From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

Ever wonder why printer manufacturers are so keen on firmware updates?
They say it's to enhance printing speed, fix bugs, and ensure smoother operation. However, there's more to it than just improving your
experience. Printer manufacturers release these updates to control your printing options and influence your purchasing decisions, it's no secret printer manufacturers make most of their profit from selling their own
branded ink cartridges.

Just as your mobile phone or computer receives updates, printers also
need periodic updates. While it's usually a no-brainer to update your
phone or computer, you might want to think twice before updating your
printer. These updates can render compatible cartridges useless, forcing
you to buy their costly branded ones.

To safeguard your printing experience, disable automatic firmware
updates in your printerrCOs settings. This will help prevent any disruptions.

By choosing to opt out of firmware updates, you can maintain the ability
to use cost-effective compatible cartridges, avoiding the higher costs
of branded ones. Remain alert for update notifications and decline them
to preserve your options.

Since each printer varies, it's always advisable to consult your
specific printer manual on how to disable firmware updates.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

Forewarned is Forearmed!



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From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On Sat, 8 Aug 2026 22:56:07 +0100, Jack <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

Ever wonder why printer manufacturers are so keen on firmware updates?
They say it's to enhance printing speed, fix bugs, and ensure smoother >operation. However, there's more to it than just improving your
experience. Printer manufacturers release these updates to control your >printing options and influence your purchasing decisions, it's no secret >printer manufacturers make most of their profit from selling their own >branded ink cartridges.

Just as your mobile phone or computer receives updates, printers also
need periodic updates. While it's usually a no-brainer to update your
phone or computer, you might want to think twice before updating your >printer. These updates can render compatible cartridges useless, forcing
you to buy their costly branded ones.

To safeguard your printing experience, disable automatic firmware
updates in your printerrCOs settings. This will help prevent any disruptions.

By choosing to opt out of firmware updates, you can maintain the ability
to use cost-effective compatible cartridges, avoiding the higher costs
of branded ones. Remain alert for update notifications and decline them
to preserve your options.

Since each printer varies, it's always advisable to consult your
specific printer manual on how to disable firmware updates.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

Forewarned is Forearmed!

I feel your pain. I get daily a popup telling me to hardware update.
This does not work and I cannot turn the nag off! It's OKI by the
way.
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From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On 09/08/2026 00:20, Peter Jason wrote:

On Sat, 8 Aug 2026 22:56:07 +0100, Jack <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

Ever wonder why printer manufacturers are so keen on firmware updates?
They say it's to enhance printing speed, fix bugs, and ensure smoother
operation. However, there's more to it than just improving your
experience. Printer manufacturers release these updates to control your
printing options and influence your purchasing decisions, it's no secret
printer manufacturers make most of their profit from selling their own
branded ink cartridges.

Just as your mobile phone or computer receives updates, printers also
need periodic updates. While it's usually a no-brainer to update your
phone or computer, you might want to think twice before updating your
printer. These updates can render compatible cartridges useless, forcing
you to buy their costly branded ones.

To safeguard your printing experience, disable automatic firmware
updates in your printer|ore4raos settings. This will help prevent any disruptions.

By choosing to opt out of firmware updates, you can maintain the ability
to use cost-effective compatible cartridges, avoiding the higher costs
of branded ones. Remain alert for update notifications and decline them
to preserve your options.

Since each printer varies, it's always advisable to consult your
specific printer manual on how to disable firmware updates.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

Forewarned is Forearmed!

I feel your pain. I get daily a popup telling me to hardware update.
This does not work and I cannot turn the nag off! It's OKI by the
way.

The days when people could own their own printers are over. Now, the
original equipment manufacturer (OEM) effectively owns your printer, and
if you stop paying your subscription, your printer will stop working.

When buying a new printer, make sure that it has a USB connection. This prevents HP or any other company from tampering with the printer
remotely. Remember to use the USB connection to print documents rather
than Ethernet or Wi-Fi. I had a LaserJet CP2025, but it stopped working
when I tried the Ethernet connection. HP updated the firmware, and the compatible toners I was using can't print. You only get completely black paper.

<https://youtu.be/oktkWavrvbM>





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From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On 2026/8/9 0:20:11, Peter Jason wrote:

On Sat, 8 Aug 2026 22:56:07 +0100, Jack <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

[]

By choosing to opt out of firmware updates, you can maintain the ability
to use cost-effective compatible cartridges, avoiding the higher costs
of branded ones. Remain alert for update notifications and decline them
to preserve your options.

Not to mention the possibility of it stopping working altogether.
Granted, usually unintentionally, though you never know!>>

Since each printer varies, it's always advisable to consult your
specific printer manual on how to disable firmware updates.

It may well not tell you these days (I don't think you get an actual
manual these days - just a set-up card; _sometimes_ a manual is
obtainable).>>

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

Forewarned is Forearmed!

I feel your pain. I get daily a popup telling me to hardware update.
This does not work and I cannot turn the nag off! It's OKI by the
way.

Do you get this even when you haven't used the printer since last boot?

If so, then there is something running that is checking for them. (Do
you get it when not connected? [If you're like me, you may not know, as
I'm always connected.]) If you use one of those utilities that lists all
the things that run when you start, you may find it; the best one I know
is Autoruns (free, part of the SysInternals suite), which finds things
almost wherever they start from, and also lists the publisher, so you
should be able to find anything from Oki (though look at ones where it
says "Not verified" too).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Just because you're old it doesn't mean you go beige.
Quite the reverse. - Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, RT 2015/7/11-17
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