FUCK YOU HP (aka how to downgrade firmware on HP 254dw)

 Fucking shoot me in the face. Nothing in this world works, any any attempt to make it better just makes it worse.

This time it's HP. FUCK YOU HP.

< Actual ranting goes on for a while, just scroll past the image for downgrade steps >

I've had this image on my printer for the past few weeks, but since I didn't have to print anything, I figured it'd go away eventually. Printer has been pretty solid for the last 2 years, and just fed it brand new cartridges.

Well... Turns out a few things:

a. Last time I upgraded firmware, it enabled auto upgrade.

b. in Nov 2020, HP pushed a firmware that disables 3rd party cartridges. Instantly bricking 1000s of customers printers all over the world. FUCK YOU AGAIN.  Nice write up here:   https://borncity.com/win/2018/09/19/blocks-hp-firmware-update-third-party-ink-catriges-again/ 

c. Now, instead of all colors for $50 from amazon, customers have to pay $600 for 4 high capacity cartridges.

Downgrade steps - w/o special installers

This process follows the HP article here: https://support.hp.com/nz-en/document/c01711356#AbT3

How to disable auto upgrades going forward:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DxGnet3XLg

Step 1. Download new firmware from HP FTP archives.

Grab both, 2019 and 2020 firmwares

1: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/networking/software/pfirmware/HP_Color_LaserJet_Pro_M254_dw_Printer_series_20190218.rfu

2: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/networking/software/pfirmware/HP_Color_LaserJet_Pro_M254_dw_Printer_series_20200612.rfu  or anywhere on the internet that may host it by the time you read this.

Note: Looks like 2020-06 is published same day as November, and doesn't work as the first upload. So you'll be downgrading to 2019 to unbrick your printer first.

 

Step 2. Get your printers IPv4 or IPv6 address address. #3 or #5 below.

Step 2b: Enable FTP access in networking

Step 3: FTP into printer using and upload file using put command

Type put and type a space, and then drag and drop the 2019 .RFU file onto the terminal window.

Step 4: Install firmware

Within a few seconds (up to 5 minutes per doc above) the printer will self reboot and self install it.

Step 5: To get 2020-06 version:

For whatever reason, I couldn't upgrade to 2020-06 immediately after 2019 version. I did get it to work using following steps (no idea if all of them are necessary, but I don't care to test)

After 2019 firmware is done, reboot printer.

Check for latest update, decline update.

Disable FTP

Enable FTP

Install 2020-06 successfully

Done

You're back in business with amazon cartridges.

Now, maybe disable FTP printing, maybe not. Up to you ¯\_(ツ)_/¯