Need help, anyone have a Canon PSC MX492 ? [View all]

This darn machine worked fine 2 days ago. Yesterday it started to turn on and off, the ink cart would move back and forth making a strange grinding sound. The on/off button would turn green then go off. I have new ink, that is not the problem.

It will not let me push any button, including the menu. I tried to call Canon but they want me to sign up for tech support(with a charge). I've done nothing out of the ordinary and this machine is not often used.

I could not turn it off last night, I had to unplug it so I could go to bed. Tried again today. Same problem today. There is some help available on several sites but I'm not familiar with a lot of the terms so I'm stuck. Any ideas?.

Just tried again, got pop-up message on the computer screen that my printer is "off line" and noticed the small printer icon in the tray is not there. Now what?