HP LaserJet P Series, Color LaserJet CP Series and M/CM MFP Series

Products - RFU LOAD ERROR SEND RFU UPGRADE ON USB PORT or

other messages related to resending firmware on the USB port

Device Recovery Procedure

Introduction
Single Function Printer Recovery Procedure
Other RFU (Remote Firmware Upgrade)
messages and how to address them
Additional information about single function
devices impacted by this issue
Multifunction Printer Recovery Procedure
IMPORTANT NOTE
Other RFU (Remote Firmware Upgrade)
messages and how to address them.
Additional information about MFP devices
impacted by this issue
Issue:
The following message is presented on the HP
Easy Select Control Panel:
“RFU LOAD ERROR SEND RFU UPGRADE
ON USB PORT”
In addition, you may see information in the error
string regarding the “DEV PORT” or an
“INFLATE ERROR”. These are considered the
same condition.
Solution or Work around:
This message appears (in English only) if the
firmware update fails because the print-engine
firmware is corrupted. If this message appears,
the update must now be sent only by a computer
that is attached to the USB port of the device; an
RFU via the network will not work. The following
procedures can be used to attempt to resolve
this issue.
Device Recovery Procedure
Introduction
This procedure should only be used when
attempting to recover an HP LaserJet product
when the product displays Send RFU Upgrade
on USB Dev port. It should not be used to
update firmware on a working product at the
READY state.
This procedure is supported with the following
operating systems:
 Windows® 2000
  Windows® XP
 Windows Server 2003
 Windows Vista
 Windows Server 2008
top
Single Function Printer Recovery Procedure
NOTE: Multifunction Print Procedures listed
below
1.Turn on the product to be recovered. The
product control-panel should display one of
the following messages:
o RFU Load Error: Send RFU Upgrade on

USB dev port

o Inflate Error: Send RFU Upgrade on

USB dev port

o CRC Check Error: Send RFU Upgrade

on USB dev port

The error above will be quickly followed by
the following message:
o Download file now: Send RFU Upgrade
on USB dev port
When the product displays the above
message, it is ready to accept the firmware
upgrade.
 NOTE: If the product has a parallel port, the
word “parallel” will be in place of “USB” in
the message. If the product has both USB
and parallel ports, use the port defined in the
message. If the incorrect port is used, the
recovery will not be successful.
NOTE: Network ports may not be used to
recover HP LaserJet products.
2.Connect a USB cable between the product
and the computer to be used for the
recovery.
NOTE: If you have a Hewlett-Packard HP
LaserJet USB Upgrade driver already
installed on the computer being used for
recovery, proceed to Step 4. A Windows
Plug and Play event should begin. A text
bubble should read: “Hewlett-Packard HP
LaserJet USB Upgrade found” and the
Found New Hardware Wizard will
automatically start.
NOTE: If you do not have a Hewlett-Packard
HP LaserJet USB Upgrade driver already
defined on the computer being used for
recovery and do not receive a Plug and Play
event, you must disconnect the USB cable
 from the computer, delete all drivers
connected to local ports from the Printers
folder, and then reconnect the USB cable to
the computer. You should then receive a
Plug and Play event for the product.
3.Use the following steps to create the print
path from the computer to the HP LaserJet
product.
1. From the Welcome to the Found New
Hardware Wizard screen, select No,
not this time and then click the Next
button.
Figure 1: Welcome to the Found New
Hardware Wizard screen

2. From the Found New Hardware

Wizard screen, select Install from a list
 or specific location (Advanced) and
then click the Next button.
Figure 2: Found New Hardware Wizard
screen

3. Select Don't search, I will choose the

driver to install and then click the Next
button on the Please choose your
search and installation options
screen.
Figure 3: Please choose your search
and installation options screen
4. Select Printers for the Hardware Type
on the Found New Hardware Wizard
screen and then click the Next button.
Figure 4: Found New Hardware Wizard
screen.

5. Select any HP LaserJet printer from the

Add Printer Wizard screen and then
click the Next button. It is not necessary
 to use the product-specific driver. The
purpose of this step is to create a print
path to the product and any HP LaserJet
printer driver will work.
Figure 5: Add Printer Wizard screen

6. Click the Yes button in the Update

Driver Warning screen.
Figure 6: Add Printer Wizard screen

7. Rename the printer you are installing,

on the Name Your Printer screen, to
“Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet USB
Upgrade”. Use this exact spelling (with
no space between “Packard” and “HP”)
since this is the name for the Plug and
Play port in recovery mode for all HP
LaserJet’s. This will help identify the
driver to use when selecting the print
path to the product. Click the Next
button.
Figure 7: Name Your Printer screen

NOTE: Do not delete this print driver

from the Printers folder. Once this port
is created, it can be used as the print
port anytime an HP LaserJet product
needs to be recovered. On any future
recovery, you only need to plug in the
USB cable to the product and run the
HP Easy Upgrade Utility with this port
selected to recover a product.
 8. While the installation completes, the
Completing the Found New Hardware
Wizard screen appears. Click Finish to
close the wizard.
Figure 8: Completing the Found New
Hardware Wizard screen

A bubble message from the task bar will

display: New hardware is installed and
ready to use . This message indicates
that the driver has installed properly.
2.Go to your Printer and Faxes folder . Find
the printer you just added. Right Click and
select Properties .
1. Go to the Ports Tab and make sure the

Enable bidirectional support is

unchecked. (Figure 9)
 2. Go to the Advanced Tab and make
select the Print directly to the printer.
(Figure 10)
3. Click Apply , and then OK
Figure 9: Ports Tab

Figure 10: Advanced Tab

 3.Run the Update Utility Builder Tool and
select the printer you just installed. Press
the Send Firmware button.
Figure 11: Update Utility Builder tool screen

WARNING: Only the formatter firmware is

updated when the product is in recovery mode.
Other components that have updateable
firmware are not updated during this procedure.
After the product is recovered, you must resend
the complete firmware bundle to the product.
This is necessary to avoid a mismatch between
the formatter firmware and the other
components in the product. It is important that
the latest supported firmware bundle is sent to
the product after the product is in a “READY”
state.
Firmware bundles are consumed by the product
serially. Components are updated one at a time.
The display will alternate between Receiving
Upgrade and Performing Upgrade . Once all
components have processed the corresponding
update, the product will reboot.
Because the current firmware bundle is
consumed serially, it may cause the Windows
spooler to display a spooler text bubble stating
that the print job has failed. This is normal and
should be ignored. As the product updates a
component, the Windows spooler may time out
and display the text bubble. Once the next
component in the firmware bundle starts to
download to the product, the Windows spooler
text bubble will close on its own.
top
Other RFU (Remote Firmware Upgrade)
messages and how to address them
Download file now Send RFU Upgrade
Mismatch between Product and file
This error is generated when the wrong firmware
file is sent to the device. Try sending the correct
firmware upgrade file using your usual method
of sending RFU files.
Resend Upgrade
This error is generated when one of the firmware
components fails to fully install. Try sending the
correct firmware upgrade file using your usual
method of sending RFU file
top
Additional information about single function
devices impacted by this issue
Several printer models have received upgraded
firmware which should prevent the issue from
occurring. Upgraded HP printer models are
listed in the table below. Please note both the
printer model number and the firmware
version/datecode, because both are important in
determining if the printer in question may require
implementing the process outlined in this
document.
If the printer model is listed below AND the
firmware version/date code of the printer is
earlier than the version/datecode below: Please
upgrade the printer firmware to the latest
available from HP.
If the printer model is listed below AND the
firmware version/date code of the printer is the
same or later than the version/datecode below:
The printer should be already upgraded to
prevent the error from occurring. If you do
receive this error anyway, please escalate to the
HP support community.
Please also note that additional models may be upgraded in the future to prevent the error
discussed. This document will be updated after those changes take place.

MODEL F/W Version / Datecode

P4014n CB507A 04.047.2 / 20081215
P4014dn CB512A 04.047.2 / 20081215
P4015n CB509A 04.047.2 / 20081215
P4015tn CB510A 04.047.2 / 20081215
P4015dn CB526A 04.047.2 / 20081215
P4015x CB511A 04.047.2 / 20081215

P4515n CB514A 04.047.2 / 20081215

P4515tn CB515A 04.047.2 / 20081215
P4515x CB516A 04.047.2 / 20081215

CP3505 CB441A 03.020.3 / 20081001

CP3505n CB442A 03.020.3 / 20081001
CP3505dn CB443A 03.020.3 / 20081001
CP3505x CB444A 03.020.3 / 20081001
 MODEL F/W Version / Datecode

CP3525n CC469A 05.057.1 / 20081204

CP3525dn CC470A 05.057.1 / 20081204
CP3525x CC471A 05.057.1 / 20081204

CP6015dn Q3932A 04.044.0 / 20081119

CP6015x Q3933A 04.044.0 / 20081119
CP6015xh Q3834A 04.044.0 / 20081119

top
Multifunction Printer Recovery Procedure
IMPORTANT NOTE
The process for recovering an “M” series MFP is
quite challenging and in many circumstances,
the process may not be successful. To enhance
customer satisfaction HP recommends that the
formatter be replaced to resolve the issue.
In the event the customer would like to try to
resolve this issue remotely, the procedure listed
below can be used. The customer should be
informed before starting the procedure that this
procedure may or may not resolve the issue.
In the event that a USB update is not successful,
a formatter will need to be replaced. For some
products, this formatter is considered a (CSR
part) customer self repair which means the
formatter can be sent to the customer and the
customer can install it their selves. For other
products, it may require a service engineer. An
HP Support person can help identify which type
of formatter replacement will be required for the
product exhibiting the issue.
top
1.Turn on the product to be recovered. The
product control-panel should display one of
the following messages:
o RFU Load Error Send RFU Upgrade on

USB dev port

o Inflate Error Send RFU Upgrade on

USB dev port

o CRC Check Error Send RFU Upgrade

on USB dev port

The error above will be quickly followed by
the following message:
 o Download file now Send RFU Upgrade
on USB dev port
When the product displays the above
message, it is ready to accept the firmware
upgrade.
NOTE: If the product has a parallel port, the
word “parallel” will be in place of “USB” in
the message. If the product has both USB
and parallel ports, use the port defined in the
message. If the incorrect port is used, the
recovery will not be successful.
NOTE: Network ports may not be used to
recover HP LaserJet products.
2.Connect a USB cable between the product
and the computer to be used for the
recovery.
NOTE: If you have a Hewlett-Packard HP
LaserJet USB Upgrade driver already
installed on the computer being used for
recovery, proceed to Step 4. A Windows
Plug and Play event should begin. A text
bubble should read: “Hewlett-Packard HP
LaserJet USB Upgrade found” and the
Found New Hardware Wizard will
automatically start.
 NOTE: If you do not have a Hewlett-Packard
HP LaserJet USB Upgrade driver already
defined on the computer being used for
recovery and do not receive a Plug and Play
event, you must disconnect the USB cable
from the computer, delete all drivers
connected to local ports from the Printers
folder, and then reconnect the USB cable to
the computer. You should then receive a
Plug and Play event for the product.
3.Use the following steps to create the print
path from the computer to the HP LaserJet
product.
1. From the Welcome to the Found New
Hardware Wizard screen, select No,
not this time and then click the Next
button.
Figure 12: Welcome to the Found New
Hardware Wizard screen
2. From the Found New Hardware
Wizard screen, select Install from a list
or specific location (Advanced) and
then click the Next button.
Figure 13: Found New Hardware Wizard
screen
3. Select Don't search, I will choose the
driver to install and then click the Next
button on the Please choose your
search and installation options
screen.
Figure 14: Please choose your search
and installation options screen

4. Select Printers for the Hardware Type

on the Found New Hardware Wizard
screen and then click the Next button.
Figure 15: Found New Hardware Wizard
screen.
5. Select any HP LaserJet printer from the
Add Printer Wizard screen and then
click the Next button. It is not necessary
to use the product-specific driver. The
purpose of this step is to create a print
path to the product and any HP LaserJet
printer driver will work.
Figure 16: Add Printer Wizard screen
6. Click the Yes button in the Update
Driver Warning screen.
Figure 17: Update Driver Warning
screen

7. Rename the printer you are installing,

on the Name Your Printer screen, to
“Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet USB
Upgrade”. Use this exact spelling (with
no space between “Packard” and “HP”)
since this is the name for the Plug and
Play port in recovery mode for all HP
LaserJet’s. This will help identify the
 driver to use when selecting the print
path to the product. Click the Next
button.
Figure 18: Name Your Printer screen

NOTE: Do not delete this print driver

from the Printers folder. Once this port
is created, it can be used as the print
port anytime an HP LaserJet product
needs to be recovered. On any future
recovery, you only need to plug in the
USB cable to the product and run the
HP Easy Upgrade Utility with this port
selected to recover a product.
8. While the installation completes, the
Completing the Found New Hardware
 Wizard screen appears. Click Finish to
close the wizard.
Figure 19: Completing the Found New
Hardware Wizard screen

A bubble message from the task bar will

display: New hardware is installed and
ready to use. This message indicates
that the driver has installed properly.
2.Go to your Printer and Faxes folder. Find the
printer you just added. Right Click and select
Properties.
1. Go to the Ports Tab and make sure the

Enable bidirectional support is

unchecked. (Figure 20)
 2. Go to the Advanced Tab and make
select the Print directly to the printer.
(Figure 21)
3. Click Apply, and then OK
Figure 20: Ports Tab

Figure 21: Advanced Tab

 3.Run the Update Utility Builder Tool and
select the printer you just installed. Press
the Send Firmware button.
Figure 22: Update Utility Builder tool screen

WARNING: Only the formatter firmware is

updated when the product is in recovery mode.
Other components that have updateable
firmware are not updated during this procedure.
After the product is recovered, you must resend
the complete firmware bundle to the product.
This is necessary to avoid a mismatch between
the formatter firmware and the other
components in the product. It is important that
the latest supported firmware bundle is sent to
the product after the product is in a “READY”
state.
Firmware bundles are consumed by the product
serially. Components are updated one at a time.
The display will alternate between Receiving
Upgrade and Performing Upgrade . Once all
components have processed the corresponding
update, the product will reboot.
Because the current firmware bundle is
consumed serially, it may cause the Windows
spooler to display a spooler text bubble stating
that the print job has failed. This is normal and
should be ignored. As the product updates a
component, the Windows spooler may time out
and display the text bubble. Once the next
component in the firmware bundle starts to
download to the product, the Windows spooler
text bubble will close on its own.
top
Other RFU (Remote Firmware Upgrade)
messages and how to address them.
Download file now Send RFU Upgrade
Mismatch between Product and file
This error is generated when the wrong firmware
file is sent to the device. Try sending the correct
firmware upgrade file using your usual method
of sending RFU files.
Resend Upgrade
This error is generated when one of the firmware
components fails to fully install. Try sending the
correct firmware upgrade file using your usual
method of sending RFU file.
top
Additional information about MFP devices
impacted by this issue
Firmware has been developed that will keep this
issue from happening in the future.
This firmware became available for the HP “M”
Series MFP’s in January of 2009. The firmware
can be obtained on each products firmware
download page. To help address the chance of
seeing this issue in the future, HP recommends
updating any “M” series MFP with this firmware
when possible. If this condition is encountered
after updating to this new firmware, HP
recommends escalating the issue to the HP
support community.
The matrix below identifies the firmware date code for each products firmware. If the
firmware date code on the device is older than the versions identified below, the update
should be performed on that product when possible.

Date code seen on Current

Product
Configuration Page as of
Family
of MFP (Date)
HP LaserJet
20081209 51.031.2 1/1/2009
M9040 MFP
HP LaserJet
20081209 51.031.2 1/1/2009
M9050 MFP
HP LaserJet
20081208 48.081.2 1/1/2009
M4345 MFP
HP LaserJet
M3027/35 20081208 48.081.2 1/1/2009
MFP
HP LaserJet
M5025/5035 20081208 48.081.2 1/1/2009
MFP
HP Color
LaserJet
20081210 53.011.2 1/1/2009
CM3530
MFP
 Date code seen on Current
Product
Configuration Page as of
Family
of MFP (Date)
HP Color
LaserJet
20081208 50.061.2 1/1/2009
CM4730
MFP
HP Color
LaserJet
20081205 52.031.1 1/1/2009
CM6040
MFP