MFP m281CDW archived firmware - Restore 3rd Party Toner

[theswordsmith]

Dear HP Support,

Please allow access to the previous versions of firmware for the M281cdw and other M280-M281 printers.   The printer stopped working suddenly today with an error message of "Indicated Cartridges Blocked" due to the use of 3rd party toner cartridges that previously worked.  Unfortunately the printer did not come with any documentation on the box, stating the user must exclusively use HP only toner in their printer as part of the purchase agreement, so please make the old firmware version available at HP for those people who had their printer disabled by the last HP firmware update attack.

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SOLUTION by Tony707 on Redditt: (until HP addresses the issue on their site):

The latest firmware upgrade forces you to use genuine toner.

I didn't type the steps or try them, but I walked someone through them and they worked.

Downgrade steps from HP Support Form: Since HP is the culprit here by updating the firmware to block all users who use after-market toners, I believe. I downgrade the firmware driver with this version and it worked. HP_LaserJet_Pro_M280_M281_Printer_series_20200612

Steps:

• on the printer, go into the printer's Setup | Service | LaserJet Update | Manage Updates

  • set Allow Downgrade = yes, Allow Updates = yes

• download (HP_LaserJet_Pro_M280_M281_Printer_series_20200612) and run

• Point that to your printer, mine took few times since my printer connected wifi.

• After downgrade 

• on the printer, go into the printer's Setup | Service | LaserJet Update | Manage Updates

  • set Allow Updates = no (so the firmware doesn't auto-update and break compatibility again)

[marshef31]

I have 2 of these that have auto-updated the firmware to 20211109 and it has broken connecting via ethernet. Printer say's offline.

[Echo_Lake]

@theswordsmith

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