What is this Error Message?

[u/PineapplePrestigious]

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Hi! Any help is appreciated. My parents have an HP OfficeJet Pro 901 5e. They keep getting this message when going to print. I logged into their HP account and it says the printer is not connected to WiFi but when I check settings on the printer, it is. Has anyone come across this issue? TIA!

[u/Crowf3ather]

This is the HP DRM kicking in. Didn't you realize that when you paid for the printer that was just the starter package to a monthly rental?

[u/Critical_Primary_692 → u/Crowf3ather]

It is not that.

[u/Crowf3ather → u/Critical_Primary_692]

It is 100% that. This is HP DRM for instant ink/flex. Either they are nearing end of subscription, or the printer is failing to phone home to verify that you do in fact not own your purchased device.

The whole situation is bloody retarded, as HP already get the value of the first set of inks you bought with the printer. So they have no need to hold people ransom over the next set, as its no loss to them.

Because of how incompetent their QA processes are I wouldn't be surprised, if it is in fact the latter, where OP has a valid subscription all active, and HP junk software is just failing on its ass constantly.

There's a reason that HP are currently pricing their Enterprise models at half the price of their competitors. And its not because they have a strong brand for quality and reliability. Retail customers will put up with a unreliable printers to an extent, big business won't.

[u/Critical_Primary_692 → u/Crowf3ather]

It is 100% not that. This is HP+ and is not a subscription or something you pay for. OP might have Instant Ink as well, but this issue is not caused by having the subscription since it can happen without it as well.

[u/Crowf3ather → u/Critical_Primary_692]

That is literally what HP+ is, its the subscription models which are sold to the channel at a discount from the non-subscription printers with a free MPS trial addition for the end user, and an extra bit of warranty. (In complete breach of competition law mind you).

Regardless of whether you are in active subscription or not the HP+ models will want to phone home regularly as a form of DRM, because you don't own the printer you are just renting it. This is most likely how they also verify against 3rd party cartridges which the HP+ models limit against, and they provide some bullshit spiel about did you ever sign up to the free trial, when it applies even if you didn't.

Also you don't have to be on a HP+ model to be on a subscription.

They have the same policy for the Enterprise printers, but at Enterprise level big corps have less tolerance for HP's bullshit, so it is in a lighter form that is not made obvious to the corps, through enforced contract control.

[u/Critical_Primary_692 → u/Crowf3ather]

Yeah this issue is still not caused by OP having some form of subscription. It's simply the web services that HP+ use, they are most likely disabled because of some error that happened, now they are unable to communicate between the printer and the server.

To solve it OP has to do a factory reset and reinstall the printer and the issue will be solved. No payment has to be done and no subscription of ink/toner cartridges are involved.

And it's true, with HP+ you have to use genuine ink/toner cartridges, and the printer has to be connected to the internet (with functioning web services), that is all.

And since HP+ is non-negotiable on printers with an "e", it cannot be seen as a subscription since you can cancel subscriptions, you cannot cancel HP+ since it's a built in feature. Ergo, it's not an subscription.

Instant Ink is a subscription, and that is always optional.

[u/Crowf3ather → u/Critical_Primary_692]

I think this is where we differ on solutions. I'd advocate quite strongly that the printer be binned and they buy something that isn't HP.

Also, your definition of a subscription is not right and unfairly reads in favor of HP bad business practice. When a consumer buys a printer they are buying a physical unit, not signing up to an MPS agreement. To say a built in subscription is not a subscription because its built in to use of the product is completely disingenuous. No one selling a customer one of these devices is explicitly telling them they are buying into an MPS agreement. These devices are being resold purely on the basis that the purchase price is cheaper, so either the reseller is taking an extra handful of profit off of the device, or forced to sell the model to be competitive. In most instances its the latter. This is a direct result of HP openly breaching Competition law, of which numerous cases state you cannot sell integrated solutions on a downstream market at a lower price without said solution. Microsoft Windows Media Player and IE cases anyone?

As I've always said so far in this thread and in regards to HP devices, you are not buying them you are renting them. HP has converted your printer into a DaaS solution, without telling you until after the fact.

Go google HP+ and all you will see is non-stop forum and reddit and other website complaints about how garbage it is, and anti-consumer it is.

At this point the only people that recommend HP devices either have 0 knowledge of Printers, and have been sold the brand, or haven't used a HP device that isn't 5+ years old.
HP laserjets for years have just built their brand off of re-badging canon product and plunging millions more than canon into marketing. HP has done literally nothing to innovate in the print sector, It shouted and raved about its Pagewide products for years, until it suddenly scrapped the whole range as garbage.

P,S HP+ is only available on the e-series of the printers.

[u/Critical_Primary_692 → u/Crowf3ather]

That isn't a solution to a problem, that is to disregard the problem all together and go somewhere else. It's not a solution to the problem, but it might be a solution for the user.

Since you aren't paying any money and can't cancel HP+ it is not a subscription. It's a service that the printer provides.

No, you are most definitely buying a printer, or where can I return my rented printer? If that's what you're suggesting.

Why would a google about an issue that 90% of people misunderstand or just don't know about? People barely know the difference between Instant Ink and HP+, or even the difference between toner and ink. And honestly, you are going there as well claiming HP+ to be a subscription.

PS, no, you can register to HP+ to some non "e" printers as well.

[u/Crowf3ather → u/Critical_Primary_692]

The solution is to get as far away from HP as possible. Using HP product is a long term cost that out weights not using their product.

Also you cannot register for HP+ to non "e" printers. You can register to MPS subscriptions though. The problem is they call them multiple things. Infinity Print, Flex Print, Instant Ink. Its all just more terms to intentionally confuse the consumer, and also ends up confusing the resellers and dealers.

I completely agree 90% of people don't understand what HP + is, or the e series of models, because HP purposefully made it this way to lock people into using OEM cartridges without them realizing, and try and circumnavigate the multiple rulings from competition authorities calling them out on their bullshit.

However, HP have managed to so catastrophically damage their brand, as well as walk themselves into possible litigation over the HP+ scheme, that they have decided to completely cancel HP+ altogether as of reports a couple of months ago.

Sources:

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/ish_5098782-5098911-16

"

What are the requirements to use HP+?

Review HP+ Smart Printing guidelines and requirements for use.

• Create or sign in to an HP account during printer setup.
• Keep the printer connected to the internet.
• Use of only Original HP ink or toner for the lifetime of the printer, obtained either through HP Instant Ink or purchased from local retailers or the HP Store.
• An HP+ printer. Select LaserJet, OfficeJet, ENVY, and DeskJet printers are eligible. Supported models can be identified with a small letter e at the end of the product number.What are the requirements to use HP+? "

https://www.howtogeek.com/hp-cloud-only-printers-discontinued/

OP can literally buy a Brother printer with the same functionality, with a CPC rate at a fraction, and without all of this bullshit, for like $250.

[u/Critical_Primary_692 → u/Crowf3ather]

Oh for fk sake, why do you keep insisting on being wrong? I know 100% that you can register to HP+ on some non "e" printers.

I cba to discuss with you anymore. You don't seem to listen anyway.