M281FDW not accepting third party toner after firmware upgrade 20201021 (Supply memory error)

[luedi]

Hi everyone,

It seems that FW Upgrade 20201021 breaks compatibility with previous 3rd party toners (chips). This practice is quite common with HP and others. However the previous FW version has been removed from HP servers, so no downgrade easily possible.

I do not understand why HP would alienate its (loyal) customers by forcing them to buy their prohibitively expense toner (a full set costing more than a new printer with toner).

If this cannot be resolved I do not see myself staying with HP and moving to perhaps Brother.

[PDX_PRNT_PRBLM · Accepted solution]

I found an alternate way to downgrade the firmware from the 20201021 update that breaks the use of non-HP toner cartridges. It isn't as easy as running an installer but it worked the first time and I was back up and running within a few minutes. Definitely give the printer a few minutes to update and restart after copying the file over to the printer. I thought it wasn't doing anything and was going to start pressing buttons. But I waited and eventually the printer restarted itself and showed that it was being reprogrammed.

Since the 20200612 firmware installer is no longer available from HP I was able to use another method using the M280_M281 firmware file (.rfu) from the 20200612 update. As of 11/6/20 @ 5pm PST the 20200612 .rfu file is still available on HPs site using the link below. I've also uploaded the file to a share site in case HP removes it from their public FTP server.

HP FTP Download: http://ftp.hp.com/pub/networking/software/pfirmware/HP_LaserJet_Pro_M280_M281_Printer_series_2020061...

 Alternate Download site:  https://anonymousfiles.io/gLTPUQCU/ 

I used Firmware Update Method 4 from this HP Support article, HP LaserJet - Update the firmware

Method four: Update the firmware at the control panel using a USB connection

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01711356#WinMethod_Local_FTP_USB  

To update the firmware at the control panel using a USB connection, follow these steps. The steps might vary slightly depending on the version of Windows.

Step one: Identify the computer name

NOTE: 

Before you can send a firmware upgrade through the USB port, you need to know the name of the computer to which the printer is connected.

1. Open System Tools or Administrative Tools, and then select System Information.
2. In the right pane, the computer name displays next to System Name.
3. Take note of this name to use in subsequent steps.

Step two: Share the connected printer

NOTE: 

Before you can send a firmware upgrade through the USB port, you need to enable printer sharing.

1. Open Printers and Faxes or Printers & scanners.
2. Enable sharing of the printer.
   • Click Manage, click Printer Properties, click the Sharing tab, select the Share this printer check box, and then click OK. OR
   • Right-click the printer to which you want to send the upgrade, select Sharing… , select the Share this printer option, type a name such as "HP LaserJet", and then click Apply.

Step three: Update the firmware using a USB connection

1. Open a Command Prompt window.
2. Click MSDOS Prompt and locate the directory where you saved the firmware file.
3. Type copy /b filename \\computer name\share name. For example: copy /b ljXXXXmfpfw_0X.00X.X.rfu \\computer1\HP LaserJet.
4. Press Enter.

   NOTE: 

   This can take about five minutes. Do not interact with the printer or the computer during the update process. When the update has finished, the printer will reboot.

5. Wait for the printer to automatically reboot and activate the firmware update.
6. When the printer returns to a Ready state, print a configuration page and verify that the new firmware has been installed.

[luedi]

Hi,

Thank you for your solution. At first it did not work for me.

I then reset the printer to factory settings and tried the downgrade again successfully.

Best,

Max

[nymimi]

Hi. I tried the solution suggested by PDX_PRNT_PRBLM.

However, it appears hp has gone full bore evil by BLOCKING ftp from the printer. Not sure how everyone else got around that?

Allso, in Firmware Update Method 4 , what is meant by 

Click MSDOS Prompt and locate the directory where you saved the firmware file.

I can open a cmd window but "click MSDOS"?? what is that? Anyone care to clarify? Thirdly, am I doing all of this method on a computer attached to the printer by usb at the control panel?

Thank you.

[redmoon6584]

This was so incredibly helpful, and I was happy to find the file on HP's ftp site - felt more secure!  I only ran into a couple of issues that I wanted to point out for anyone else who isn't as computer savvy:

1. Trying running the command prompt as an administrator.

2.  Change the directory in the command prompt to where the file is actually located by typing in: cd C:\whatever the proper user and folder names are

3. If you are getting syntax errors it's either because your file has spaces in its name, or your printer name does.  You can resolve a syntax error by placing quotes around the file name or the printer name (excluding the computer name) or renaming the files without the spaces.

[Retired-ITFixer]

I can confirm this process worked great on my 2 year old printer. My professional IT experience says never upgrade microcode in a printer if it's working but I was trying to fix a minor networking issue with it and I upgraded to the 20201021 microcode, which promptly broke my printer. Getting constant error 79 and recycling until I disabled networking. Was able to us it on a usb cable but printing certain web pages would cause the printer to time out after every page for a minute or two. Used the method 4 process to downgrade to the 20200612 code  (thanks for providing the alternate download!!)  and printer is fine now and back on the wireless network.  

I also went into the printer service menu and disabled future microcode upgrades!!

Thanks,

Joe