New modem, LaserJet Pro 200 color rejects correct passphrase

[shochatd]

I have a LaserJet Pro 200 color M251nw which has worked fine for years via WiFi. Today I got a new modem/base station from my Internet provider and reconfigured all my wireless devices with the new SSID and passphrase. But the printer keeps saying "Invalid WPA Passphrase". I've tried many times. The passphrase is 14 characters long. I also tried WPS but that fails too.

Is there a way to do a full reset?

[shochatd]

I have found additional instances of exactly the same problem, but I can't figure out how to comment to them. In one of these other threads, an HP employee suggested using a specific 2.4 GHz SSID, which the CenturyLink box supports. I tried that, but it still won't accept the passphrase. The only choices for authentication are WPA2 or "WPA or WPA2" (so I switched it to the latter). So still no luck. I think the answer is to get a WiFi-to-Ethernet bridge (< $40, I have one on order). Apparently, the printer is so reliable (mine is > 6 yrs old), its WiFi support is now so old it is no longer compatible with newer versions. Every other device in my home (tablet, 2 phones, 2 Rokus, 2 Chromecast, 3 computers) connects with no problem.

[Nal_NR]

Hi @shochatd,

Welcome to the HP Support Community

Not to worry I will help you to get a resolution to resolve the issue.

I appreciate the steps you have performed and have certainly done a good job.

We need to perform an NVRAM reset to restore the printer back to its original settings and see how it goes. 

The reset instructions are specific to your printer and performing those steps on a different printer may brick the device. 

I've sent you a private message with reset instructions, follow the reset instruction to perform a full reset and re-initialize the printer. 

In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile, next to your profile Name, or simply click on this link.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[shochatd]

I did as you instructed and everything went as you described. However, when I tried again to connect (to the 2.4 GHz-specific SSID), the result was the same: Invalid WPA Passphrase. You might want to take a look at a question I asked in the StackExchange Superuser forum, in case it rings any bells for you: 
https://superuser.com/questions/1784979/c4000xg-router-advanced-ssid-config. As for encryption/authentication options, this router has these options: 
WPA - WPA2 - Personal
WPA2 - Personal
WPA2 - WPA3 - Personal
WPA3 - Personal
I have it set to the first of these options.
I have not experimented with specific frequency channels. Currently it selects Channel 6 and width 40 MHz.
[I got a big red "Authentication Failed" trying to reply to your PM]

[Nal_NR]

Hi @shochatd,

We are sorry that the issue is not resolved when the above troubleshooting steps were performed.

This might require one on one interaction to fix the issue.

I've sent you a private message with further instructions. In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name or simply click on this link.

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution button, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

[shochatd · Accepted solution]

I have a workaround: I bought a BrosTrend N300 with a "WiFi to Ethernet Adapter" mode. At first it would not connect to my C4000XG router either, but a tech at BrosTrend suggested that I change it back to "WPA2 - Personal" and the N300 connected in that mode. With the printer connected to the N300 via Ethernet, the printer is back on the network.

The "WPA - Personal" was the mode the C4000XG was in originally. I had changed it to "WPA - WPA2 - Personal" in an attempt to get the printer to connect to the WiFi.

[shochatd]

It turns out there is an additional wrinkle. Although I could see the printer from my computer, printing still wasn't working. I was on the phone with HP tech support and something he said about being on the same network rang a bell. The N300 has a 2nd function as a WiFi extender. In other words, I can now connect via a new SSID named (original SSID)_EXT. When I connect my computer to that, I can not only see the printer, but print to it successfully.

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @shochatd, 

Welcome to HP Support Community.  

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

I see that you are facing issues with your HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color Printer M251nw. The WIFI issue changed the new modem/base station 

I suggest you follow this document's steps to resolve this issue. (Click on the Word document to open the web page). 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Gaya1239 – HP Support. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! , 

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @shochatd, 

Thank you for your reply, Good to know the printer is working through the Ethernet cable

I am not able to send the private message hence sending in public 

Let's try the below Troubleshooting steps 

To assist you better:

• How far is the printer located from the WiFi router?
• Do you have a dual-band router?
• If you have a dual-band router and both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks share the same name/SSID, the printer will not be able to connect to the network. In this case, contact your Internet service provider to assign different names to both networks.

Update the printer firmware 

• Click here to download and install the latest printer firmware from your product
• Click here to know different methods of updating printer firmware.

[shochatd]

1. The router is one floor up. There are 5 other devices in the same room with the printer that all connect to the WiFi. And the printer also connected, back when we had an older router. 

2. Some time ago, I did configure the router to publish a 2.4 GHz-specific SSID and the printer still could not connect using that SSID.

3. Finally today, I did update the printer firmware (using the front panel of the printer). The printer was able to connect to the appropriate server because of the Ethernet setup with the WiFi-to-Ethernet bridge. After that had completed, I unplugged the printer Ethernet cable and tried once again to connect to the 2.4 GHz-specific SSID (the "flexible" SSID is still there, but I did not select it in the printer's WiFi setup). Once again, the result was "Invalid WPA Passphrase". I was surprised that this didn't work, even with the updated firmware.