HP’s faulty firmware has had a catastrophic effect on some printers. An update released in early May is blocking some HP OfficeJet printers and a fix is not yet available, so owners will have to stare at the blue error code screen.
As reported by Bleeping Computer and Engadget, since the second week of May, support requests for error code 83C0000B appearing on the touchscreen of affected printers have flooded HP support forums. With no other way to interact with the printer and attempt a factory reset, customers around the world are stuck with their device not working.
Printers that are vulnerable to this issue include OfficeJet 9020e series models such as Pro 9022e, Pro 9025e, Pro 9020e All-in-One and Pro 9025e All-in-One. In a statement to Bleeping Computer, HP said that only a “limited number” of users had encountered the error and that it was “diligently” working on a fix. If the printer is still working, keep the printer offline (i.e., disconnected from the internet) to avoid downloading the wrong software update.
In case of problems, you should contact customer support through the support website. Customers in the forum reported that sending the printer in for service is currently the only viable solution available.
A major problem with HP printer firmware in the past has been the steady proliferation of the company’s “dynamic security” policy that blocks the use of third-party ink cartridges. While there are workarounds for some models (as detailed in a recent article), this additional issue does not leave a positive association with HP’s firmware update. real Security and feature improvements covered by firmware (a general concept).