Brother MFC-J870DW Printer not working

Vista32toWin7 · 25 Mar 2015

I purchased a Brother MFC-J870DW Printer in October 2014. I set it up using the included CD to run wirelessly. It worked okay up until my cable connection was disconnected this past week. Because I no longer have wireless, I connected a USB cable from the printer to my computer, didn't work.

At the same time I ran out of the black starter ink and replaced it with a "compatible ink cartridge" and immediately got 'Cannot detect" messages. I understand quite a few people who bought these same cartridges had the same problem. So I have to either purchase expensive OE ink or find a truly compatible ink replacement. I don't know if this will fix the printer problem or if I need to install a different driver/software package?

So now that I don't have wireless, I have to use the USB connection. Everything looks okay in device manager. Devices and Printers has a green check on my printer icon, so I presume the printer is equipped with a USB driver or was installed when I ran the setup CD initially.

I'm not sure if I have the right printer version installed? I right clicked printer, then properties to find out which version printer I had, it initially said Version: 1.1.0.0 (3/4/2013). But then I clicked on that 2nd printer icon to check what that was for, checked the version and it was: Version 1.00en-US. I set that as the default printer to see what would happen, which was nothing. So I switched it back to the original checked printer icon and it is now set as Version 1.00en-US. I tried to get it back to the original version, but didn't work. Confusing, but that's why I'm here.

?

There is a 2nd Brother Printer icon that I'm not sure why that is there? Also

?

I contacted Brother support, they want me too download and install the full Driver and Software Package. Maybe I don't understand, but I already installed whatever software programs and drivers off the CD. And I don't want to be double installing previously installed programs.

?

Any help appreciated, Thanks, Bill.

oscer1 · 25 Mar 2015

hi i would start by uninstalling the printer and right click other printers in devices and delete. then i would do as advised by brothers support and download the full driver and software package and install. or use the disk again to install

carwiz · 25 Mar 2015

I have the same printer that was connected via Ethernet cable for about 2-3 weeks. I happen to be viewing network activity and saw all the traffic for the printer even when it wasn't doing anything. I changed it to USB and it seems to be faster. (In start to print times.)

I suspect you need to delete both printers, reboot then reinstall the printer for USB. I'm pretty sure that's what I did. I don't recall exactly because I also have a Brother Laser I installed around the same time also on USB.

About the only thing I dislike about my 870 is that it runs a cleaning cycle about once a week. And it does this even when turned OFF. As long as it's plugged in, even though turned off, it runs the cycle. I don't really use the printer often so it sits idle. I usually keep the laser turned off until I need it. No cleaning cycles there.

Oh wait, I have one more gripe about it. If you use the USB or card port on it, it hangs the machine ports until you reboot. Even when you Eject the device. Windows says it's ok to remove the device but you can't use the port again.