Sounds like your printer thinks it has some sort of problem (paper jam, or ink cartridge is dry or not inserted), and is waiting for you to do something. What kind of printer do you have? Did you recently put in a new ink cartridge? If so, then it probably isn't in right, and it needs to be re-inserted or something.
Have you tried checking the cables to see that they're connected solidly to the printer and the computer?
Have you turned the printer off and on?