HP Color Laser Jet Pro MFP M278-M281: Service Error 79; Constantly Rebooting

[JosephM89]

My printer is a Color LaserJet Pro MFP M278-M281. It started to reboot on its own whenever it encounters a "Service Error 79". However it is now in a constant loop. It reboots itself and during the "initializing" screen, it catches this error again and reboots. I have had this printer for a couple years now and have not encountered this.

We have power cycled the printer and the router. The power is plugged directly into the wall. All jobs are deleted from the printer. Internet is plugged via ethernet cable. When the ethernet cable is disconnected, the Service Error 79 does not appear. However, once the ethernet cable is plugged in, the Service Error 79 will appear moments later and the cycle in the first paragraph starts again.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[llKRAMERll]

Any updates on this, I have the same issues. 

[chantomc]

I started having this same issue yesterday after the software update. Any solution yet? 

[ct1963]

Me too!   HP Help Please!!!!

[Moey5070]

I contacted HP support by phone. After waiting an hour on hold I was told my printer warranty was expired and phone support would cost $20.00. I agreed to the $20 and was transferred and when the next person came on the line I was told the fee was $39.99. At this point, I questioned the different price and was told $39.99 with no explanation of why the different price.

I hope someone here has better luck and can share the fix

[JosephM89]

Hello all. I went through all the computers and devices hook up in the network and ended up finding a corrupted print job on that device. I deleted it and rebooted the printer and the network. Service Error 79 came up again, but after one more restart, it was fine. 

[Jay_G24]

Hi @JosephM89,

I'd like to help!

We can perform a factory defaults on the printer to resolve the issue

• The reset instructions are specific for your printer and performing those steps on a different printer may corrupt the device.
• I've sent you a private message with reset instructions, follow the reset instruction to perform a full reset and re-initialize the printer.
• In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Forums profile, next to your profile Name or simply click on this link: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/notes/privatenotespage

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

And, Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping

[JohnK_TTP]

Can you please send me the instructions also.

It sounds like many many of your customer are experiencing the same thing.

Thank you,

JohnK_TTP

[OsSt]

Dynamic security enabled printer. This Firmware includes dynamic security measures, which may prevent supplies with non-HP chips or circuitry from working now or in the future. More at: www.hp.com/go/learnaboutsupplies.

To use your printer with a 3rd party supply you will need to downgrade the latest firmware to the previous one. 
I know how to do it, but HP probably wont be happy to tell you how. If you are tech savvy and google around a bit you can find the solution. 

It's simple. You just need to disable automatic updates in your printer. Allow the firmware to be downgraded, find the previous firmware without the 79 glitches and blocked 3rd party toners and just downgrade the printers firmware