Error 79 Turn off then on (M451dw)

[cpad0203]

My new Xfinity router (XB7-CM) is causing "79 Error Turn off then on".  The old Xfinity router (XB6-T) worked just fine with the printer. I found several tips to try and resolve this in terms of powering down and such.  The only thing that fixes the error is turn off the router thus disconnecting the printer from the network (which allows me access to the printer and its menus).  As soon as I turn the router back on, the error comes back.  The error continues to repeat over and over ad naseum.  I also found some guidance to turn off IPv6--that did not work ( click here ). I feel like I need to do further things with the wireless setup of the printer but I need some guidance there.

Thanks,

Chris

[Repairatrooper]

If you are connecting via wireless, check to see if your modem allows you to separate the 2.4 GHz channel on a different SSID than the 5Ghz signal and then only allow the printer to connect to the 2.4 channel. 

If wired, you can try changing lan speed from auto to a fixed 100 full duplex setting.

[cpad0203]

It doesn't seem I have access to the separate frequencies any longer.  The above is from an FAQ from Xfinity's help section.

I for sure DID with the previous version of their router as I'm almost certain I placed the printer on 2.4 GHz.  I am on a wireless network with the printer (and everything else in my household).

[cpad0203]

So I was able to turn off my 5 GHz band via direct access to the Xfinity router so only 2.4 GHz was available.  That did not help the printer connect to the wireless network unfortunately.  I still do not have the hooks in the software to assign one band or the other to a device but I thought shutting down 5 GHz would force its hand.  I'm wondering if I should do more with the printer and router while I have 5 GHz disabled?  All I did was disable 5 GHz and then turn the printer off and on a few times.  The 79 Error persists.  Any further thoughts?

[Repairatrooper]

I would try performing a factory reset and also ensure that your firmware is up to date. There have been some updates to the networking on these printers and you want to make sure you are taking advantage of that.

[cpad0203]

So I did download the latest HP Installation software and also the latest firmware.  Because I am wireless, I attempted to set everything up via direct USB connection (it has stored install s/w, although dated).  I also turned off wireless on the printer so I could actually have a network in my house while trying to setup the printer and update firmware.

The firmware update is a bit strange.  You run it, it and then you select the printer from a drop-down, it has some text that says make sure the printer is in ready mode and they you click update firmware.  A progress bar goes for a bit and then it ends with a big smiley face icon.  It really doesn't give me warm fuzzies that it did anything.  This is all through USB as I have no other way to connect to the printer otherwise.  I don't even see a way to see what firmware I have.  Keep in mind any time I wish to access the printer, I have to kill my network as it'll keep trying to reach "Ready" state and then it always goes to the error and this cycle repeats over and over and over.

After going through a few iterations of this, the error persists with any sort of a wireless connection attempt from the printer.  As soon as I turn my network back on, the error shows up.  As soon as I turn wireless on the printer back on, the error shows up.

This printer has always been a challenge to setup with new routers but this time it is really pushing me to my limits.  All my old tricks aren't working but this is a brand new error I've never seen before.

I guess I need to open a case with HP.

[Repairatrooper]

If you print the configuration page from the control panel of the printer the firmware will be listed on that page.

[cpad0203]

Okay, I was finally successful updating the firmware so that was exciting.

I went from 20130815 to 20190306.  That is a 6 year jump in firmware...cool!

Less exciting is that the error persists.

For fun, I decided to turn IPv6 back on.

The error persists.

As soon as the printer attempts to connect to the wireless network (blue light flashes), the error shows up.

[cpad0203]

So I'm trying the HP Smart Install for Windows via USB cable approach.  It hits 99% after several minutes and then stays there an uncomfortably long time before finally:

An interesting development, perhaps, is that I finally did a "Restore Defaults" from the printer menu and that has resulted in the permanent cycling of 'Error 79 then Ready' going away.  Now I can actually turn the printer on and it'll be in a Ready state WITH my wireless network on.  That seemed promising.  So I tried WPS Setup but during the attempted pairing, Error 79 shows up, but this time it is just the one time and the printer goes back into a Ready state.

Another thing I noticed (likely due to the firmware upgrade is my guess) is that when I plug the printer into my laptop via USB, it no longer automatically comes up with the pre-installed HP Smart Install.  I wonder if the firmware upgrade blew it away?  Anyway, I downloaded the latest for that as you can see in the above two screenshots.

So now my problem is still the same but acting just a bit different.   I still can't get the printer on to the wireless network.  The blue wireless light just tirelessly blinks and the printer sits in the Ready state.