Brother printers and win 11, connection by usb

Brother printers and win 11, connection by usb

Author
Discussion

DKL

Original Poster:

4,590 posts

228 months

Monday 18th September 2023
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I gather this is a known issue but my basic brother printer (MFC235c) isn't recognised by my new win 11machine. I do get the usual connection chirp when the usb cable is connected so it knows there is something there.
It won't find it on the device add option and, so far, the only way it acknowledges it is connected at all is if I go to add a printer manually, chose a port it is there on the list on USB001.
If I follow this it sudden morphs into an epsom printer for some reason and then won't work.
The brother website doesn't seem to have a win 11 driver for my machine.
It worked fine with win 10 so is there a solution?

Whoozit

3,750 posts

275 months

Monday 18th September 2023
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Instead of auto install, did you try downloading the Win10 driver install package from the Brother website?

DKL

Original Poster:

4,590 posts

228 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
There doesn't seem to be drivers to install. I had found the drivers page on the brother site but it seems to think windows, or an update, will have the correct drivers, well for 10 anyway. I have done windows updates and the firmware update but no joy so far.
It just doesn't seem to recognise the printer for what it is.

Whoozit

3,750 posts

275 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
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It's an older printer it seems? May be time to bite the bullet and buy a new one. Annoying and wasteful though that is...

grumbledoak

31,756 posts

239 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
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I don't think there is any architectural difference for windows drivers between 10 and 11. Try the Windows 10 driver.

DKL

Original Poster:

4,590 posts

228 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
quotequote all
Just to update this, incredibly I've fixed it. Should anyone need to know
Settings - printers and scanners - add device - wait until the add manually option comes up
Bottom option - add local printer or network printer with manual settings
Choose use existing port - usb001
Hit windows update.
It took about 10 mins to do the list but then mine was in there.

Other windows update options elsewhere didn't show the printer list.
Don't ask me why, I don't have the knowledge but stumbling around in the dark just sometimes you find the door!