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

[JoopR]

Spoiler

I think with this new "old" firmware HP is admitting they made a boo-boo. Hope they will try to help people fix their printers.

[Djoka60]

Would be fine, but I think, as we cannot change firmware, it's impossible. We can say bye, bye to our printers.

[AlexWal]

Mein Drucker hat sich heute auch aufgehängt. Ich hatte einen Hardreset ausgeführt, da ich den Drucker gebraucht gekauft habe. Und um die Onlinedienste des Vorbesitzers zu entfernen habe ich den Reset gemacht. Danach ist der Drucker im Eimer. Habe noch Original Tonerkartuschen drin von HP. Aber 49Service Error kommt und eine Endlosschleife von Reboots.

Hier sollte die Verbraucherzentrale eine Sammelklage gegen HP einreichen, Kann doch nicht sein, dass sie eine SW verteilen, die Drucker killt!

[Repairatrooper]

I would suggest that no one jump the gun and throw their printers away. Sorting this out will likely take some time. Hopefully HP finds a way user friendly way to resolve this issue.

[Corey497]

Some of us don't have time to "not jump the gun". Yesterday (and sometime today) I have to run to Staples to do my scanning and printing. I work for myself. I don't get paid with verbal agreements, I need copies of receipts and printed invoices. I'm probably over exaggerating but I didn't damage my own equipment. a HUGE corporation did.

[katherine73]

My replacement formatter board is getting delivered today. Hopefully I'll have time to install it this afternoon, and report back.

Even though it's $80 for the board, I believe it's still better than paying $600+ for a new printer. Not ideal having to pay out of pocket, but I have my doubts like many others that there will be an easy software only fix.

Otherwise, I don't see HP willingly paying out of pocket to repair everyone's out of warranty printers.

[lpethick]

I have a board on its way this weekend, too, and am eager to hear if it works for you Katherine73 (you've been a great help on this thread). I'll post up as well if mine works. I'm hoping it does. I have the equivalent price of a printer in spare toner cartridges that I'd like to be able to use up as well as the investment cost of the printer itself which was working perfectly until the firmware issue. The $80 investment in a board seems like a quick solution to get up and running quickly while the root issue is sorted out by HP. 

I agree that we shouldn't jump the gun on anything here. It appears that HP has removed the new firmware release from the website and have replaced it with an older one. That is acknowledgement that they have an issue with the firmware update and that they're likely trying to figure it out. 

In the meantime, I also agree that many of us have businesses to run and/or need to have a printer/scanner. That puts us in the unfortunate spot of having to invest in another piece of equipment (or running out to a third party) until HP responds with a solution. Not ideal by any measure. They definitely bricked our printers, and we're the ones paying the price for their mistake. 

[rachaellea]

The same happened to me. 

I installed a new OEM (HP branded) toner cartridge, purchased directly from Staples.  I started getting error messages that it's a non-HP chip.  But this IS an HP OEM cartridge! 

I tried updating the firmware, and now it's stuck in an endless "error 49" and reboot loop.  I even did the factory reset, which did nothing but re-enable the boot noise, which now  chimes about every 30 seconds on the new reboot.

[Repairatrooper]

@rachaellea , did you use the auto update feature or did you download the upgrade utility from HP and run it to manually update the firmware?

[reckten]

One plus hour on the phone with tech support.  Unable to resolve.  Not under warranty. Too bad need new printer.  Will not be HP...