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

[US1A1A]

Just checked all those things and everything looks good. It still jams up. I don't know what's going on.

[freakshow999]

So I have the exact same issue with my personal printer.

But, what's worse for me is that one of my clients has the exact same issue on theirs too!

The printer I'd suggested to them... At least I had them purchase a warranty for their!

So has anyone done a count of the number of printers that are bricked at this time?

What really irks me (besides the no-support hp service) is that I cannot find a printer with similar specs & price point that has a fricken network port! I do small business IT work and I never want printers on a WiFi network. Never!

I'm not doing a board swap, etc on something HP should fix or repair due to their own incompetence.

I'm willing to attempt boot level usb firmware/software or system re-init. 

 There's probably only a few hundred of us that bleep and complain.  HP could easily do the right thing and send us all new printers. Have us fill out a form , etc. Instead thei CS treats us like crap until you get to someone that knows of what they speak...

[naveenpra]

Try these steps and check if it helps. 

1. Turn the printer off
2. Download the .rfu firmware file from the below ftp.

    SFTP Access :     sftp -o Port=2222 rfu0414@ftp.usa.hp.com 

                      sftp -P 2222 rfu0414@ftp.usa.hp.com 

    HTTPS Access:     https://ftp.usa.hp.com/hprc

    Drop Box Host:    ftp.usa.hp.com   (15.73.40.56, Failover: 15.73.244.52)

    Login:            rfu0414

    Password:         8vt=AT3f  (NOTE: CASE-sensitive)

1. Load the correct .rfu file in a USB thumb drive formatted to FAT32 file system. Make sure there are no other files present in the USB thumb drive. 
2. Connect the USB thumb drive with the .rfu firmware file to the front USB port
3. Turn the printer on
4. The firmware upgrade/downgrade will start and once the firmware file is flashed to the printer, it should boot to ready.

If the above steps don't work then perform a reset with the USB thumb drive installed in the front USB port. 

1. Turn off the printer and Turn it back on.

2. When you see the white screen, press and hold the bottom right corner of the display screen. 

3. keep holding the screen till you see the "permanent storage init" message on the display.

For reference watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCmTWkC6d0

[Djoka60]

---

@naveenpra wrote:

Try these steps and check if it helps. 

1. Turn the printer off
2. Download the .rfu firmware file from the below ftp.

    SFTP Access :     sftp -o Port=2222 rfu0414@ftp.usa.hp.com

                      sftp -P 2222 rfu0414@ftp.usa.hp.com

    HTTPS Access:     https://ftp.usa.hp.com/hprc

    Drop Box Host:    ftp.usa.hp.com  (15.73.40.56, Failover: 15.73.244.52)

    Login:            rfu0414

    Password:         8vt=AT3f  (NOTE: CASE-sensitive)

1. Load the correct .rfu file in a USB thumb drive formatted to FAT32 file system.
2. Connect the USB thumb drive with the .rfu firmware file to the front USB port
3. Turn the printer on
4. The firmware upgrade/downgrade will start and once the firmware file is flashed to the printer, it should boot to ready.

---

It's 2 files there. Which one is correct for MFP-M281fdw?

[DaHooka]

Is it the official rfu for an M281fdw device?

Just don't want to brick it completely 😉

[Djoka60]

@DaHooka, doesn't work, don't happen anything, 49 service error still present

[katherine73]

Neither one of those RFU firmware images are for the M280-281 printer series. Looks like they're for M154 & M254 series printers.

I still think the best chance of firmware recovery is trying to push the firmware image using usbsend.exe on a PC. There may be a small window where if you can get the timing right it might be possible to initiate the update. Also, if you insert a USB memory stick (FAT formatted) with a few printable files), it seems to slow the boot process down a little. It will even present you with a print from USB menu on the display. This might be enough time (but not certain) before the 49 error/printer reboot loop. Unfortunately, I don't have time to pull the printer apart until this weekend, but I'm definitely planning to try it.

[Repairatrooper]

It appears that this issue has several different manifestations. Some people who are lucky enough to get the resend error have a decent chance of recovering the system as per this recently released document: https://support.hp.com/ca-en/document/ish_7178611-7178658-16

I have had no success getting the unit a customer dropped off to take a downgrade. I will be trying the usb printable file stick later today or tomorrow.

On another forum I am on, a member did get his 79 error machine to recover and is currently running 20221010.

[katherine73]

@repairatrooper: Can you please try the usbsend.exe method with the problematic printer? It's available from HP: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-Setup-Software-Drivers/M28W-bricked/td-p/8301895

Inserting a USB memory stick during start up will print up the print from USB menu and should delay the restart ever so slightly. Still, it might be tricky to get the timing right before the printer reboots. 

If not, I should have time to take apart my printer this weekend and put the old formatter board inside it to test.

[naveenpra]

Yes, this is the official .rfu firmware file released by hp