HP Color LaserJet MFP M281fdn Firmware rollback Down grade

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Radiotek

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#279909 16-Nov-2020 14:52

This morning my printer loaded updated firmware - 20201021 and now the compatible cartridges are no longer recognised.

They have been working fine for 3 months and now when attempting to print this is the message

" The printer is unable to detect the memory of the cartridge listed above. The cartridge memory is corrupted or there is an inability to communicate with the cartridge.

You have to replace the cartridge now."

This is like the change that precipitated class action against HP in 2016.

I wish to downgrade / roll back to the previous firmware version. The service menu indicates that this is possible.

Where can I find an earlier version of firmware? There is an FTP site, but only the current version is there.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/networking/software/pfirmware/

Has anyone managed to roll back HP printer firmware?

Effectively this is forcing the use of genuine HP consumables - Hewlett Packard this is the last printer I get from you!

Hope someone has a fix

Oblivian

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#2604787 16-Nov-2020 15:06

Sneaky https://borncity.com/win/2020/11/08/hp-firmware-update-for-ink-laser-printers-blocks-third-party-cartridges-nov-2020/

They would have ditched the old one to prevent bricking and or working around it too. (reddit seems to confirm the old pages got removed)

Appears they hide it under the guise of a security feature

Reminder: Dynamic security enabled printer. This Firmware includes dynamic security measures, which may prevent supplies with non-HP chips or circuitry from working now or in the future. More at: www.hp.com/go/learnaboutsupplies.

https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/jpgpp3/hp_laserjet_pro_m280_m281_printer_series_20200612/?utm_source=amp&utm_medium=&utm_content=post_num_comments

Dynamic

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#2604792 16-Nov-2020 15:22

That sucks. I like the Brother approach of encouraging but not demanding genuine consumables are used.

If you buy and continue to use Genuine Brother consumables you will automatically receive a free upgrade to 48 months onsite warranty (from the date of machine purchase)"
https://www.mybrother.co.nz/Public/warranty/Warrantyupgrade.aspx#:~:text=Simply%20by%20purchasing%20Genuine%20Brother,resolve%20your%20problem%20over%20the

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nzkc

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#2604796 16-Nov-2020 15:31

Radiotek:

Effectively this is forcing the use of genuine HP consumables - Hewlett Packard this is the last printer I get from you!

I would be the same! Sorry, cant help you find earlier firmware versions.

A bit off topic: It annoys me that manufactures will, and are allowed to, sell a printer below cost and then just ramp up consumable prices to cover it. And the prices must be below cost when you can get a printer with ink/toner for less than replacing the ink/toner (I know the supplied ink/toner amounts are less than the consumables). For one it will just lead to people ditching a perfectly good printer when it has run out of ink/toner and get a new one.

Radiotek

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2604904 16-Nov-2020 17:29

@Oblivian thanks for those links, it lead me to info and a link for the previous firmware. Following the instructions and reloading this prior version has restored operation of the printer with the same cartridges in it.

Numbers around the world are experiencing the same difficulty on this and other models.

Well done GeekZone!! The only downside are the hours lost, and fearing the wrath of the office manager, I ordered four genuine cartridges to arrive tomorrow. Well, I'm still going to get my ears slapped because that nearly totals $500.

Lias

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#2604915 16-Nov-2020 18:16

Radiotek:

@Oblivian thanks for those links, it lead me to info and a link for the previous firmware. Following the instructions and reloading this prior version has restored operation of the printer with the same cartridges in it.

Numbers around the world are experiencing the same difficulty on this and other models.

Well done GeekZone!! The only downside are the hours lost, and fearing the wrath of the office manager, I ordered four genuine cartridges to arrive tomorrow. Well, I'm still going to get my ears slapped because that nearly totals $500.

I'd have purchased another brand printer and demanded HP refund the cost of that one.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

ANglEAUT

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#2604933 16-Nov-2020 19:32

Radiotek:

This morning my printer loaded updated firmware - 20201021 and now the compatible cartridges are no longer recognised.

They have been working fine for 3 months and now when attempting to print this is the message

" The printer is unable to detect the memory of the cartridge listed above. The cartridge memory is corrupted or there is an inability to communicate with the cartridge.

You have to replace the cartridge now."

...

Have you checked your settings? While I don't have a M281fdn, it's close enought

Connect to Embedded Web Server (EWS)
Log in as admin / root / Administrator
1. Settings
2. Supplies
3. Supply Settings
4. Cartridge Policy
  The printer can be configured to use only new, genuine HP supplies. Genuine HP supplies that have been used previously—or non-HP supplies—must be replaced to continue printing.
  Cartridge Policy: On / Off
Try with upgraded firmware & Cartridge Policy = Off

The error message certainly is very misleading if a firmware downgrade restored functionality.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

ANglEAUT

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#2604936 16-Nov-2020 19:37

Radiotek:

... Well done GeekZone!! The only downside are the hours lost, and fearing the wrath of the office manager, I ordered four genuine cartridges to arrive tomorrow. Well, I'm still going to get my ears slapped because that nearly totals $500.

Would the manage & staff be happy that you spent 5 days trawling the interwebs, trying to find a solution? No printing until you maybe / hopefully have found an answer?
Or should he / she be glad you were proactive & tried to minimise downtime to only 1 day instead of 5?
If unopened, your supplier can & most likely will give you a refund.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

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1101

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#2605228 17-Nov-2020 10:00

nzkc:

A bit off topic: It annoys me that manufactures will, and are allowed to, sell a printer below cost and then just ramp up consumable prices to cover it.

NO ONE is forced to buy a cheap printer.
There used to be a time when people would spend the money & buy quality. Those days are gone .

Buy a printer for $40 , or something GOOD for $400+ . No guess whats going to sell more .
Used to be , pay $1000(ish) and get a printer that will last over 500,000 pages (with servicing) . Now its throw away after a few years .
My previous inkjet printer went in the trash after less than 200 pages . My HP laser is still going after 20 years .

Its a race to the bottom as far as pricing goes . Thats not the manufacturers fault, thats what people wanted

nzkc

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#2605253 17-Nov-2020 10:19

I'm not against "cheap" per se. I agree with your comments around quality too. I was referencing that its almost bait by selling at below cost. Thats the issue I have.

andrew75

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#2605661 17-Nov-2020 20:10

I got hit by this too the other day.

I managed to download the old firmware from the HP FTP site, which fixed the problem.

I see they've now removed that version.

Pretty scummy behavior from HP. That's the last HP product I'll be buying.

1101

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#2605904 18-Nov-2020 10:57

Im sure other manufacturers will soon follow suit and start locking out non genuine ink carts.
I'll need to make sure my Epson printer has no internet access , its been bugging me about firmware updates but I havnt installed them

The other scummy thing Ive seen is region locked printers.
Region locked , so they can charge more for inkcarts in some countries.
The printer & inkcarts are physically the same , but region locked via the chip in the ink cart .

Dynamic

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#2605914 18-Nov-2020 11:20

1101:

The other scummy thing Ive seen is region locked printers.
Region locked , so they can charge more for inkcarts in some countries.
The printer & inkcarts are physically the same , but region locked via the chip in the ink cart .

What the fruitcake? 🤬

Thanks for mentioning this.... I've never seen it but will keep an eye out for it. Travelling clients grabbing ink while offshore for their home printers is not beyond the realms of impossibility, and ordering from offshore is increasingly common of course. "I'm ordering some parts not available in NZ from Amazon, and will grab some printer ink while I'm at it."

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MrAmerica

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#2605932 18-Nov-2020 12:08

Those using non genuine consumables, are they working ok and can you suggest best place to buy them?

nzkc

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#2605938 18-Nov-2020 12:21

MrAmerica: Those using non genuine consumables, are they working ok and can you suggest best place to buy them?

Never noticed a different between "genuine" and third party equivalents myself. i.e. they're as good as each other. I usually order from https://www.consumables.co.nz/ Partly because they have pretty good prices, party because they deliver quickly and partly because they make it easy to find equivalent parts for your printer.