Firmware update trashed my laserjet M402dn

[wroot]

I mistakenly updated my M402dn firmware because my printer told me there was a firmware upgrade available and afterwards (on a printer that was working fine) when ever I sent a print job to the printer it would give a service error 79 (if I remember right) and reboot. I got it working with Windows 7 (I don't like using Windows) but it wouldn't work with Linux (Mint 19.3). After about 3 days it started working with Linux again but this morning it printed out 3 test pages without my asking.  I was hoping to be able to revert to earlier firmware, unfortunately I'm not sure what firmware the printer came with. (20190712 is what's installed now)

I've learned my lesson and won't ever upgrade firmware on anything that's working properly ever again and if I have to buy another printer I doubt if it will be an HP. Sorry for the rant but this is quite annoying.

Wayne

[JimSchuuz]

I just went through about 12 hours of productivity lost over a bad FW update on the M607. In my case the printer gave an error message that said the firmware was lost, then rebooted and stayed "Initializing" for 2 days before I tried to reload the newest FW. When that failed, I assumed it was a bad formatter board and upgraded a second printer so I could test its formatter. That bad FW crashed the other printer as well, so I now have 2 M607's w/bad FW.

Well, I located an older firmware version - 2 versions back - and downgraded to that version and both printers are working again.

[wroot]

Did you locate the older firmware on the HP site or somewhere else?

Thanks

[JimSchuuz]

HP's FTP site. I took the firmware download link and modified it with the version info as such:

(this is only for the M607 version)

Current FW from support.hp.com:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software13/printers/LJM607_608_609/ljM607_608_609_fs4.10.0.1_fw_24100...

From the current FW's Release Notes, I located the necessary info from the earlier release, then modified the link as such:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software13/printers/LJM607_608_609/ljM607_608_609_fs4.9.0.2_fw_240906... where "fs" = FutureSmart release version, "fw_" = firmware revision number.

The Release Notes should have the following table for every version to obtain the info you need:

Current firmware revisions included in this firmware bundle:
DEVICE FIRMWARE REVISION

COMPONENT FIRMWARE VERSION HP LASERJET M607, M608, M609 SERIES Firmware Datecode: 20191116
Firmware Revision: 2409065_000063 Embedded JetDirect: JSI24090014 DC Controller Version 4.133 Optional Trays Version 4.108 HP Fleet Release Designation Original Release FutureSmart 4.9.0.2 MD5 checksum for .bdl file 6ff3573e6a364182134e79b4baf484ac

When I modified the link, it downloaded the older FW with no problem and I saved it to a USB drive. When I went into the pre-boot menu to upload the firmware, the printer showed on the display: "You are about to downgrade the firmware and rollback to an earlier version. You will lose all settings and customizations."

When it completed, it went through the whole new printer setup process, but everything worked after that.

[JimSchuuz · Accepted solution]

Ok, I posted the table in my last response, but then the website took the table out before posting (even though there is a table option in the reply toolbar!)

Current firmware revisions included in this firmware bundle:
DEVICE FIRMWARE REVISION
COMPONENT     FIRMWARE VERSION
HP LASERJET M607, M608, M609 SERIES Firmware   Datecode: 20191116
Firmware Revision:   2409065_000063
Embedded JetDirect:   JSI24090014
DC Controller Version   4.133
Optional Trays Version   4.108
HP Fleet Release Designation Original Release FutureSmart   4.9.0.2
MD5 checksum for .bdl file   6ff3573e6a364182134e79b4baf484ac

[wroot]

I haven't been able to find earlier firmware at HP and the HP chat person said it's not possible so I'll probably try to sell the printer to a Windows user and buy another printer. (not an HP)

Thanks for your help anyway

[JimSchuuz]

hold up - try these links:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/ready2dl/HP_LaserJet_M402_M403_Series_FW_20190113.ENG.rfu 

that's the previous FW, but it needs the update utility.  (Maybe you can do it from the pre-boot menu?)

Here's the original FW it came with:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software13/COL64040/lj-162234-1/M402_M403_Series_FW_Update-20150916.e... 

still looking for others...

[JimSchuuz]

You may be able to apply the 2015 FW, then upgrade to the earlier 2019-01-13 FW.

Here is another searchable repository from HP:

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

[JimSchuuz]

I didn't see that you were working with Linux before now, so here's another resource for you:

https:// itinquisition. blogspot. com/2019/07/firmly-firmware-aware.html

(sorry for the spaces, the forum requires them for any blogspot links, but if you parse them out you can get to that page.)

He specifically has some M402 examples and updating under Wine:

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