Printer Firmware Downgrade

[LosLobo1963]

I have a Brother L5970CDW printer and up till a couple of weeks ago was using unbranded printer toner.  Now it will not print, is this more likely a firmware upgrade result? Is it possible to downgrade this firmware upgrade?

[RobertX]

I don't think so.

However even though I'm no expert, I wouldn't touch the firmware or try to downgrade it.

Are you sure you can't just take out the toner and buy an alternative, or are you stuck with the currently installed toner?

[RodneyYouPlonker]

I'm not sure with the kind of printer that you're using but is it possible to use some kind of head cleaning mode?

I know that we have an office networking printer here and it has quite large cartridges but a few weeks back it went wrong so I just ran the nozzle cleaning mode and it fixed the problem.  I know what you're saying about a toner which is more your laser printer kind of situation but does it have anything like a cleaning mode I'm sure it will maybe in one of the settings somewhere?

[LosLobo1963]

I don't think so.

However even though I'm no expert, I wouldn't touch the firmware or try to downgrade it.

Are you sure you can't just take out the toner and buy an alternative, or are you stuck with the currently installed toner?

Stuck as in don't have the extra $$$ to just throw out toner that has more than 95% of its usage to go!!  I have researched this more than I ever thought I would and I am curious as to why there are never any firmware upgrades available other than the current one.

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I'm not sure with the kind of printer that you're using but is it possible to use some kind of head cleaning mode?

I know that we have an office networking printer here and it has quite large cartridges but a few weeks back it went wrong so I just ran the nozzle cleaning mode and it fixed the problem.  I know what you're saying about a toner which is more your laser printer kind of situation but does it have anything like a cleaning mode I'm sure it will maybe in one of the settings somewhere?

I have recently downloaded a service repair manual and have yet to read the contents, but will look in to cleaning the heads first, Thanks.

[RodneyYouPlonker]

I don't think so.

However even though I'm no expert, I wouldn't touch the firmware or try to downgrade it.

Are you sure you can't just take out the toner and buy an alternative, or are you stuck with the currently installed toner?

Stuck as in don't have the extra $$$ to just throw out toner that has more than 95% of its usage to go!!  I have researched this more than I ever thought I would and I am curious as to why there are never any firmware upgrades available other than the current one.

Well I would say that Brands do vary a lot.  I have always been a very big Epson fan now for years and I've always found theirs to be good.  I know somebody who has a Brother but it's not a laser printer.  I would say that when it comes to Firmware, a lot of it depends on exactly which company you have gone for originally.  It's very much the same as TVs, some companies are very keen to provide updates and then again some companies don't do that.  It's all swings and roundabouts and depends on which company have decided to spent more time and money producing newer firmwares.  Just because a company like Brother hasn't released many updates doesn't mean that it's a bad thing, just means they're not really the sort that do it often.  I would say when it comes to Printers that downgrading a firmware is not really common practise, I can't say I've heard that much before.  Okay so downgrading a firmware for something like a PC motherboard might be more like it but not actually a Printer.  I hope this helps anyway I would just stick to trying the head clean to see if it's that.  If in any doubt and you can't solve it try and find a local service centre to take it into, if possible, but don't get ripped off, if the problem is serious I mean.

[LosLobo1963]

I don't think so.

However even though I'm no expert, I wouldn't touch the firmware or try to downgrade it.

Are you sure you can't just take out the toner and buy an alternative, or are you stuck with the currently installed toner?

Stuck as in don't have the extra $$$ to just throw out toner that has more than 95% of its usage to go!!  I have researched this more than I ever thought I would and I am curious as to why there are never any firmware upgrades available other than the current one.

Well I would say that Brands do vary a lot.  I have always been a very big Epson fan now for years and I've always found theirs to be good.  I know somebody who has a Brother but it's not a laser printer.  I would say that when it comes to Firmware, a lot of it depends on exactly which company you have gone for originally.  It's very much the same as TVs, some companies are very keen to provide updates and then again some companies don't do that.  It's all swings and roundabouts and depends on which company have decided to spent more time and money producing newer firmwares.  Just because a company like Brother hasn't released many updates doesn't mean that it's a bad thing, just means they're not really the sort that do it often.  I would say when it comes to Printers that downgrading a firmware is not really common practise, I can't say I've heard that much before.  Okay so downgrading a firmware for something like a PC motherboard might be more like it but not actually a Printer.  I hope this helps anyway I would just stick to trying the head clean to see if it's that.  If in any doubt and you can't solve it try and find a local service centre to take it into, if possible, but don't get ripped off, if the problem is serious I mean.

---

I don't think so.

However even though I'm no expert, I wouldn't touch the firmware or try to downgrade it.

Are you sure you can't just take out the toner and buy an alternative, or are you stuck with the currently installed toner?

Stuck as in don't have the extra $$$ to just throw out toner that has more than 95% of its usage to go!!  I have researched this more than I ever thought I would and I am curious as to why there are never any firmware upgrades available other than the current one.

Well I would say that Brands do vary a lot.  I have always been a very big Epson fan now for years and I've always found theirs to be good.  I know somebody who has a Brother but it's not a laser printer.  I would say that when it comes to Firmware, a lot of it depends on exactly which company you have gone for originally.  It's very much the same as TVs, some companies are very keen to provide updates and then again some companies don't do that.  It's all swings and roundabouts and depends on which company have decided to spent more time and money producing newer firmwares.  Just because a company like Brother hasn't released many updates doesn't mean that it's a bad thing, just means they're not really the sort that do it often.  I would say when it comes to Printers that downgrading a firmware is not really common practise, I can't say I've heard that much before.  Okay so downgrading a firmware for something like a PC motherboard might be more like it but not actually a Printer.  I hope this helps anyway I would just stick to trying the head clean to see if it's that.  If in any doubt and you can't solve it try and find a local service centre to take it into, if possible, but don't get ripped off, if the problem is serious I mean.

The more I investigated, the more I realized even if  it would have solved any issue I might have had, the old firmware would have to be found on some persons' computer, I couldn't find it anywhere on the web.  I'll take your advice, leave the firmware as is, and purchase new toners. I hope brother understands that after that next set of Toner runs out I'll be better prepared to change printing tasks to another company.