Laserjet 500 M551 no USB socket, but need install firmware

[cprelude02]

The problem I have is that the Sandisk on this machine has become corrupted, and we will be replacing shortly. When booting up for the first time, we will need to install firmware. Unfortunately, this particular model of the printer (I have absoolutely no idea why) does NOT have a USB port, i.e. one in which I can insert a USB stick to carry out the upgrade. There is obviously a wireless port, and a USB printer cable port, but those are not what I'm referring to here. It's a the USB port that SHOULD be there but isn't!

So potentially I am looking at not being able to initialise the printer, even with a replacement hard disk inside, because I can't get the firmware on board. 

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Best wishes, 

Paul 

[sabretooth04]

Yes, all printers have a USB port.  You need a cable like this.  You should be able to upgrade here.

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-USB-2-0-Cable-Male/dp/B00NH11KIK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=15246666...

The User Guide here shows other USB ports for 3rd parties.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-laserjet-enterprise-500-color-printer-m551-series/4184772/ma...

 HP LaserJet Enterprise 500 Color M551 - User Guide

1 USB port for a third-party device
2 Hi-Speed USB 2.0 printing port
3 RJ-45 network port

[Alex-TATS · Accepted solution]

Hi cprelude02,

Do not worry. You can use the internal usb port of the printer for this purpose. It is located on the formatter board.

I hope this will help,

Cheers!

[cprelude02]

Hi Provost, 

Thank you for your post. But my problem was that it is not at all clear how we would use the "USB port for third party devices" (e.g. a computer) to update the firmware. I.e., via that computer. How does that computer, attached as a third-party device, connect to the printer, to install the firmware, given that the printer will not have any firmware installed on it to enable it to recognise the computer, using the cable you specified (which I understood as such, and implied in my initial post). 

I hope my reply makes sense!

[cprelude02]

Ah that's a helpful tip Alex, but my question is: If the board has been removed from the printer, in order for me to insert the USB stick, can I reinsert the board in to the machine with the USB stick attached, in order for the printer to recognise it??

[cprelude02]

Ok, I've now figured it out Alex. There is room for the mem stick on the board once reinserted in to the machine. Many thanks. This will solve it I assume  when I try tomorrow (when the part arrives).