Windows 10: W10 update killed my Brother printer

June 13, 2020

W10 version 10.0.18362

A recent W10 update (the actual update number isn't available) knocked out my trusty Brother HL 4070cdw printer.

All W10 debug attempts, Brother printer settings, wifi and router settings to determine the trouble reported OK e.g. installed, working, ready etc. But my printer wouldn't 'budge'. After hours and hours of frustration and getting nowhere, I resorted to removing the latest W10 update (I can't see the actual update number because I removed the update!). As of June 13, 2020, it was the latest update.

Wala. my printer is back.

I hope this might save others of hours and hours of fruitless debug time.

Microsoft .... shame shame on you !!!!!

:)

 

W10 - Printers - Brother HL-5140

This printer has been sporadically working since the W10 upgrade. Worked fine on W8.1. I tried to re-install the driver by first uninstalling the printer using device manager and then letting W10 find new hardware. Windows looks like it is installing
drivers and the printer shows up on the Devices and Printers page. BUT: the stats shown at the bottom of the page is Driver is Unavailable.

Brother's website states that W10 has its own drivers for this printer and Brother has no downloadable drivers for W10, or for that matter 8.1, 8, 7.

Is it the case that maybe it was working sporadically as a fluke and now something has changed on my system that killed it? Is it the case that there are no useable drivers for this printer on W10?

As I said, there are NO drivers to download on the Brother site.

Ideas, other than toss the old printer out?

 

Can't Access networked Brother Laser printer- To print or use Web I/f

Not all Printer drivers are included in the installation media. Even mine (Brother HL-4040CN), you would need to manually add it to the list:

1. Control Panel->Devices and Printers->Add a Printer
2. Follow the steps to set up a network printer. At one point, Windows will search for available printer, click on "The printer that I want isn't listed"
3. Click on "Windows Updates". Windows will start downloading a complete list of Printers.
4. Select your printer name & model then install.

EDIT: Just tried to install as a USB printer for MFC-7820N since I don't have this printer to set up as a network printer. The result as shown in the list after clicking on "Windows Update":

 

Brother MFC J6720DW listed with strange icon in Devices and Printers

I have reinstalled the drivers for my Brother MFC J6720DW and now the printer icon is listed in the unspecified category instead of the printer category. The printer is the "Device" icon to the right.





Right clicking on the icon shows the usual items for a printer (printing properties etc.), In addition it shows a "Browse Files" entry that lists the card reader of the printer.





To the left of the Brother printer icon there is another similar one that seems to be my USB card reader