HP 9018e All in One stuck on "verifying" at start up

[TFinOR]

Massively frustrated here.  My 9018e worked fine a couple of days ago, but I tend to shut it down when not in use.  Today, despite all recommendations and actions I have read, I cannot get it to power up and go past the "verifying" cycle.  Nor will it power down using the power button.  It can only be turned off by removing power to the printer.

Solutions suggested...and tried.

1:  power down/unplug.. wait one minute plus, and fire it up again.  Nope

2:  Rinse and repeat except hold the power button down while it's off for 30 seconds, and try again.  Nope.

3: Rinse/repeat, this time holding the power button down when I plug it back in.  Powers up and goes right back in to the "verifying" loop.  Nope.

4:  I've read that the firmware needs to be reset, but all instructions require having access to the control panel screen... which of course I don't have because it just sits and recycles the "verifying" message screen.  .

5:  Ran the troubleshooter thru the 9018e's printer app, and it says nothing is wrong.  Right... 

I thought maybe I could just uninstall the full software and reinstall.  But of course, HP doesn't provide a full features/drivers package download.   All HP tells you to do is go to HP Smart, which ain't so smart after all.  Accorduing to the printer app info, it has HP5924E4 file for the OfficeJet Pro 9010 series for both printer and scanner. 

I read another thread where you can download that software/driver package  from a 3rd party - https://printerdrivers.com/hp-officejet-pro-9015e-driver/ .  It says it's a 9015e,  they don't have a 9018e in the mix):   But that poster, Gmeades (from Feb 2024) was also dealing with a 9018e.  His post is here.  I'm guessing that reinstall worked for him. 

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-Setup-Software-Drivers/Looking-For-A-Solution-To-Reinstalling-...

But I don't know that a reinstall is going to fix this problem.    So before I embark on that, using download for a reinstall in a last ditch attempt to make the dang thing work again,    I thought I'd ask if anyone knows how on earth I can do a firmware reset when I can't access the control panel screen.

Thanking *anyone* in advance....

[TFinOR · Accepted solution]

After looking around and getting the same ol' pat answers to others about powering down/up etc .. which I've already done.  I started getting ore radical.  In case my HP Smart was an old version, I downloaded the new version.  That won't find my printer at all because.. uh... the printer has to be powered up.  Yeah, can't do that.

No ability to hard reset wince there is no "cancel" button on the printer.  Just the power button.  And it fires up with an HP logo, then goes right to the "verifying loop".

This printer is three years old.  I just bought HP replacement ink cartridges a month and a half ago that I can't return. 

So I've solved the problem.  I'm done with HP printers after 40 years of using various models.  The customer service is now non existent.  And apparently what should be a simple factory reset can't be done.

Solution?  I bought a Canon PIXMA TR 8620.  And the ink is a lot cheaper.