Solved Brother MFC-J870DW printer won't print keep getting printing error?

[Vista32toWin7]

I have a MFC-J870DW Brother printer. Every time I try to print I get a printing error message. I had a Brother CS employee walk me through a process to fix this yesterday, but it didn't work. She told me I have a computer issue that is preventing the printer from printing. But couldn't specifically say whatever issue that might be?

She had me disconnect my USB cable from my computer to my printer several times. Then she instructed me to go into the control panel-devices and printer and had me remove and reinstall my printer. We did this twice, but I still kept getting the "printing error" message.

Currently there is a yellow exclamation point ! next to my printer icon in the control panel. I clicked the diagnosis button, but it didn't detect any problems?

I imagine if I hire a computer tech to look at it that it would cost more than what the printer is worth. I'm ready to heave this printer out of my 2nd floor window.

Anyone have any ideas for a fix?

 

[Vista32toWin7]

Anyone?

 

[Ranger4]

Do you installation software for the printer, this would be a CD or DVD. If you don't have installation software you should be able download the correct software from Brother. It is important that you get the right software version, so be sure to check that.

The fact that you have a yellow exclamation mark showing in "Device Manager" indicates problems, most likely with the printer driver.

If you have installation software it would be best to Uninstall the Brother printer completely from Control Panel "Programs & Features". This should also remove the yellow exclamation mark from "Device Manager", if it doesn't uninstall the driver as well. Then disconnect the printer from the computer, reboot the computer & then reinstall the printer using the correct software. This should result in a completely fresh printer install.

If you have an instruction manual, read through it first so you have the correct procedure to follow.

 

[Vista32toWin7]

Do you installation software for the printer, this would be a CD or DVD. If you don't have installation software you should be able download the correct software from Brother. It is important that you get the right software version, so be sure to check that.

The fact that you have a yellow exclamation mark showing in "Device Manager" indicates problems, most likely with the printer driver.

If you have installation software it would be best to Uninstall the Brother printer completely from Control Panel "Programs & Features". This should also remove the yellow exclamation mark from "Device Manager", if it doesn't uninstall the driver as well. Then disconnect the printer from the computer, reboot the computer & then reinstall the printer using the correct software. This should result in a completely fresh printer install.

If you have an instruction manual, read through it first so you have the correct procedure to follow.

R. Thanks for replying.

I didn't have a yellow exclamation point next to my printer in "Device Manager". I previously said: "Currently there is a yellow exclamation point! next to my printer icon in the control panel"

But at any rate, I was going to uninstall & reinstall the printer driver package. But before doing that I tried printing a page from my computer today and for whatever reason it printed the page I originally couldn't print.

I can only presume this was because I shut my computer down for the night and restarted it the next day somehow reset the printer? Currently there is a green check mark next to my printer icon in the control panel

Yesterday with the help of the Brother CS employee I uninstalled and reinstalled the printer in the control panel, but we didn't do a restart. So I am presuming not doing a restart somehow failed to correct or reset whatever was wrong with the printer or drivers yesterday?

I don't really don't know, maybe it was just that time of the month? But the printer worked today somehow?

Thanks again, for you time answering my question. If I have the same problem at a later date I'll refer back to this page for answers. Thanks again.

For the time being I guess I can mark this as solved, but I'm not really sure what resolved it? The restart?

 

[Ranger4]

Thanks for getting back & glad to hear it seems to be working properly now.

The restart is most probably the reason the printer is now working. People don't often realise that a restart is essential after any changes are made, so the changes can be loaded & take affect.