Windows 10: Windows 10 doesn't identify a network printer

My laptop has a WIFI connection with my LAN. I have no problem to access Internet and the shared HD of my desktop, but Windows 10 Professional 64 bits (Version 1607) doesn't recognize one of my two network Printers.

My computer environment comprises two desktops, the main one running Windows 7 Professional 64 bits, the other running Windows 10 Professional 64 bits, an ADSL router/switch and two printers. My laptop currently accesses by WIFI the shared HD's of the main desktop and the printer hard connected to the second desktop, but not the one hard connected to the main desktop. The LAN between the router and the two desktops uses Ethernet connections.

I have tried several times to get this printer access : this was obviously a very good idea, since the connected printer has only been recognized on my Laptop after many many trials. I also spent a lot of time on various forums and read lots of tutorials, including on the Microsoft web site. I therefore know how to add a new printer to the current list (Start menu - Parameters,...), but don't know what to do if an existing network printer (Brother 2270DW) is not recognized by Windows.

I need to add that the desktop running Windows 10 accesses correctly this printer as well as the shared HD's of the main desktop, so that I dont imagine my problem being related to the dual Windows version or to a missing driver for this printer.

My three PC use Norton Internet Security and ShellFolderFix (a recommendation I found on the SevenForums !). Given the pain I had after the move from W7 to W10 (three weeks after the move I suddenly lost the start menu) I will stay with my Windows 7 desktop, which will also keep me in touch with the SevenForums. *Biggrin


Any suggestion appreciated, thank you


:)

 

Mapping network drives in HomeGroup. Is it supported?

My homegroup is set to identify printers and devices on the computer but the networked attach drive doesn't show up in Windows explorer 10.

 

My computer spontaneously turned monochrome

The printed text is always greyscale, no coloured text in sight, but I have now solved this problem.

The difficulty is caused by the WSD port that Windows 10 installs automatically. My HP printers are designed to work with standard TCP/IP ports. WSD doesn't work, but it is a challenge to defeat the standard Windows installation software. Here's how:

First delete the old printer to get rid of the unwanted WSD port. Keep away from "Devices and Printers" and the printer installation wizard. Never admit that you are installing a printer. You must discover your printer's TCP/IP address on your network. This
is likely to be a static, low numbered network address even if these devices are allocated using DHCP. My printer advertises its status on a web server and obligingly displays its IP address on its control panel.

Type "Printers" into the search bar at the bottom left of the home screen. Navigate to "Printers and Scanners" NOT "Devices and Printers" and click on "+ Add a printer or scanner". Ignore the genuine printer that Windows correctly identifies, and click on
"The printer that I want isn't listed". On the next screen the third and the fifth options both work, you can EITHER "Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname" OR "Add a local printer or a network printer with manual settings". Either way you must
convince Windows that this is some esoteric contraption that can only be identified by its TCP/IP address, and it certainly isn't a printer. Don't let it AutoDetect: specify TCP/IP and provide the network address, but you can let the new device specify its
own drivers. The printer now works perfectly, but each iteration of Windows makes this more difficult to do.

 

First off, Dump the Norton Internet Security on all machines. It is a virus in that it causes more headaches than it takes from your pocketbook. Once you get Norton off of all computers and turn off the Windows Firewall, then you should be able to find that Network Printer as long as it is properly connected to your Network through Wireless-G.

 

I second @bro67 's advice. dump the Norton junk.

 

If I understand you correctly, you have 2 printers, each one connected to its respective desktop computer, and the computers act as print servers. I think, since the Brother machine is capable of connecting to your network via wifi, it would be best if you connected it that way. Then you don't have to use a computer as a print server.

Here is your manual; the network connection instructions begin on page 8.
https://www.brother-usa.com/VirData/...DW_EN_2639.PDF

Hope that helps.

 

Thank you, bro67, play2mefish and simrick for your replies. Today, I did resolve my problem, since I found the way to force Windows 10 to look for a printer at the defined address : L: \\computer_name\Brother HL-2270DW series. Of course, I should have found it earlier....

BTW, bro67, what's your preferred Anti-virus and firewall software ?

Many thanks,

 

Glad to hear it. *Thumbs

 

None. Windows Defender is just fine for casual use on your machines. Firewall is handled on my network by a Cisco RV320.

You need to install the Brother software and that will allow you to choose the network printer during setup and then will install the driver and printer so that it is in Devices and Printers. Accessing it by IP or such in the Web browser is good if you want to make onboard changes on the printer. You can do the setup for Wifi or Ethernet from the printer itself.

I have the 2280DW printer and is on my Wireless-b/g/n Access Point, since it can only use up to Wireless-G. I just went through Menu on the printer, scrolled down to Network, then chose Setup WiFi and found the Access Point and then just pressed the arrow keys to plug in the Passphrase for my Access Point. I use a Hex/Decimal Passphrase, so that older stuff can connect if they do not recognize special characters. I use an 8 character Passphrase on both of my Access Points.

 

Sometimes you have to address network printers by their IP addresses. If you don't know what they are you can use a tool like NirSoft's PingInfoView to scan your local IP address ranges (my Samsung ML-2850 NW resides on 192.168.0.18, because I set up a static address allocation for it). OTOH, if you have access to the printer's properties, you can get the address from the Ports tab therein:



Once you know this information, you can use it in the "Add a printer" dialog by clicking "The printer I want isn't listed," then clicking "Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname."
HTH,
--Ed--