Cartridge Protection Issues

[Jason_UK]

I suspect there was a firmware update that has triggered this, as the datecode I have is 20211109.

Have had no issues with my printer using non-HP toner cartages until tonight.  Out of the blue, my printer is displaying this error message:

Now my frustration is that when I go into the settings, Cartridge Policy and Cartridge Protection are both disabled so why is this happening?

If anyone has any advice on how to fix this, it would be greatly appreciated because right now, my printer is completely offline and will not print anything.

[Valsimot]

Cartridge protection has nothing to do with printer not recognising non-genuine cartridges.

To fix your issues you need to downgrade the firmware to an earlier version you can find instructions and older versions of firmware on Google.

[Jason_UK]

Hi Valsimot,

Thank you for providing your comments but from everything I have read, the Cartridge Protection system is exactly what HP designed to prevent non-HP cartridges from being used.  Regardless, I suspected I would be required to downgrade the firmware to make my HP device work again.  I did look around for how to do this and found multiple sources on steps to do this but sadly, they all require my device to be in a state of 'ready' which can only happen when it has Genuine HP Cartridges in it, which ironically is the whole issue here because I do not have Genuine HP Cartridges in my device because they cost more than the device itself.  This is not moral and should be criminal what HP is doing but who is going to stop a multi-billion dollar company from forcing people to use their consumables in their products.  The answer is simple, I'll sell this unit and buy another manufacture's unit to replace it.

[Valsimot]

You are mixing cartridge protection and dynamic security those are two different features.

Cartridge protection has nothing to do with printer not recognising non-genuine cartridges.

To fix your issues you need to downgrade the firmware to an earlier version you can find instructions and older versions of firmware on Google.

[Jason_UK]

Sadly you're 'simply' solution does not work and it's frustrating you are playing this off as if it's easy to fix.  From what I have read based on the information you have provided, I must get the unit back into a state of 'ready' before I can downgrade the firmware.  In order to do this, I must put authentic HP toner cartages into the unit which I do not have and will need to purchase but the moment I purchase them, the issue will no longer be an issue because that is what the unit is demanding I do anything.  This is why I stand by my statement that HP should be assumed of themselves and I will no longer be purchasing or using HP products from now on.  I will also stop recommending them to friends and family as well as in my professional life, I will discourage businesses I work for and with against using HP products.  I access that my campaign against HP may be small and they will not likely see any change but it will make me feel better to know I stopped some people from being screwed over by this company.

This unit is no longer available directly through HP but is still available in many retail shops (https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-color-laserjet-pro-mfp-m281fdw) and is being sold between £275 and £300 yet the toner for it (which required 4 separate cartridges) is just over £400 for the high yield (https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/cv/supplies-search?searchTerm=T6B82A#BGJ) or just under £300 for the standard yield.  This is absolutely ridiculous and my main reason for choosing to start using another manufacture.

[Valsimot]

You can run a firmware downgrade with toners out of the device, when you complete the downgrade put back toners, disable automatic update ( to ensure the printer will not upgrade automatically) on your printer and you can print again, it's a 5-minute job.

[Jason_UK]

I have tried to run the downgrade with and without cartridges in the unit and it does not seem to do anything.  Unless you have a specific set of instructions on how best to do this, I am at a loss.

[Valsimot]

Check on the printer do you have enabled the downgrade option.

Setup -> Service -> Update -> Manage update ->  Downgrade -> Yes

[Jason_UK]

That is the first step I did.  I then ran the software on my laptop to downgrade the firmware.  I do not get any success or error messages upon completion, it just ends.  I check the firmware version on the unit and it has not changed.  As I said, I have run it multiple times (10+) with combinations of having cartridges in and out of the unit.  It will not downgrade so again I am open to an official process if one exists.

[Valsimot · Accepted solution]

Walkaround for downgrade.

1. Open a web browser and enter the printer IP address in the web browser to access printer EWS. Enable FTP print from network settings in EWS.

2. Use 7zip software to extract the actual firmware file from .exe.  The firmware file is the largest single file around 36MB if you have firmware version 20200612 then the firmware file should be located in folder rsrc\file\1013. 

3. Copy firmware file 1013 and save it on your desktop. 

4. Use the FTP application( e.g. Filezilla ) to connect to the printer, there is no username and no password for connection, leave it blank. 

5. Drag and drop firmware file 1013 in Filezilla to the printer and hopefully, after receiving the 1013 file the printer will start to downgrade.