HP LaserJet M236dw – Error 49 After Toner Refill – Urgent Assistance Required

[MaratN]

Dear HP Support Team,

I am reaching out again regarding a critical issue with my HP LaserJet M236dw printer. The device was purchased in March 2022 from an official regional dealer in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Initially, the printer worked fine, but after the first toner refill, it stopped working and displayed error 49.

After extensive troubleshooting, including consulting HP’s support forums and visiting an official HP service center, I have been unable to resolve the issue. The service center refused to assist me solely because the warranty has expired, even though this problem appears to be related to HP's firmware or hardware failure, not the toner refill itself.

Upon further research, I have found that multiple users have reported the same issue with this model. This strongly suggests that the printer has a design flaw or a firmware defect that leads to failure after refilling the toner. A printer should not become inoperable simply due to a standard maintenance procedure.

Since I have always trusted HP as a reliable brand, I am extremely disappointed with the situation. I now have an almost brand-new printer that is completely unusable due to an apparent manufacturer defect.

I kindly request HP to address this issue, provide a viable solution, or offer an official repair program, regardless of the warranty status, as this appears to be a systematic defect in your product. I would appreciate an urgent response with possible solutions.

Looking forward to your reply.

Best regards,
Marat Nasirov

[zoey7886]

@MaratN, Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding HP LaserJet M236dw – Error 49 After Toner Refill!  
We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution. 

Error 49 is typically a firmware-related error that can be triggered by various factors, including incompatible toner cartridges, firmware corruption, or internal hardware conflicts. Based on your description, we recommend the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Perform a Hard Reset

1. Power off the printer and unplug it from the electrical outlet.
2. Disconnect any network cables or USB connections.
3. Wait for at least 5 minutes to clear any residual charge.
4. Reconnect the power cable and turn the printer on without connecting it to a computer.
5. Check if the error persists.

2. Update the Printer Firmware

If the error remains, updating the firmware may help resolve the issue:

1. Visit the HP Software & Drivers page: HP Support Website
2. Enter your printer model: HP LaserJet M236dw
3. Download and install the latest firmware update.
4. Restart the printer and test functionality.

3. Verify Toner Cartridge Compatibility

• Ensure that you are using an HP-approved toner cartridge.
• If you are using a refilled or third-party cartridge, try installing an original HP 136A or 136X toner to determine if the issue is cartridge-related.

4. Perform a Cold Reset (Factory Reset)

If the issue persists, a factory reset may help:

1. Turn off the printer.
2. Press and hold the Wireless button and the Cancel button simultaneously.
3. While holding both buttons, turn on the printer.
4. Continue holding for 15 seconds, then release.
5. The printer will reset to default settings.

Please let us know the results of these steps so we can further assist you.

Take care, and have an amazing day! 
 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going! 

Regards, 

[MaratN]

Dear Zoey7886,

Thank you for your response.

However, I have already tried all the suggested troubleshooting steps, but unfortunately, none of them resolved the issue.

Here are the detailed results:

1. Hard Reset – Performed as instructed, but the error remains unchanged.
   
   

2. Firmware Update – It is possible that a firmware update was installed automatically before the printer malfunctioned via HP's printer management software. If a failure occurred during this process, it may have contributed to the issue. Interestingly, even in its current state, the printer is recognized when connected via USB, adding two devices:

   • "HP LaserJet MFP M232-M237 PCLm-S" (under Printers)
   • "HP LEDM" (under Universal Serial Bus Devices)
     Despite this, any attempt to update the firmware manually does not restore functionality, even though the firmware update utility indicates success (showing a yellow smiling face):
     
     
     

3. Toner Cartridge Compatibility – I have tested:

   • An original (genuine) HP 136A cartridge (which I got with the printer)
   • A cartridge without a chip
     After installing each, I performed a factory reset. In both cases, the printer initially displayed error "Er 77", but then switched back to error 49 and remained non-functional.
     
     

4. Factory Reset (Cold Reset) – The method described in your instructions (pressing Wireless + Cancel) does not work for this model. Instead, the correct reset sequence is:

   • Press and hold "Resume" (downward arrow) + "Cancel" (X) while powering on
     I have also attempted your suggested method and another variation (holding all three buttons during startup), but none had any effect.

Given that multiple users have reported the exact same issue with this model, and considering that all standard troubleshooting steps have failed, I strongly believe this is a firmware or hardware defect, not an issue caused by normal toner maintenance.

At this point, I request further support from HP, including an official resolution or repair options, regardless of warranty status. It is unacceptable for a nearly new printer to become completely inoperable under these circumstances.

Please escalate this issue to the appropriate department for a real solution.

I look forward to your response.

With the best regards,
Marat Nasirov

[zoey7886]

@MaratN, Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

We're here to help you tackle that error 49 issue! Don't worry, we've got your back! 

To get you the best assistance, we need to take this conversation to a private chat. We're inviting you to a private message to protect your privacy and ensure that any sensitive information remains confidential. 

To access your private message, just click the little blue envelope icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile, next to your profile name.

We're looking forward to helping you resolve this issue! 

Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience! 

Regards,