UPDATE!!YEAH Got it working!

Yesterday I was in the middle of making Mother's Day cards and my cricut expression just stopped. No warning, no beeps, no nothing. It was working fine one minute and stopped the next. I cut it off for a few minutes and turned it back on and the only thing that happened is the power button lit up. I have done everything I could possibly find on the forums, internet, and have even contacted Provo Craft. It won't even begin so that I can "update the firmware" as Provo Craft has told me, and that is the last thing they say they can offer me (the warranty has expired, my luck). Has this ever happened to anyone and what did you do? Thanks for any info.

Look at this post if you have time: Post: My Cricut won't turn on!!!! (Topic#1527013)

Some of these people experienced the same problem you are having - will turn on, won't turn on.

On one of my Cricut's, the entire housing for the blade broke and PC did nothing.

My recommendation - pack that puppy up, send it C.O.D. to them and buy yourself a Silhouette Cameo. Then eBay all your cartridges and it will pay for itself over and over and over again

Sorry for your frustration.

M.

I'm with you, pack it in and purchase a Silhouette. I have both (Cricut and Silhouette) at the moment and find I usually only use the Cricut for titles.

I purchased the Cricut first, then a gypsy. I was in HEAVEN for all of 1 month! Then the gypsy quite working with my cricut. Mostly got a "too bad" from PC along with CCR for my PC. Now my PC bit the dust and I have not loaded CCR onto my iMac and not sure I am going to. I have not even called PC this time around to check into the feasibility.

Now recovering all my file for the Silhouette took all of 5 minutes and I was in business again. Now I am relearning how to use my Cricut without any designing options other than changing the size. Once it quits..........out the door it goes!! PS, I can still use my Gypsy with the Cricut at my LSS which is great for crops and special projects, its just not close enough to run out every time I want a custom designed cut.

It may be the power cord. I had to replace mine because mine just quit working one day. I googled it and many people said they had to replace thiers too. Luckily I had a Cricut Cake that I rarely use and it had the same power cord so I gave it a try and it worked. Not sure how you can tell without buying another one though.

Don't think it is the power cord because I borrowed my sister-in-laws and it did the same thing. I pretty much got a "to bad for you" from Provo Craft because it is out of warranty (I have had it about 3.5 years). Matter of fact I was in email contact with Provo Craft and they just quit responding. I am beginning to wonder if I should do as I have noticed others are doing and ditching Provo Craft all together. It's a hard decision for me but my husband said he didn't think it was work it either, if it won't last any longer than 3 years. Hopefully he will get a chance to tinker with it and see if he can get it working. If not guess I will have to make that decision sooner that later. I to make it worst I just got the paper dolls cartridge and LOVE IT. Thanks for the replys, though.

So sorry for your trouble.....

When my Cricut dies, Im not sure what Ill be getting to replace it. I have about 30 carts now so maybe another E....I had the Gypsy too, but recently sold it, I NEVER used it. NEVER. Got it uploaded and never learned how to use it. Just sold it on ebay for more than 3x what I paid for it.

Did you try to do a reset?

Yes, I did that as well, at least 3 times. When I called Provo Craft she told me that updating the firmware may fix it. She sent me an email with instructions, etc. The problem with that is my cricut won't even get through to the point that I can start the update. When I turn it on, it comes on with just the power button lit up. Nothing on the screen, no other buttons lit up, the carriage does not even move. It will do absolutely nothing. I am so frustrated I could just cry (sounds silly I know, but I really like my expression). Called Provo Craft again last night and this time, the lady had the "it's out of warranty, not our problem" attitude which then made me even more mad. I broke out my silhouette (I have the original) so I could finish my cards. May just go back to that and upgrade to the cameo. At least their customer service was very pleasant both times I have called them in the past. Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble on. Just had to get it out.

UPDATE!!!
NO THANKS to PROVO CRAFT, but VERY appreciative to my awesome husband I now know what happened to my cricut. Within 5 minutes of removing the bottom of my machine and taking out the motherboard (sounds hard but only took removing 4 screws) my husband found that it had a blown inductor. WHAT? Something to do with not getting enough power, explains why it would turn on but nothing else. After removing it and ordering another (hopefully the right size) he is going try to replace it and see if that gets the job done. I'll post on the results. It should take the part about 3or 4 days to get here.Please cross your fingers for me. Thanks!

I hope that is the problem with your machine- be sure to let us know!

YEAH!! My awesome husband got my cricut working again. As I mentioned above, when he took it apart he found it had a blown inductor. He found the part on Digikey and can you believe it was only 6 cents, that is it. He order a few extras (to make it worth ordering) and a couple of things he was needing. After getting the part and getting a new soldering iron (his was worn out), it took about 30 minute to put it in, put my cricut back together, and I did 2 test cuts. Can't wait to get busy again.

Awesome!
Too bad PC couldn't have told you what to look for.
Yay for hubby figuring it out!

Yay! Thank goodness for husbands!

My Cricut quit a couple of weeks ago. Then we went camping and I didn't have time to fool with it. I heard Provo Craft was BAD at customer service. It is true. I was basically told to buy a refurbished one. I will show my DH these posts and see if he can figure it out. I would NOT buy another one. (I have the orginal) I do own a Silhouette. I have trouble using it though.

Thanks for sharing your troubles. Hopefully dh can figure mine out.

They were no help AT ALL! The only thing they know how to do is reset the machine, other than that, forget it. They told be to do the same thing. There is NO WAY I would spend that kind of money again, knowing they knew NOTHING about their own product. I found a website of this guy that actually bought messed up cricuts off of ebay, would fix them, and then he posted the info. on his website. He even had instructions on how to take it apart. That is what my husband did and then just started testing things. I hope your husband can fix yours. Good Luck!

Wow, that sounds awesome!