Windows 10: Windows 10/11 and My Old Printer

Hope this might help someone out there and save the landfill some very unnecessary e-waste. I have an old Brother 5040 that works just fine. In fact, I am able to connect it to the latest Mac OS and print without issue. Windows 10 or 11? Nope. No sale. Go buy a new printer. Until, after a few days of searching, trying, failing, and trying again, I found what has worked for me. Here's a summary. Note that I did not do this without the help of numerous forums and authors too numerous to name. Note, too, that this method worked for both Windows 10 Pro and the rufus-bypass version of Windows 11 th

:)

 

Old printer showing in "Add a Device"

Hi Michael,

Thank you for using Windows 10.

I suggest you to run "Printer troubleshooter and check if that helps. follow the steps:

• Press the ‘Windows’ key.
• Type ‘Troubleshooting’
  and select ‘troubleshooting’
• Click on ‘Hardware and Sound’
  and select ‘Printer’ and click on next to run the troubleshooter.

If the issue still persists, then let us know and we'll be glad to help.

 

connect new laptop to old printer

Hi Yon,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community and being a part of Windows 10.

I understand your concern about adding a printer to your device. We will help you with this issue.

This issue might have occurred due to corrupted or outdated printer drivers after upgrade to Windows 10. We will help you with this issue.

Do let us know if the drivers are compatible to Windows 10 Operating System?



Try few of the below troubleshooting steps and check if it helps you to add the printer.

Step 1: If the device is not detected on your computer try to run Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.

Hardware and Devices troubleshooter
checks for common problems and makes sure that any new device or hardware connected to your PC is installed correctly.

Follow:

• Press Windows key from the keyboard, type
  Troubleshooting and select it.
• Click on view all option on the upper left corner of
  Troubleshooting window.
• Select the Hardware and Device
  options from the list.
• Click Next to run the
  Hardware and Device Troubleshooter.

Step 2: I suggest you to check the status of
Print Spooler service and check.

Print Spooler service, spools print service and handles interactions with the printer.
If you turn off this service you won’t be able to print or see your printer.

Steps:

• Press Windows + R to open Run command, type
  Services.msc and press Enter.
• Search for Printer Spooler service, right click on it and
  Start the service.
• Also, set the Startup type to Automatic.
• Now check if you are able to install the driver.

Step 3: I suggest you to refer to the below thread, check if your issue matches with the same.

If so, try the troubleshooting steps suggested by Greg Carmack - MS MVP
on January 10, 2016 and check if it helps.

Unable to connect my Printer to Windows 10


Hope it helps. Get back to us with an updated status of this issue for further assistance.

 

Old printer installation gives Status:Error

Denis - I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean by: " I suggest you click on your Start menu's HP group..."

However, I carried out your steps 2 and 3 and removed the printer then restarted the PC and the printer returned so nothing achieved. Could you please elaborate on step 1, thanks.