taken care of in advance.

Flushing

If, after that, a notification is issued that the B200 has failed (a Canon printer error has occurred), you should think about flushing.

This is done quite simply, and even without the use of specialized tools and tools (you can use the software controls that were installed during the installation of the drivers).

How do I save the scanner?

The fact that the printer suffers in the first place with such failures is still half the trouble. In fact, most Canon devices are MFPs with advanced capabilities.

Typically, the second most important is the scanner. But it just can be used, even if the printing does not work. You just need to glue some of the contacts on the board with electrical tape. It is not recommended to use transparent or translucent tape as the diagnostic tool will determine the system as inoperative (based on the response from the contacts).

All contacts labeled 2k and 5k need to be insulated. In the second case, you can use the 4k / 5k scheme. At least, user reviews on the Web indicate that such actions help in almost 99 percent of cases out of 100. But such operations will have to be performed, as they say, at your own peril and risk, since an incorrect action can lead to the complete inoperability of the MFP ... And then, as they say, there is no sin.

Canon printer error code B200. Driver installation issues

Device drivers also play an important role. If a Canon B200 printer error appears, sometimes the problem may be non-working, missing or outdated device drivers.

The simplest method, as it is believed, is to update the printer software from the standard "Device Manager" by selecting the appropriate item in the PCM menu or from the properties section.

However, the drivers will be installed from Windows' own database, which does not always contribute to the correct operation of devices from this manufacturer. Therefore, when installing the appropriate software, it is better to use alternative sources: the disk supplied with the purchase of the printer or downloaded drivers from the manufacturer's website through a search indicating the DEV and VEN identifiers. In the properties of the equipment ID, you need to select the longest string.

On the official resource of the manufacturer of this equipment, you can find the latest versions of the control software and drivers. If you do not want to manually search, you can use the automatic driver update utilities. Programs like Driver Booster, Slim Drivers, DriverPack Solution, or something like that are fine. Such applications are able to install updates for drivers without much user involvement (only confirmation of installation is required at the end of the search for updates). True, the programs themselves with their updaters will constantly be in startup, but you can disable them (the update will have to be done manually).

In Windows systems below the tenth version, the Run menu is used for access, where the msconfig command is written, and in Windows 10, autoloading items can be disabled directly in the Task Manager (Win + R + taskmgr). You can also use the standard 3-finger combination (Ctrl + Alt + Del), which is probably known to any user who is faced with the forced termination of frozen applications and programs. In any case, access can be made very easily.

Is it possible to get rid of the B200 error altogether?

In principle, it is believed that this type of error can be eliminated even at the stage of its occurrence.

A very common opinion to remedy the situation is the fact of installing a normal uninterruptible power supply unit. Failures with codes B200 or 400 may also appear due to a banal lack of voltage, not to mention exceeding the norm (which, unfortunately, is not uncommon in our country). When choosing a UPS, you need to start from the declared characteristics, because our 220 volts AC is completely incompatible with 110 volts DC adopted in America or Europe as a standard for Western countries.

Among other things, as an option, you can use not only an uninterruptible power supply unit. One of the most effective means is to install a voltage stabilizer. Jumps and drops in our electrical network are not uncommon. And quite often a failure with the code in the message B200 ("Canon printer error has occurred") can occur for this very reason.

Some conclusions

As a result, we can say that the problem of Canon printers is quite common, and it is not always associated solely with physical damage to the devices themselves. Software components also play an important role. The same drivers or additional software designed to ensure the correct operation of the device are an integral part of the functioning of any type of equipment.

In general, if an error of this kind occurs on Canon printers, it is very bad. Actually, you will have to think about the issue of replacing equipment. In the best case, you can try to contact the nearest service center (so you can, as they say, get off with a little blood). On the other hand, if this is not possible, you can apply the above troubleshooting methods, however, you will have to act at your own peril and risk.

However, for complete confidence, it is still better not to risk it and immediately contact some support center. It is believed that manual intervention in the operation of the device can only aggravate an already unpleasant situation. The option is not excluded that then the printer can be simply thrown into a landfill. But the equipment itself is quite expensive. So, before making a decision about the implementation of certain actions, think a hundred times so that manual intervention or any other incorrect actions do not lead to an even greater destructive effect (and this can happen, but then you have to reap the fruits of your own indiscriminateness in the selected methods).

All Canon MP540, MG5340, Pixma, IP4840, MP550 and MG5140 printers have a print head. It is she who sometimes fails. In some cases, the cause may be a malfunction of the power supply due to a burned out control board.

When the Canon printer generates an error B200 (photo), a corresponding message is displayed on the monitor with an explanation of the loss of connection with the device and the need to contact the owner of the device to the services of a service center.

What will be discussed:

Reasons for printer failure

Among the main prerequisites leading to error B200, it is worth highlighting two main ones:

• Power supply failure when the main board burns out;
• Short circuit inside the writing head.

Thus, the device most often breaks down due to a sharp voltage drop. You can visually determine the breakdown of the power supply by swollen capacitors. If external signs are invisible to the eye, it is required to measure the nominal voltage at the control board connector. The serviceability of the power supply is checked by connecting the latter to a third-party working device.

In rare cases, the presence of a breakdown indicates a factory defect. Canon treats consumers in good faith, so you should immediately contact a service center to eliminate the detected error.

You can solve the issue by buying and installing a new spare part, but the cost of a writing head is comparable to purchasing a whole printer with a small difference in price. Therefore, many users prefer to independently resolve the issue through simple manipulations.

Solving the problem with the writing head

Canon printer error B200 indicates that the product cannot see the print head. To eliminate such an error, you will need to determine the root cause.

The writing head can fail for several reasons:

• Poor contact between the head board and the carriage where the cartridges are inserted. In order for the device to work normally, the consumer should remove the head and clean it thoroughly with a high-quality eraser. Some owners of printing devices use a soft cloth soaked in an alcohol solution to remove ink residues and accumulated dirt. At the end of the procedure, you need to wipe the head dry with a dry napkin. After putting the element in place, you need to zero the ink sensor, restart the printer and reconnect it to the computer.
• Short circuit in the head. In this case, you need to disconnect the part of the microcircuit in which the failure occurred. This is easy to do even at home. It is enough just to figure out which parts of the circuit prevent the printer from working properly. In order to restore the ability to print, you will need electrical tape, scissors and care.

Writing head device

In working order, the controller used in Canon printers MP540, MG5340, Pixma, IP4840, MP550 and MG5140 copes with its task thanks to contacts on the chip, each of which is responsible for printing specific colors of installed cartridges. The diagram (photo) shows the correspondence of the contacts marked with numbers to a specific color. So, if one or more contacts fail, the entire system diagnoses a general failure and displays the following message: printer error B200.

Based on the above scheme, the user should tape the pair of contacts that prevent the device from functioning normally with electrical tape. An inexperienced consumer does not have the tools necessary for a correct diagnosis. Therefore, you will have to act at random. Thus, one of the four contact groups on the microcircuit should be glued in turn, inserting the part into its place. The moment the problem areas are isolated, the Canon MG5340 printer will stop giving error B200 and will begin to fully function. It is very undesirable to use scotch tape instead of electrical tape, since such a manipulation will entail the need for more expensive repairs.

Although such a simple and cheap method will restore the printer to work, it is worth remembering that damaged contacts are responsible for the color connection between the cartridge and the working device. Therefore, after gluing the selected group of contacts, many users observe the loss of a particular color or group of colors.

Usually four contact groups are disconnected, conventionally divided by numerical value:

• Black colors. The most unpleasant area, since its damage excludes the possibility of black and white printing;
• Blue and pink colors;
• Blue, pink and gray colors;
• All color cartridges (common wire).

To return the product to its excellent quality, you can insert a cartridge of a different color. For example, replace the pink one with a black ink cartridge.

All of the above manipulations do not guarantee the durability of the repair and do not allow you to completely eliminate the problem. Sooner or later, Canon may completely break down, and you will have to provide expensive repairs or purchase a new device.

Prophylaxis

In order to eliminate the B200 printer error on Canon MP540, IP4840, MG5140, Pixma and others, you should purchase an uninterruptible power supply. This solution will allow you to correct the voltage in the network, reducing the risk of damage to individual contacts.

You should also constantly monitor the overheating of the printing device, the presence of ink in the cartridges and do not refill the latter with cheap low-quality ink. Canon MP540 and MG5340 have ink level monitoring function. It is not recommended to disable it.

You can optionally install a continuous ink supply system on your computer, which will allow you to monitor the level of ink filling. In addition, continuous operation of the printer is undesirable. A sparing attitude to the car will not only eliminate the possibility of issuing an error B200, but also significantly extend the service life.

Every owner of a Canon inkjet printer (regardless of its model) sooner or later encounters the B200 error, which occurs a little more often with devices that use not cartridges, but a print head. Ways to solve this error will be described below, so that you can solve the breakdown yourself, without calling the master at home. But we ask you to be careful and careful with your technique. When this error occurs, the manufacturer Canon recommends turning off the device and contacting the nearest service center in your city. As you can imagine, it is profitable for them, but not for us. And so let's deal with this problem together.

We urge you to read the article to the end. This error is not easy and requires testing. So take a piece of paper with a pen and write down our recommendations. You may forget to do some method, and then you will have to go to the service center. At the bottom of this article, there is a selection of videos that will allow you to see clearly how to solve this problem.

Attention! If your printer is under warranty, then do nothing, close this article, or just read it if you're interested. If you start disassembling the device, then your warranty will be void and you will have to pay for repairs from your entire wallet. So it's best to take your device to the store where you bought the printer and let them decide what to do with your device. Are you out of warranty? Then let's get down to reading this article.

The first possible solution to this situation is simply to remove the ink cartridges for a while. You should take them out for about an hour and turn off the printer as well. Then you need to move the printer carriage to the center and turn it off.

As you unplug the printer and remove the cartridges, the printer will cool slightly, and it’s even better if you unplug the printer so that no electricity continues to flow through it.

When this happens, there is the possibility of damage to the cartridges and burnout of the printer circuitry. Read the Inkjet Cartridge Electronic Circuit Care Guidelines. If you have any problems on this topic, please contact us via the comment on this article.

If you follow this procedure and put the cartridges back, but the problem persists, carefully inspect the connectors on the cartridges and you will see that they are burned out. ... see the illustration of the cartridge connectors.

The second possible solution has to do with the printhead and the carriage that moves the ink cartridges. We know that the printer carriage can sometimes be a problem for it. The problem is that the GHGs are filling with ink, so it is recommended to clean the printer connectors. If you need help, just leave a comment on this article and we'll be happy to answer you.

Every owner of a Canon inkjet printer (regardless of its model) sooner or later encounters the B200 error, which occurs a little more often with devices that use not cartridges, but a print head. Ways to solve this error will be described below, so that you can solve the breakdown yourself, without calling the master at home. But we ask you to be careful and careful with your technique. When this error occurs, the manufacturer Canon recommends turning off the device and contacting the nearest service center in your city. As you can imagine, it is profitable for them, but not for us. And so let's deal with this problem together.

We urge you to read the article to the end. This error is not easy and requires testing. So take a piece of paper with a pen and write down our recommendations. You may forget to do some method, and then you will have to go to the service center. At the bottom of this article, there is a selection of videos that will allow you to see clearly how to solve this problem.

Attention! If your printer is under warranty, then do nothing, close this article, or just read it if you're interested. If you start disassembling the device, then your warranty will be void and you will have to pay for repairs from your entire wallet. So it's best to take your device to the store where you bought the printer and let them decide what to do with your device. Are you out of warranty? Then let's get down to reading this article.

When this error occurs, the following window appears in front of the user:

Also this error can be in English:

Of course, you have to understand that the language does not affect the solution of the problem in any way. Now let's get down to solving this issue.

This error can also be seen on the printer displays:

When this error appears, the printer behaves abnormally - the indicators on the device panel flash alternately yellow and green. Canon thus makes it clear to the user that problems have appeared on your device - error B200. This error is also called "VH monitor error" - a problem with the power supply of the print head or it is possible that some cartridge is not working for you. In other words, this is a kind of signal that there is a problem in the print head or in one of the cartridges. In addition, when this error appears, it can be a signal of a breakdown of the power supply, but the latter problem does not occur often, and we can say for sure that if this is the problem, then you are lucky.

Canon devices may notice that you installed a non-original cartridge and therefore you get a B 200 error. If you recently bought a cartridge or if you knew that it was Chinese, then it makes sense to try to insert the original cartridge and see how the device reacts.

It should also not be ruled out that even if the cartridge is guilty and you replaced it, then the head may fail, which, during the use of a non-original cartridge, overheated and, as a result, burned out. After replacing the cartridge, you may be lucky and the error will go away. It remains to check it out.

In the event that you have empty cartridges, be sure to refuel them!

Another very important point is the cartridges. If your device has 2 cartridges, remove them from the printer and insert them into the device one by one. If you get an error when connecting one of the cartridges, then one of them is faulty.

A quick way to solve the problem

1. After the B200 error appears, turn off the MFP;
2. Open the cover, move the carriage to the left as far as possible;
3. Press the on button 5 times. (without waiting for full on / off);
4. Close the cover after the last press.

Flushing

This method will not work with all Canon printers and MFPs. After reviewing this instruction, you will understand whether this method can be performed on your device. Now watch the video for ordinary users who do not have special tools:

Sorry, these videos are in English. But in any case, the video shows what needs to be done.

Initial diagnostics

First, you need to diagnose your printer in order to already know for sure what is wrong with it. Power supply problems are often identified by visual inspection. The capacitors on the failed power supply unit will be swollen. Just in case (if visually everything is normal with the unit), you can also measure its voltage at the connector of the control board.

At the time of starting the printer (when you press the power button), the voltage indicator should be in the interval of 0.5 s with data of 24-32 V, which is quite normal for this device. Another way to test the power supply is to connect it to a guaranteed working Canon printer. But here you have to be careful. Under no circumstances connect a working unit to a printer with a B200 breakdown, because if a print head or control board burns out in it, the new power supply will suffer the same fate. In order not to break 2 devices at once, we ask you not to do this.

If, when checking the unit, a breakdown did not appear, then you need to remove the print head from the printer and look at the monitor. Does the B200 error still occur? This means that there is a malfunction in the control board and still not very good news - perhaps you also have a burned out controller with a print head. The saddest thing is that if you buy these devices, the amount will be equal to the cost of a new printer or Canon MFP, which means that a trip to the store for a printer is inevitable.

It's another matter if, after you took out the print head, the error disappeared, and a new message on the monitor informs you that there is no head in the printer, which must be installed for its further operation. This means that the control board is most likely (not 100%, but still) working properly and the problem is solely with the printhead.

If such an error appears in the MFP, can at least the scanner be “saved”?

In Canon devices, with a B200 error, you can turn the following - you need to cover all the PG contacts (see the figure below) with electrical tape (but do not use transparent tape for this purpose), after which the controller will not receive signals about the breakage of sensors and it will start reading the print head serviceable. This will save you the B200 error and allow you to use the scanner (since you do not need a print head for scanning).

The trick here is that if at least one sensor fails, the Canon controller will perceive the entire system as faulty. When gluing the contacts with insulating tape, we get the opportunity to use at least a scanner. In the picture below, we showed how many contacts need to be sealed with electrical tape and also wrote how many contacts are in the shaded area. It is necessary to glue it as in the picture:

Individual cartridges can still print

When your contacts have been sealed, you can carefully remove pieces of electrical tape, freeing one of the contacts, and install the head into the device each time. If an error occurs, return the tape to the newly unsticked contact and continue the same manipulations with other contacts. So we will eventually come to a situation that only non-working contacts will be sealed, while working cartridges will print.

After doing the manipulations described below, the device will stop showing the B200 error after a couple of days, and maybe after 15 minutes. It should be noted that when using this option, the device can work from 2 weeks to 1 year.

Below are the pictures showing which contacts you can try to glue.

1.If you seal these contacts with electrical tape, you can print with a black cartridge:

2. If the device works with this option, then you will be able to print only with color cartridges:

3.In this case, you can print in black and color:

4.And the last option is black and colored:

Note: There is a video below that shows how this is done.

Can error B200 be avoided?

There is an opinion that the breakdown of the controller, generator or power supply unit occurs due to surges in the power grid, therefore it is highly recommended to use an UPS (uninterruptible power supply), which has a voltage regulation function. In addition, the following can often lead to an error: refilling cartridges with ink of dubious quality, installing a PG that has not yet dried after flushing and printing with empty cartridges.

It should be noted that it is difficult to keep track of the ink level in branded cartridges, because they are made of opaque plastic (for this reason, do not disable the ink level control function). You can of course supply a continuous ink supply system, but not all users agree to this procedure.

Summing up

If the solutions that are described here did not help you, then you should think about finding a service center that can help you. Even if they do not help, they will tell you what the reason is, and you will already start from this figure - make a device or buy a new one.

Finally, we will say that if you have an error B200, then this is very, very bad, since most often the repair will be extremely costly and will not always be effective. Before you go to the store, don't panic and try the tips and tricks described above. It is quite possible that it is with you that the problem will be solved with "little blood". Good luck to you!

If you have such an error, then we ask you to write a comment at the bottom of the article with the following information: printer model, how long have you been using the printer, and then the error appeared.

This can be very frustrating when you need to type something important and instead you see a pop-up error code. One of the worst Canon printer error is B200 which could indicate a potentially catastrophic device error.

However, don't rush to extremes right away, printers are expensive and there are several ways to try and fix the error before you buy a new printer.

What is the cause of the Canon B200 error?

At its most basic level, a B200 error indicates a faulty printhead. Printhead is the part that actually distributes the ink from the cartridges to the paper, which means it is one of the most important parts in the entire printer.

Printheads are known to be problematic, especially on cheaper printers, so a B200 error means there is some problem with the printhead, which the printer reads as a catastrophic error.

How can I fix Canon Error B200?

There are several ways to fix a faulty printhead. Try these fixes before proceeding to replace the entire device.

1. Reset printer... Unplug the printer and leave it unplugged for at least 30 minutes. Sometimes a good reset can help, as it allows the printer to cool down and return everything to the correct position when turned on.

2. Remove all obstacles... Chances are, something is breaking the connection to your printhead. Open the door of your printer and the print head should slide for you to access it. Unplug it carefully and remove it from the printer.

The note: There is usually a lever on the printer head that you press to remove it.

3. Clean the print head using your PC's service options.

4. Manual printhead cleaning... Use pure alcohol or oil-free cleaner to clean the gold contacts on the print head. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the cleaner on the contacts, then let it dry slightly to dry completely before reconnecting.

Caution: The printheads are very fragile - handle them with care!

5. Remove old ink... Solidified ink may have entered the inside of the print head. Rinse them with distilled water until the water comes out clear. Wipe dry with a paper towel, then insert the head into the printer.

6. Reinstall the printer drivers... Find your device on the official Canon support page and follow the instructions to update your drivers.

7. Try a new ink cartridge... Defective cartridges rarely cause this error, but it can happen. Refer to the user manual for this process for your specific device.

8. If none of the above methods work to fix the B200 error, it's probably time to go shopping for a new printer.

The note: Although you can find the part you want and install it, the cost of a new printhead will be about the same as buying a brand new printer.