Healthy-Again Computers
Keeping Your Computers Healthy

Helping people take charge of their computers

Computer Health - A New Beginning

This is a new adventure. I am a retired software engineer, and I have not found any place where people who are not tech-savvy to find information on the purchase and "care and feeding" of computers, printers, and other associated devices to maintain it all, reliably and inexpensively.

This is now that place. It's just a beginning right now.

The computer marketplace is a mine field. You can easily spend a fortune on a computer or a printer, and end up with something you really did not need, leaving a big hole in your bank account or credit card. The big tech companies do not make it any easier, as most of them want you to buy their latest - and very expensive - gadgets.

Case Study: An HP printer that suddenly stopped working

This is the first article on this site. It is a delightful story that began with a horrible start. My HP 8710 Inkjet Printer, which I purchased very cheaply last year (2019) because it was an overstock item, suddenly and inexplicably failed, in a way that convinced me that some part of the hardware had failed. Replacing it was out of the question; used ones sell for more than $300, plus shipping. What I discovered - and I can tell you, only someone who is tech-savvy like me could have ever found this out - is that HP had issued what is called a "firmware update" - an update to the printer's internal micro-computer software - that disables the printer if any of the cartridges were refilled or re-manufactured. HP had previously agreed publicly to allow such cartridges, with a warning that using them would invalidate their warranty (a reasonable statement) and that you agreed to this warning.

To see the rest of this story, click here.

Soon to come: many more articles to help you with your computer equipment.

Payment/Donation Request

If you find that the information on this site has saved you money, or is otherwise useful to you, or you would like to contribute to help the cause of providing this kind of service to people, please consider a modest payment for these information services. I am retired and on a very limited budget. I had hoped to raise funds for new equipment, maintaining this website, and other personal expenses by providing personal and local PC help services (JonsPCFixitShop), but covid-19 has made this impossible, since I am vulnerable at my age.

I use my JonsPCFixitShop PayPal account for the payment button, and you can then use your PayPal account or a credit or debit card for payment. I have programmed the button to be a payment for information services, so you will not be charged any transaction fees. Select the amount you would like to pay. Any amount will be gratefully received.

If you don't have a PayPal account, PayPal will allow you to use any credit or debit card. PayPal is a completely safe, data secure funds transfer and payment service. Look for the lock symbol next to the PayPal URL (https://www.paypal.com), which guarantees that your payment is secure and encrypted.

Healthy-Again Computers/Jon's PC Fixit Shop
124 Metropolitan Ave.
Roslindale, MA 02131-4208

https://www.healthy-again.net/computers

Here are the HP printer firmware downgrade links.

Technical note: The fundamentals of using these downgrades are:
1. The printer update software must be set to not perform automatic firmware upgrades
2. The downgrade firmware is installed

The order of these  two operations appears to vary according to people who have used them. Most users report that stopping automatic firmware updates should be done first. Others - myself included - found that this step could be done after the downgrade firmware is installed. Additionally, some printers may need a "factory reset" operation to be done before the downgrade firmware is installed.

CompAndSave - In addition to an excellent firmware downgrade page, they also sell very high quality HP-compatible cartridges that are compatible with the recent HP firmware update. Check with their chat agents before ordering if you cannot downgrade your firmware. CompAndSave is a professionally-run organization, and they have live chat agents (not "chat-bots").
https://www.compandsave.com/hp-printer-firmware-downgrade
for 90x, 95x, 97x

ComboInk
https://www.comboink.com/hp-printer-firmware-downgrade
for 90x, 95x, 97x

4InkJets - In addition to an excellent firmware downgrade page, 4InkJets gets top rating by Top Ten Reviews in "Best discount ink cartridges 2021." Check with their chat agents - to make sure their cartridges are compatible with the new HP firmware upgrade - before ordering if you cannot downgrade your firmware.
https://www.4inkjets.com/firmware-downgrade
For 202 A/X, 902 XL, 952 XL

Please note that the CompAndSave printer list is incomplete. Use the download specified for the cartridge series for your printer.

Printers affected by HP's "firmware upgrade:"

HP 90x series (CompAndSave)
HP OfficeJet Pro 6950, 6951, 6954, 6956, 6958 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 6960, 6962, 6968 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 6970, 6975, 6978 All-in-One Printer
 

HP 95X Series (CompAndSave)
HP OfficeJet Pro 7720, 7730, 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8210, 8216, 8217 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8700, 8710, 8714, 8715, 8716, 8717, 8718, 8719 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8720, 8724, 8725, 8727, 8728 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8730, 8732M, 8734, 8735, 8735, 8736 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8740, 8743, 8744, 8745, 8746, 8747 All-in-One Printer
 

HP 97x Series (CompAndSave)
HP Pagewide 352dw
HP Pagewide MFP 377dw/dn
HP Pagewide Pro 452dw/dn
HP Pagewide Pro MFP 477dw/dn
HP Pagewide Pro 552dw
HP Pagewide Pro MFP 577dw/Z
HP Pagewide Managed P55250dw
HP Pagewide Managed MFP P57750dw
 

HP 202A/X Printers (4InkJets)+
HP Color LaserJet Pro M254 dw / nw Downgrade
HP Color LaserJet Pro M280 / M281 Downgrade
HP Color LaserJet Pro M153 / M154 Downgrade
HP Color LaserJet Pro M180 / M181 Downgrade

HP 951
OfficeJet Pro 8600, 8600 Premium, 8610, 8615, 8616, 8620, 8625
The printer firmware for this series has not yet been updated by HP, that is, the current firmware at HP's web pages for these printers accepts "non-HP" cartridges. However, there were reports in the past that some of these printers suddenly stopped working after some firmware upgrade, and they were not allowing the download of the functional firmware version. I am guessing that a factory reset of the printer would facilitate downloading the functional version. In any case, if your HP 8600 series printer is currently working, I recommend that you set the firmware update software to avoid further updates, as described above.
 

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of all HP printers. I am collecting information and firmware links for others.