Ink cartridges which i have been using for years and have stacked up now blocked by firmware update.

[CSmithSound]

OFFICEJET 6950

Been using the same brand of none HP cartridges for ages, they were probably less than half the price when i bought them. At the time i remember working out It would be cheaper to go to the local print shop than use the official HP cartridges.

So i recently remember the printer having a message asking me to switch on auto update, which i did as it said it could fix problems, make my printer better etcetera. 

Came to use the printer today to print out some Christmas cards and realised i needed to replace the colour cartridges, after swapping (for the exact same type i have been using for ages) i get the message 'ink cartridges blocked for non HP chip'.

very unhelpful. 

Spent a few hours this evening trying to fix, not how i wanted to spend my Christmas eve. even factory reset the printer which i thought would work but i still get the error message which sounds to me like the firmware update changed the factory reset data to include blocking of these unofficial cartridges. 

so do i just chuck these fresh cartridges in the bin and buy new official HP cartridges? not a chance.

How do i get my printer back to the way i was using it. I am self employed and rely it for work, my daughter is in school and regularly uses it. 

I read that this is a security update but i only see it as a penny pinching exercise, when i need to replace my laptop, printer or any other tech in future HP will be/ is blacklisted. I work as an audio visual engineer and purchase loads of IT equipment.

Unless this is resolved HP are dead to me. many people will just be sending your old printers to landfill. 

Planned obsolescence. 

Please allow me to roll back my firmware to the one i was using before so i continue using my product. 

[Anand_Andy]

Hi @CSmithSound,

Welcome to the HP Support Community

I understand you are facing an Ink cartridge issue with your HP Printer. Not to worry I will help you to get a resolution to resolve the issue.

Let's perform a power drain: 

• With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer and also unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
• Remove USB cable, if present.
• Wait for 2-3 minutes, press and hold the power button on your printer for about 30 seconds to remove any additional charge.
• Now plug back the power cable straight to a wall outlet without any surge protector or an extension cord (This is important) and then plug back the power cord to the printer.
• Turn on the printer and wait till warm-up period finishes and the printer is idle

Update the printer firmware 

• Click here to download and install the latest printer firmware from your product
• Click here to know different methods of updating printer firmware.

You may refill your cartridges or use remanufactured cartridges, but you may run into problems. HP will not guarantee the functionality of those ink cartridges.

There are many cartridges in the market which is refilled and sometimes the chip is not configured to work with the printer. You need to contact the cartridge manufacturer and find out why it's not working. Try a different cartridge supplier and check if that works.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Yes" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping

[CSmithSound]

Hi I am afraid this didn't help.

Power drain completed.

When i try to update the firmware via the HP firmware updater as per your instructions below I get the following error message from you firmware updater software:

"cannot update the device, this firmware updater does not contain upgrades for your device" 

Where is the firmware for my printer? can you just give me the old firmware back or the factory firmware or the firmware that has been discussed that does not include these cartridge security (penny pinching) updates. 

I have ben using these cartridges for over a year and still have a couple in the box, there is no reason for you to block their chip with your firmware other than to force me to buy official HP ink. I installed the firmware update advertised to me on the printers screen as it told me it would improve things not cause me hours of grief.

Please help.

[Anand_Andy]

@CSmithSound,

Thank you for your response, I really appreciate your efforts. As the issue still persists, I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. 

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

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!