Color LaserJet Pro MFP-M281fdw shows 49 Service Error after firmware update from 20th October

[naveenpra]

For 280-281, the file that you have to try is M280_Series_FW_Update-20220414.nativeofficefonts.exe.

Make sure you do not have any other files on the USB Thumb drive.

[Djoka60]

@naveenpra

Also I should put EXE file on UB Thumb drive?

[Deuils]

@Katherine73

The usbsend method - should the USB cable be plugged into the front or rear slot?

I'm willing to try this one.

Tried USB stick FAT32 loaded with with the previously mentioned files. Does nothing for mine. Just goes straight to the infuriating 49 error loop.

[katherine73]

@Deuils - Thanks! The cable should be plugged from your PC to the 'square' USB 2.0 Type-B connector on the back of the printer. You can use the USB-A to USB-B cable that came with the printer for this.

[katherine73]

@Naveenpra - I've tried in the past extracting the zenith.rfu firmware image for the M281, and put it on a USB memory stick (FAT32 formatted) by itself. Nothing happens. The printer will ignore it. I even tried to quickly jump into the USB print menu to try to run it. There's no way I've been able to get it to perform an update.

[JoopR]

@Katherine73: I did not succeed in reviving my old board unfortunately. The PC just doesn't 'see' the board and thus cannot do anything with it. I've given up on it. I think I'm 'lucky' to get the new board from Aliexpress working with an old firmware. For now enough of HP! Hope I'll be able to print and scan for a long time. I've turned off all the update functionality so no more firmware updates for me 🙂

[mp3stang]

After going through 2 levels of support, here is HP's response....

1) Your printer should update it's firmware by itself.  Since I manually updated my own firmware, HP says i didnt install a compatible version of the firmware.

2) Since my printer is out of warranty my options are:

   a) Buy a new printer

   b) wait and check HP's website for a fixed firmware that may or may not ever be released

   c) pay to have HP repair my printer

These options are unacceptable.  I am escalating to the 3rd level and waiting on a callback tomorrow.

[katherine73]

@Mp3stand - FWIW, my printer prompted me to "auto-update" to the latest firmware. After the upgrade, it bricked itself. Not sure I agree with that line of reasoning by their support team.

[DASH19]

I tried copying the rfu file to USB and re-started printer nothing happens.

The printer is connected to the PC using USB B-type, usbsend does not work it gives me "FATAL ERROR: couldn't find the requested USB device, err 2". Is there a timing when the usb might recognize the printer (given it is bricked/49 service error)

[katherine73]

@Dash19, Yeah, I tried everything to get the rfu image loaded via USB memory stick and I could never get it to work either. 

As for usbsend, I was hoping we might get lucky with the timing to catch the printer up before it resets. Sounds like the formatter is just not recoverable from the bad firmware. Thanks for trying.