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

[LM-IT-OPS]

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@incith wrote:

It's really cool to see everyone helping each other...we're like a community of m281 users 😂

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Incith, HP should put some of y'all who have figured this printer out on the payroll !!

I received this from my assigned HP "case manager" on my support ticket last night:

This case has been escalated and sent the forum link to check. I had followed up again and was informed that one of the Senior Technician will get in touch with you as they have a work around for this kind of error.

curious to see when and if I hear back and what their work around for this error is "officially".

[we have not had time to try taking our 281 apart to see which board we have and try the jumper trick].

[Repairatrooper]

Jumper trick did not work for the unit I have on my bench. This one has the boot, 49 and repeat symptoms. 

[Gökhan_]

I hade the boot, error 49 loop symptoms.

Did your board have pin header already soldered or are they missing?

How did you bridge it, paper clip or wire etc?

How do you turn it on while bridged?
By the printer button or do you connect the power cable?

I used a power extension cable thingy with 4 outlets and one power switch (not sure what they are called in english) 🙂
while bridging the points with both hands I used my foot to turn on the switch on the extension cable thingy to boot up the printer.
Later I soldered in the pin header to make it easier as I had to do it alot when debuging.

[3854michaelr]

@Debussy12 hast du schoneimal dort angerufen und angefragt? Mich würde Interssieren ob das stimmt. Dann baue ich meinen Drucker zurück und lasse mir einen neuen Liefern.

[donald44]

I wanted to update on my end how things went after purchasing a new board. I also had error code 79 then shortly after trying to reboot the printer started getting the loop of death and error code 49. Always used original HP toner. After 1 month of having no printer/scanner I was able to get a new board and get it working again. I followed @Incith instructions and it all worked to a tee! I have my printer working again! I suspended the automatic firmware downloads to make sure that HP keeps its grubby little updates to themselves. I wish I had the time to video record the repair and procedure and upload to YouTube, but I wasn't sure how it was going to work and fix my printer the first time. This would make a lot of the questions to be answered just by watching the video. I just want to thank the fellow patrons that contributed to making this happen. I know HP is a trash company after this. Once this printer is dead and gone, I will no longer be supporting this company whatsoever and make sure that my voice is heard to every client that I have. 

Thank you Thank you Thank you! @Incith @repairtrooper and @katherine! Your work is noticed and appreciated 🙂

[Jumping69]

After a auto-firmware update, "RESEND UPGRADE" is constantly displayed.

Sending the firmware downloaded from HP (M280_Series_FW_Update-20220414.nativeofficefonts.exe) ends with a smiley but the printer does not react. 

Does this trick also fix the "RESEND UPGRADE" error?

With this method, as I understand it, the printer goes into the state of receiving firmware.

I can then send the firmware in .RFU format with USBSEND.

Thanks for your help.

[CLF-1]

I have had the same issue (79/49).  Thanks to ITBacon was finally able to jump the two points on board.  However, it wasn't the adjacent points (no pins), my step-son got it to go to "Ready 2 download" using the right point and one above.  I'm not sure which one.  But it's there.  My printer was previously set to print via ethernet cable, so no previous USB setup.  Meaning that neither M280_Series_FW_Update-20220414.nativeofficefonts.exe nor USBSend.exe and cljmfpM280fw_20220414.ENG.rfu are working.  I'm not sure how I'm going to get the firmware to load.  I'm going to try a USB thumb drive next.  But hoping I can get some other recommendations.  FYI - I did send the email to the HP execs.  I also ordered a new printer.  However, if I can get this one to work again, that would be really great!

--Colin

[Debussy12]

Ich hatte soeben Kontakt mit dem offiziellen Support von HP Schweiz in Genf (+41 22 567 51 92) wegen meinem defekten M281fdw. Obschon der Herr am Telefon längst realisierte, dass ich ein ihm bestens bekanntes Problem schilderte, stellte er sich zuerst unwissend an. Später meinte er, dass ein 49 Service Error nicht von alleine kommen würde und ich demnach einen Reset durchgeführt hätte. Ihm wäre in diesem Zusammenhang nur der 79 Service Error bekannt. Erst nach einigen weiteren Minuten räumte er ein, dass das Fehlerbild bekannt sei, sie hier aber nichts machen können – schon gar nicht am Telefon. Er wusste aber nichts davon, dass HP einen Umtausch anbietet – ihm wäre hier nichts bekannt. Meine Einschätzung ist, dass HP hier absichtlich das Problem nicht anerkennen will in der Hoffnung, dass viele User sich einfach ein neues Gerät kaufen, weil sie keine Geduld haben, oder nicht ohne weiteres wochenlang auf einen Drucker verzichten können.

[ClearToSend]

Some people have successfully restored their printers by shorting the right firmware pins and using USBSEND to update firmware.  In my case it has made the 49 error go away, but is replaced by the RESEND UPGRADE error.  I think the faulty firmware 20221010 (I think) has lodged itself in the formatter board somehow and so the board won't accept a downgrade of firmware.  I can't get into the menu system to 'allow' a downgrade of firmware.  Am waiting for a replacement formatter board which I am hoping will solve my problem.  The anticipated "new" firmware due sometime in December might solve the problem but I saw somewhere that it was only for more recent machines and not the M280 series (hope I've got that wrong).

By the way, I couldn't get that version of firmware to work on my machine but cljmfpM280fw_20220414.ENG.rfu (a smaller file but the same version without fonts) did work and got to the 'smiley' completed message, however once re-booted the printer goes to RESEND UPGRADE.

[ClearToSend]

I'm sure you have to use the USB Printer port on the back of the machine rather than the USB port below the display panel.  You need a USB A-B type cable connected to your computer.  Once you get the "Ready 2 download" prompt you send the firmware from a command prompt on your computer.  Type "CMD" into the search bar next to the start button.  In the right pane of the search results bar choose "Run as Administrator".  You will get a "C:\Users\UserName prompt"  Navigate to the folders where USBSEND.EXE and the firmware files are located (in the example given the folder was C:\M28) so the command would be "cd \m28"  Then type in "USBSEND cljmfpM280fw_20220414.ENG.rfu" when "Ready 2 download" is displayed on your printer and the firmware will be sent to the printer.  Printer screen will indicate "Programming" with a progress bar, and then "Complete :)"  Printer should re-boot itself, but if not, give it a couple of minutes and switch it off and on again manually.  Cross your fingers and hope it is fixed...