Why update a printer software?

Printer manufacturers such as Brother, Epson, HP, and Lexmark update most of their printer software automatically on a regular basis. Most of the time, these updates are installed without the user even knowing about them.

These updates often have no benefit to the end user and are simply provided to combat the use of generic cartridges by making them unrecognizable by the printer once the update is installed.

We strongly recommend that you take the time to read this article and make sure that your printer has automatic updates disabled.

HP Automatic Updates

The most recent HP printers can receive firmware updates (installed manually by the customer or automatically) that can lock the cartridge chip and prevent printing. In general, when this happens, a message such as “Cartridge error: missing or damaged cartridge,” “cartridge problem,” or a similar message will be displayed when using rechargeable ink cartridges that have an installed replacement chip. We recommend that you always disable the feature, “Automatic Update,” “Printer Update” or “HP Update” to help prevent future lock-outs when using rechargeable ink cartridges.

How to disable the HP Automatic Update

• Click the Start menu in the bottom left corner of the screen and, in the menu, slightly to the right of this, left-click on the “Control Panel” tab.

• In the Control Panel, you need to scroll through the left column until you find the green heading “Hardware and Sound.”

• Click on the first link in this section, which should be “View Devices and Printers.”

• Once you are in the “Devices” panel, you will see a small icon representing a computer with your computer’s name underneath.

• Right-click on the computer icon, and then left-click on the menu indicating “Device installation settings.”

• The next window that appears will ask you if you want to automatically download and install software updates for your devices.

• This is where you need to select the radio button “No, let me choose what to do.” It will bring up several options as you will see in the next screen.

• This final window now gives you the opportunity to ask HP never to install new drivers on your devices.

• Click the radio button next to “Never install driver software.” Finally, click on the “Save Changes” button.

• Now, you will have no problem with your printer updating its software without your knowledge. This will save you a lot of last-minute surprises, especially if you use generic cartridges for your printer.

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