HP printers get blue screen of death

HP is facing a bad firmware update that has blocked some OfficeJet printers. According to reports from beeping computerthe faulty firmware was released worldwide earlier this month and affected customers are seeing a blue screen with error code “83C0000B” on the printer’s touchscreen.

In HP’s support forums, customers from various countries have asked questions about the issue. A printer owner notes that the blue screen error does not even allow him to access the service menu of the device. Another couple of customers were told to wait until May 16 for a fix, but to date HP has yet to fix the issue.

“Our teams are working diligently to resolve the blue screen error affecting a limited number of HP OfficeJet Pro 9020e and HP OfficeJet 8010e printers,” HP communications manager Nick Lucido wrote in an email to The edge. “We recommend that customers encountering the error contact our Customer Support team for assistance https://support.hp.com.”

HP had sent beeping computer largely the same message, which was posted on Saturday. A notable update today is HP’s acknowledgment of the faulty firmware issue affecting not only the 9020e series, but the OfficeJet 8010e as well. beeping computer had listed the affected printers as versions of the HP OfficeJet 9020e models, including HP OfficeJet Pro 9022e, Pro 9025e, Pro 9020e All-in-One, and Pro 9025e All-in-One Printer.

That’s not the only HP-induced headache the company has caused its printer customers lately – some of which have been intentional. Earlier this year, HP released updates that would prevent printers from accepting third-party ink sources, something the company has already done and was even the subject of a class action lawsuit that was settled for $1.5 million.

Printer manufacturers like HP are notorious for locking in ink because it’s the most profitable part of the printer business. But adding what is essentially DRM onto ink cartridges can lead to other problems. The edge reviews editor Nathan Edwards had to go through 57 easy steps to get his imported HP printer to accept genuine HP Instant Ink cartridges on the state side.

The stress of knowing that a printer is only for printing, but realizing that it won’t do that one thing either, can put you in a sobering state. Remember, there is a printer out there that works great and does what it’s supposed to do – and without badly designed firmware (that I know of).