… to reset the web interface password on the  printer’s embedded web server

After our recent purchase of HP’s Network Laser printer P2014n I was glad that the setup went well.  However a couple of weeks later printing stopped on all the systems running Windows Vista and Linux while it continued running on computers with  XP and on the Macs (Which were installed from HP’s CD too).  Investigating the cause I hit upon a couple of things. First -I had the printer on a dynamic IP. Second -on computers running Vista, I was unable to install the printer using the supplied software by HP and had followed the method outlined here to set it up.  So the XP computers were locating the Network printer by some other HP provided means whereas the Vista computers had installed the network printer using a virtual TCP/IP port so got foxed when the printer’s DHCP lease ran out and it received a new IP address from the DHCP server. The same issue was affecting Linux!  Solution (I should have known) – assign a static IP address for the printer. This gave rise to a new problem for the printer did not come with a LCD display from where I could change the address and the web based settings menu was protected by a  password on which I did not know. I was left now with two options. Try and reset the printer to factory defaults or use a web based password cracker.I searched Google for any help and every trail lead to a dead end. The closest I got to was where I had to press the Go (Green) button and switch on the printer while keeping it pressed for 4-5 seconds. I did it repeatedly to no avail and till my eyes were blinking in sync with the lights on the printer and finally gave up. I tried to contact HP on live chat, but even before starting they wanted the printer serial number. I had no intention of going down seven floors, walk ing into the adjoining building and go up 8 floors again to get the serial numbers for 3 different Network Lasers. As Vista user complaints started piling up, I was forced to refine my Google search using different keywords. Finally something turned up on HP’s Business support forums on password reset issues for the 8150 printer. A user by the name Tom Hartsook had taken the time out to enlighten other users on how to reset the NV(Non-Volatile)RAM on the 8150 printer. Poor Tom himself was allowed to be enlightened only after paying $40 to HP. Thanks Tom for the solution. The same procedure worked for the HP P2014n too. I was disappointed as I should have figured this out by myself as there were only two buttons on the printer and I had already tried out one. Here is ho it is done…

• Switch off the printer
• Hold down the Go (Green) and Cancel (Red) Buttons
• Without letting them go, switch on the printer
• Keep them pressed -the six lights will blink in unison on the printer body
• 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 seconds later let it go
• Switch the printer off and on again

On a Windows Computer. Use the wizard to add a network printer. Allow it to browse for a printer. On Vista (not sure of XP) it should show you the printer and its IP address. Note this address, cancel the wizard, open your favorite web browser and type in this IP address and press enter. Configure the printer to your liking – I set a static IP, assigned it a new host name which identified in which of our offices the printer was physically located and set the printer to default to economode. Protect it by a password. In future, the web control panel can be accessed by the new static IP you have set. The username for login will be Admin.

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