Question HP M1212nf laser printer stuck in initializing loop

[Weathered]

My dad has an HP M1212NF MFP laser printer that has been connected to his desktop via usb cable and working fine. I go to hook it up to the network via ethernet cable so can print to it from other computers. Using a Windows 11 laptop, it found the printer but said driver unavailable. So I go to HP's website and download the full feature software and driver package for it. It goes through the installation process fine, no type of errors came up. Couldn't get it to print so I turned printer off and back on. Now it is stuck in a initializing loop. I have done some searching on this, found many threads on HP support forum and tried the things mentioned there. Resetting NVRAM, unplugging and waiting 60 seconds or more, unhooking all cables. There was a toner low message before this happened so I tried installing a new OEM toner and still didn't help. One place I read said the formatter board may need to be replaced. Besides replacing the formatter board, is there a way to confirm it is bad? I took the cover off and took a good look at it but couldn't see anything wrong, no blown capacitors.

During the driver installation process, it went through a firmware update. Could that have done something to the printer? I know I have seen many people say don't do a firmware update if its working, not talking about with this particular model, just in general with printers. If the firmware update caused the issue, what can I do to get it working again?

 

[KingLoki]

When you say it was detected on the network, then the problems came as you mentioned, is it plugged back in as it first was into the usb port on the pc that it was originally working on?

 

[Weathered]

When you say it was detected on the network, then the problems came as you mentioned, is it plugged back in as it first was into the usb port on the pc that it was originally working on?

The problem came after I installed the driver package for the printer. I did try plugging it back into the original computer but doesn't change anything. The computer will just keep making the disconnect and connected sound because of the printer going through a boot loop.

 

[KingLoki]

Did you install the driver package on the original computer?

 

[KingLoki]

If you did, then you can check in the driver properties of the printer in windows device manager. While in there it may give you the option to rollback the driver to the previous one, or alternatively uninstall the printer, reboot the pc and let windows pick up the device again and see if it works.

 

[KingLoki]

The printer software package is relayed to windows only. Doesn't change anything inside the printer. The firmware update is a different story. That does change the printer itself and maybe your problem. ??

 

[BFG-9000]

During the driver installation process, it went through a firmware update. Could that have done something to the printer? I know I have seen many people say don't do a firmware update if its working, not talking about with this particular model, just in general with printers. If the firmware update caused the issue, what can I do to get it working again?

Looks like the firmware update on your 14 year old printer was not successful. Beginning in 2016, HP started to push firmware updates that would block 3rd party, non-HP cartridges so people have long considered firmware updates from HP as only for lining their own pockets and not for helping their customers. Think of them as DRM updates for inactivating aftermarket chips in 3rd party cartridges.

HP forums suggest a new printer.

 

[Weathered]

The printer software package is relayed to windows only. Doesn't change anything inside the printer. The firmware update is a different story. That does change the printer itself and maybe your problem. ??

At this time, I did not install the driver package on original computer. I am sure that was done when it was hooked up years ago. I will check the properties on that computer to see if I can find anything about rolling back driver. I am thinking it is a firmware update issue. Hope I just didn't brick the printer.

Looks like the firmware update on your 14 year old printer was not successful. Beginning in 2016, HP started to push firmware updates that would block 3rd party, non-HP cartridges so people have long considered firmware updates from HP as only for lining their own pockets and not for helping their customers. Think of them as DRM updates for inactivating aftermarket chips in 3rd party cartridges.

HP forums suggest a new printer.

If the firmware update wasn't successful, wouldn't I get some kind of error message during the update process? This printer has never seen third party toner, always used genuine HP toner. Really hoping I just didn't brick this printer. Seen a few places mention maybe the formatter board is bad but don't think that is the case because when I hook up printer to original computer using usb, it keeps recognizing the printer when it is going through the loop. If the formatter board was bad, wouldn't think that would be happening.

 

[stonecarver]

My dad has an HP M1212NF MFP laser printer that has been connected to his desktop via usb cable and working fine.

One heck of a printer but to bad the firmware update was not a good idea. It's a tank of a printer and I keep mine off the internet as like you have now experienced bad things happen.

If the printer itself is now looping I'm not really sure how to reverse the firmware or move forward to patch it at this point.

There is a cheat sheet that the printer prints on first boot after the driver has been installed and I get it, it won't print now but maybe you can google to find that sheet as it has different key combo's to try if you get stuck here and there with the printer.

The only way for me to post that sheet from my same printer is to remove the driver and reinstall and that's a pain being as there are so many same drivers through the years as windows has moved forward.

Better it's found off google or at HP.