Printer problems

esebm · Aug 27, 2025

Guys, is there any category here that can help with printer problems?

XxXxX · Aug 27, 2025

if you post the problem here and its not in the right section
the forum team will move it to the correct section.

so please post the problem.
best of luck, Steve ..

antspants · Aug 27, 2025

What’s up with your printer fellow forum person? Is it a printer that prints on paper or is it like a Micky 17 printer that reproduces human beings?
We’ve seen a few Printer issues lately, with Windows 11 24H2

Spunk · Aug 27, 2025

General Support, where you are posting now is a good place to start. We can move it if there is a more appropriate section to move this to.
Please tell us the printing issue? Also include the Make and Model # of the printer, whether it is Ink Jet or a Laser printer.
Include any error messages.

esebm · Aug 27, 2025

Guys, thanks for the heads-up.
Here's the problem: I cannot print from my PC (win 11, 24H2) anymore (Brother DCP-L2540DW), it worked for years.
Printer is connected via router, cat6 cable new. Libre ofiice writer shows the printer but the PC says it's not connected.
My wife's PC is connectet via USB, prints fine, her laptop is connected via wi-fi, prints fine.
I have tried to install the Brother printer driver but it refuses because no printer connected. I have tried the Brother net tool, does not work because, no printer connected. I'm out of my wits.

antspants · Aug 27, 2025

Hi. There are many posts lately re printer issues. Here is some common things to look through that have been suggested in the past. I had AI format it for me. I can’t promise anything though.

Set Static IPs for Printer and PC

On the printer:
Menu > Network > Wired LAN > TCP/IP > Boot Method > Static
Assign a static IP (e.g. 192.168.1.10) and subnet mask (255.255.255.0)
On your PC:
Go to Network Adapter Settings > Ethernet > Properties > IPv4
Set static IP (e.g. 192.168.1.20), subnet mask (255.255.255.0), no gateway needed

Confirm Connectivity

Open Command Prompt and run (replace xx with the correct IP):
Code:
```
ping 192.168.1.xx
```
If ping fails, check cable, reboot printer, and confirm IP settings

Remove Ghost Printer Entries

Go to:
Control Panel > Devices and Printers
Remove any Brother printer entries
Then:
Print Server Properties > Ports tab
Delete any stale Brother TCP/IP ports

Add Printer Manually via TCP/IP

Go to:
Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a printer
Click:
"The printer I want isn't listed"
"Add a printer using TCP/IP address or hostname"
Enter the printer’s static IP (e.g. 192.168.1.10)
Choose:
Device Type: Standard > Generic Network Card
When prompted for drivers:
Select Brother DCP-L2540DW or use "Have Disk" if you’ve extracted the driver manually

Disable SNMP Status Monitoring

Go to:
Print Server Properties > Ports > Configure Port
Uncheck:
SNMP Status Enabled

Check Firewall and Network Profile

Temporarily disable firewall:
Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Firewall & Network Protection
Ensure Ethernet is set to Private:
Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet > Network Profile

Manual Driver Install (If Installer Fails)

Extract the Brother driver package using 7-Zip
Go to:
Device Manager > Add legacy hardware > Install manually
Point to the extracted .INF file

Final Notes

Direct Ethernet requires manual IP setup—no DHCP or auto-discovery
Brother tools may fail without LAN broadcast support
Manual port configuration and SNMP disablement are key to restoring functionality

Steve C · Aug 28, 2025

esebm said:
Guys, is there any category here that can help with printer problems?

For photo printing issues I joined this very useful Facebook group Log in to Facebook

esebm · Aug 28, 2025

Wow antspants, that's quite a list, I'll go through it one by one, many thanks.
As to Facebook, I'm not a member, thanks.

esebm · Aug 28, 2025

Well, I added the printer manually so it seems to be connected but it doesn't even print the test page. It seems to be asleep at the wheel and does not wake up.

Spunk · Aug 28, 2025

How did you manually add the printer?
On the printer itself, go to the Menu, choose Print Network Configuration Page.

Print the Network Configuration Report | Brother

Print the Network Configuration Report

support.brother.com

On the computer, Press the Windows key +I . In Settings,
Go to Bluetooth & Devices. Go to Printers & Scanners
Select your Brother printer. Choose Set As Default. Don't let Windows manage it.

Go to More Devices and Printer Settings link
Here if you have any Brother Printers that are greyed out (Offline) Right click and Remove them.
If you don't have your Brother Printer listed chose to Add Printer.
It will scan your network, if need be, use the Network Configuration page you printed to use that info to add the printer.
Print a test page.

esebm · Aug 28, 2025

This is how I added the printer:
Add Printer Manually via TCP/IP

Go to:
Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a printer
Click:
"The printer I want isn't listed"
"Add a printer using TCP/IP address or hostname"
Enter the printer’s static IP (e.g. 192.168.1.10)
Choose:
Device Type: Standard > Generic Network Card
When prompted for drivers:
Select Brother DCP-L2540DW or use "Have Disk" if you’ve extracted the driver manually

I printed out the network config and used it to add the printer. Still no test page, printer is asleep.

Spunk · Aug 28, 2025

Open a command prompt as admin and ping the printers IP address (ie)
ping 192.168.1.10 see if you get any results.

Also, open your browser and in the address bar type the IP address of the printer (ie)
192.168.1.10

You can also run the driver setup again and it will ask how you want to connect, (ie) USB, Ethernet, or Wireless. Choose Ethernet and add the printer that way.
Or try the Wireless Network connection.

Set up your Brother machine on a wireless network. | Brother

Set up your Brother machine on a wireless network.

support.brother.com

esebm · Aug 29, 2025

Printer responds to ping, browser responds with the printer "sleep".

XxXxX · Aug 29, 2025

on your brother printer there is a screen. does this screen show network settings.

if it does you can enter the network details in to the settings.
on my brother printer its
settings > all settings > network > WLAN > TCP/IP

there i can enter the reserved address from the router
192.168.1.xx

subnet
255.255.255.0

gateway
192.168.1.1

save settings and then try the printer please.
best of luck, Steve ..

Winuser · Aug 29, 2025

Here's a few things that Brother suggest for bringing a printer out of deep sleep that may help. Unable to print after the machine has entered "Deep Sleep" - Windows

esebm · Aug 29, 2025

Steve, all those network settings are correct, no test page.

Spunk · Aug 29, 2025

I would start over. As I previously stated,
I would remove all Brother printers and uninstall all Brother software and restart the computer.
I would start the driver install and choose to install a Network (Ethernet) Printer.
The driver software will search your network and add the printer.
Do this instead of manually adding the printer.

esebm · Aug 29, 2025

I had done that already and it didn't work. I'll try it again.

XxXxX · Aug 30, 2025

brother wireless setup tool

it also maybe worthwhile checking your firewall settings
hopefully something there that will help
best of luck, Steve ..

esebm · Aug 30, 2025

Guys, I'm out of words! Today that darn thing prints like nothing ever happend, beats me why.

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