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Printer device mysteriously no longer recognized then strange recovery
Canon Pixma MX860, multi-printer (print, fax, scan). Was working just fine, connected via USB to my HP laptop running Windows 10 20H2. I printed a document. Next, in order to reach for something I removed the USB cable for the printer, then plugged it back in. After that, no online printer detected. I plugged the USB plug into a different USB socket. Then another. Still no printer device, "offline." I restarted the printer. I restarted the laptop. STILL... printer offline.
I plug in the USB cable into my spare laptop. Printer recognized! I could print, no problem. So I go back to my other laptop and... no change. "Printer offline." I plugged in a USB mouse and a USB flash memory drive. Both recognized. But the printer? Nothing.
So I go into the Devices & Printers and I see the printer device listed. What's strange is that it's listed as Canon MX860 series Fax (Copy 1). If I check the Printer Properties, I find 4 listings -- printer, fax, printer (copy 1), fax (copy 2). This is weird. So I go for broke... I simply delete the device. I unplug the USB cable, then plug it back in. Finally, I hear the Windows audible cue that a device is recognized. The printer reappears. This time it's not "MX860 series Fax (Copy 1)," but now "MX860 series Printer. And there's just 2 entries for properties (printer and fax). This was such a strange experience.
Any idea what could've caused this to happen and why a manual removal of the printer device was required?