I don't know about fluorescent bulbs being the issue or how to replace them, but a quick googling will turn up lots of complaints of this error with this particular printer. I have to go through all kinds of silliness to get it working. It gives me that message every time I turn it on. I flick the lock mechanism back and forth a few times, I let it sit there for 15 or 20 minutes (warming up perhaps), and I jiggle and reconnect the USB port on the back. Eventually it will start working and will continue to work until the printer is powered off.. at which point I will have to go through this whole process again the next time I turn it on. Persistence and patience always gets it going eventually though.
Usually the first scan will look like garbage. I have to wiggle the USB port a bit and then it will be correct and clearly show an error-free image.
If you can get a new printer/scanner, by all means do, but as far as these models go, get used to mysterious problems with no clear answers... But also retain hope that with patience and doing this sort of stuff you will get it going eventually. Leaving it on to warm up even with the error light on seems to be key.
Good luck.
Tech_Landfill, June 2008
