I am unable to download the firmware updated on a LaserJet Pro MFP 3301 fdw

[lembark]

First time setup of a new machine,Product ID 499Q5F,  (edited)

The network is functioning properly, the MFP has a manually assigned IP of 10.3.1.17/16 and a gateway of 10.3.1.1/16; the gateway is functioning perfectly (e.g., I'm able to reach HP and post the request). I've tested downloading some moderately large files today (998 GiB) without any problem; this is a commercial connection without bandwidth or size limits.

Accessing the printers main menu I choose: Menus / Tools / Maint. / Firmware from the touch screen.

This leaves me at a display showing revision 6.17.3 dated 202405221647.

Choosing "Check" leaves me with a prompt "Firmware Update is Available".

Ffom this prompt I choose "Next" followed by "Continue" and get the "Preparing" message, the machine reboots, goes to HP w/ rolling dots cover screen, Then "Firmware Update" screen with "Starting Download" and a traveler below the text. This continues for some minutes -- more than the usual network timeout -- before failing.

Interesting to note that I cannot ping the static  IP of 10.3.1.17 from this computer even though we are on the same switch (i.e., TCP or DNS issues, just the mac address lookup).

Q: Are there any known problems with performing a software update using a hardwired IP address (e.g., do I need to set up the local router to handle the printer via DHCP)?

Q: Is it possible to initiate the download using the onscreen menus?

When the machine is operating normally I can access the usual menus -- though there are a number of password prompts that I'm trying to find documentation on since the setup manual didn't seem to describe them.

Accessing the printer from the normal http://10.3.1.17/ allows me to set a password, print the cleaning page, network config, etc, so the system does appear to be functioning. Printed output looks nice -- diagnostics page shows perfect colors -- so the overall system appears to be working, it just cannot seem to download the firmware update.

Q; Is there any diagnostic I can use to generate an error log from the firmware performing the download (didn't see one)?

Thank you

Steve Lembark

[Max3Aj]

@lembark, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 

We see that you are encountering this issue where the firmware update process over the network fails, even though the printer and network seem functional otherwise. Let’s break down your questions and provide answers and possible solutions.

Q1: Are there known problems updating firmware with a static IP? Should DHCP be used instead?

Yes, there can be issues with static IPs and firmware updates:

• HP firmware update tools (especially over-the-air/automatic ones) sometimes expect DHCP during the update phase for DNS resolution and proper routing.
• After a reboot into update mode, the firmware downloader subsystem may not retain the manual network settings, leading to update failure.
• DHCP provides temporary DNS, gateway, and NTP info, which are often required for downloading the update package.

Recommendation:
Temporarily switch the printer to DHCP, ensure it receives a valid DNS (e.g., 8.8.8.8), reboot it, and then attempt the firmware update again.

Q2: Can I initiate the firmware download via the touchscreen?

Yes, and you're already doing it the correct way:
Menus → Tools → Maintenance → Firmware → Check → Next → Continue

The issue is not with how you initiate it, but rather that the download can't complete due to likely networking configuration issues (e.g., DNS or gateway not active during the bootloader’s update phase).

Q3: Can I generate a diagnostic or log from the update attempt?

Unfortunately, no detailed logs are available directly from the touchscreen interface. HP firmware update processes:

• Run from a protected update environment
• Do not expose download logs via menus
• Fail silently or display only generic messages (e.g., “Starting Download” or “Update Failed”)

 Workaround: Use the Embedded Web Server (EWS) or HP Web Jetadmin for more advanced diagnostics or logs:

• Access http://10.3.1.17/ → Go to Reports → Event Log or Diagnostics.
• Or connect to HP Web Jetadmin, which can provide firmware management logs.

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

Option 1: Update via USB (Reliable Alternative)

Since network-based update is failing, use the USB firmware update method, which is far more reliable:

1. Download the latest firmware .rfu file from:
   HP Support → LaserJet 3301fdw Firmware
2. Extract the .rfu file and copy it to a USB drive (FAT32 formatted).
3. Plug USB into the printer.
4. Use touchscreen: Settings → Maintenance → USB Firmware Upgrade.

This method avoids DNS/gateway issues entirely.

Option 2: Ensure Correct DNS and Gateway Setup

If you still want to try over-network updating:

• Set printer to DHCP
• Check EWS page for current DNS server (prefer 8.8.8.8 or ISP’s DNS)
• Ensure time is set correctly (NTP misalignment can fail update check)

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support