<p>This is a known and <a href="https://www.gearbest.com/blog/how-to/solve-anet-a8-3d-printer-black-screen-white-square-problems-2140" rel="nofollow noreferrer">documented problem</a> of this printer. I'm afraid your printer board is dead.</p>

<p>If you have white squares on the display like this picture:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UJwsv.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UJwsv.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>You need to check Anet A8's mainboard - click reset button and check
  the D1 indicator:
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/9i0dG.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/9i0dG.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>If D1 lights on for a second then went out and the screen is full of white square, try to reconnect screen wire for several times. When
  it's well connected, click the reset button. If still not working, you
  need to replace a screen.</p></li>
  <li><p>If the D1 indicator is always off and the screen is full of white square, you need to replace a mainboard.</p></li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>From the video you posted it can be seen that the D1 LED does not light up, it is off the whole time. Hence the main board is dead.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T14:04:52.287Z
D1 light never blinks.
DoomerDGR8
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T13:22:54.470Z
2018-07-27T13:22:54.470Z
0scar
<p>I just completed assembly of the Anet A8 and powered it up. </p>

<p>Powering up shows white blocks on LED and a series of clicking noise for about three seconds with flashing red LED. During power-up, the following happens:</p>

<ul>
<li>The side heat sink fans start (Blower fan remains off)</li>
<li>LED comes up with all white blocks and buttons do nothing</li>
<li>No motor moves in any way</li>
<li>Motherboard show not light except a three-flash-red-LEDnear the corner (fan connector)</li>
<li>Printer remains in the state</li>
<li>Reset button only repeats the clicking sound + red flashing LED</li>
</ul>

<p>Video: <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/mxNNeK5o13a9C6TC8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://photos.app.goo.gl/mxNNeK5o13a9C6TC8</a></p>

<p>The display of the Anet A8 now shows white blocks.</p>

<p>Any hints as to what could be wrong?</p>

<p><strong>Update 1:</strong>
The clicking sound is actually the blower powering up and then going off immediately after.</p>

<p><strong>Update 2:</strong>
I just did a blind flash to Marlin 1.18 and the firmware deployed successfully. Now, the boot sequence is almost 4 secs longer (previously, it was 3) and the clicking sound of the blower fan slowly spinning is replaced by a high spin-up of the blower. but after that, we are back to a dead printer with all whites.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T13:06:29.533Z
Hi Hassan and welcome to SE.3D Printing!
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T13:19:44.140Z
I bet that blinking red LED is an error code.  Hope someone has the spec sheet for your motherboard.    In the meantime, try the usual re-check that everything is connected to the correct port and properly seated.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T16:57:36.227Z
The white blocks sounds like [Connecting (Anet A8) 2004 display to MKS GEN L](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6030/connecting-anet-a8-2004-display-to-mks-gen-l). Are the connectors pushed home correctly? See also [Anet A8 display on MKS Gen L board](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6418/anet-a8-display-on-mks-gen-l-board)
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T17:01:22.790Z
I can't play the video, "This video format is unsupported" apparently... Using Opera
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T18:38:10.957Z
@Greenonline It works fine in Chrome. As D1 never blinks he has a DOA board, this has happened so many times that GearBest put instructions on their site. I think I'm just lucky with my Anet A8.
0scar
<marlin><anet-a8>
White blocks on LCD screen after Anet A8 power up
DoomerDGR8
# White blocks on LCD screen after Anet A8 power up

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-27)

I just completed assembly of the Anet A8 and powered it up.

Powering up shows white blocks on LED and a series of clicking noise for about three seconds with flashing red LED. During power-up, the following happens:

* The side heat sink fans start (Blower fan remains off)
* LED comes up with all white blocks and buttons do nothing
* No motor moves in any way
* Motherboard show not light except a three-flash-red-LEDnear the corner (fan connector)
* Printer remains in the state
* Reset button only repeats the clicking sound + red flashing LED

Video: <https://photos.app.goo.gl/mxNNeK5o13a9C6TC8>

The display of the Anet A8 now shows white blocks.

Any hints as to what could be wrong?

**Update 1:**
The clicking sound is actually the blower powering up and then going off immediately after.

**Update 2:**
I just did a blind flash to Marlin 1.18 and the firmware deployed successfully. Now, the boot sequence is almost 4 secs longer (previously, it was 3) and the clicking sound of the blower fan slowly spinning is replaced by a high spin-up of the blower. but after that, we are back to a dead printer with all whites.

**Tags:** marlin, anet-a8

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi Hassan and welcome to SE.3D Printing!  
> **username_2**: I bet that blinking red LED is an error code.  Hope someone has the spec sheet for your motherboard.    In the meantime, try the usual re-check that everything is connected to the correct port and properly seated.  
> **username_3**: The white blocks sounds like [Connecting (Anet A8) 2004 display to MKS GEN L](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6030/connecting-anet-a8-2004-display-to-mks-gen-l). Are the connectors pushed home correctly? See also [Anet A8 display on MKS Gen L board](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6418/anet-a8-display-on-mks-gen-l-board)  
> **username_3**: I can't play the video, "This video format is unsupported" apparently... Using Opera  
> **username_1**: @username_3 It works fine in Chrome. As D1 never blinks he has a DOA board, this has happened so many times that GearBest put instructions on their site. I think I'm just lucky with my Anet A8.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-07-27. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

This is a known and [documented problem](https://www.gearbest.com/blog/how-to/solve-anet-a8-3d-printer-black-screen-white-square-problems-2140) of this printer. I'm afraid your printer board is dead.

If you have white squares on the display like this picture:
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/UJwsv.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/UJwsv.jpg)

> You need to check Anet A8's mainboard - click reset button and check
> the D1 indicator:
> [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/9i0dG.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/9i0dG.jpg)
>
> * If D1 lights on for a second then went out and the screen is full of white square, try to reconnect screen wire for several times. When
>   it's well connected, click the reset button. If still not working, you
>   need to replace a screen.
> * If the D1 indicator is always off and the screen is full of white square, you need to replace a mainboard.

From the video you posted it can be seen that the D1 LED does not light up, it is off the whole time. Hence the main board is dead.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: D1 light never blinks.  

---

