Ink cartridge message incompatible supplies - how do I change my printer region

[SpinGetDizzy]

Hi, My issue seems to be due to the printer region being coded to EMEA and the ink apparently has an encoding that matches it to a region.  I purchased the printer a few years back while in EMEA and brought it back to the US where I live.  Upon returning, I also purchased all 4 ink cartridges because I had another large project that was about to take place.

I ended up using a different solution for the large print job coming up, but I went ahead and kept the extra cartridges knowing I would eventually need them.  Now that I finally need to use the cartridges, I open 3 of the 4 boxes, install them, only to learn that there is some regional encoding that is causing the "incompatible message.  Since these cartridges are outrageously expensive, I am looking for help to:

A) confirm if it is really the regional mismatch that is causing the "incompatibility message (the cartridges that came with it are 203x and what I purchased at Office Depot at the time was 202x.  I remember asking them about this 202x vs. 203x and the person said they only carried 202x and that since my printer model was listed (M254) it would be fine.  He said something about some cartridge hold more ink than others and that was probably the difference.  I am sure he didn't have other people who purchased a printer while in another country and brought it back.

B) if it is the regional encoding (which seems to be more about controlling price vs. a technical compatibility), how I can solve for this without having to just go and buy new cartridges that need to be shipped from EMEA?  I can't return the ones I have, and selling them somehow when they will only work in EMEA isn't going to work.  (I wouldn't buy them this way from an individual in another country).

I doubt it matters, but there is still 1 original cartridge in the printer that still has about 1/2 the ink, so I did not replace it.  I don't know if having 3 from the US and 1 from EMEA makes any difference, but it seems unlikely.  Plus, I don't want to open it like I just did the other 3 unless I know it is going to work.

Thanks for any help.

[SpinGetDizzy]

After posting, I see a few other posts that looked as if they were able to receive instructions fro changing the regional settings.  I'm looking for where this may be documented, but would appreciate anyone sharing the instructions for the HP ColorJet Pro M254nw that will allow me to change them to the US.

[Treeko]

Hi @SpinGetDizzy 

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

I understand you have moved and the printer is not accepting the new region cartridges.

We need to perform a regional reset on the printer to resolve this issue. 

The reset instructions are specific for your printer and performing those steps on a different printer may brick the device. 

I have 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 Support Community profile, next to your profile Name or simply click on this link.

Take care and have a good day.

Treeko
HP Support

[SpinGetDizzy]

Thanks - I replied with the requested information inside of the private message.  Looking forward to receiving the instructions to reset region.

Thanks

[SpinGetDizzy]

@Treeko, (or other rep who has access to share the reset instructions) Hi,

Are you able to share the instructions on how to reset the region so my Printer (which I bought while in Austria, so it is set to EMEA) can print the ink cartridges that I bought back here at home in the US?

Thanks!

[Elohi_NR · Accepted solution]

Hi @SpinGetDizzy,

Treeko is not available currently. 

I would request you to contact our HP Support Engineers who should be able to sort this out. 

I've sent you a private message with further instructions. In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name or simply click on this link.

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution button, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

[SpinGetDizzy]

Elohi_NR thanks for replying below and providing me a number to call for help.

For others with this same model, here is the info regarding how to reset.  I am sure there are multiple ways.  For this printer, we did the following:

1. removed all the cartridges
2. turned off the printer
3. held down the left arrow key and the cancel (X) button while turning the power on
   1. After a bit, it did a factory reset and I was able to select my current region

The method above, of course, loses all your settings, but it is worth finally getting the region reset so I could use the ink cartridges I had purchased