win10pro, 22H2
new install, win sez drivers unavailable for mu brother hl-5040 printer.
brother web site sez theyre builtin to win10.
search for older printer turns up nothing.
turning printer off/on & unplug/replug usb conn does nothing.
any ideas?
I don't know if saw that Brother has a document showing how to install the driver built into Windows 10. Below is a link to that. If you already tried this, my apologies.
Install the built-in drivers (For Windows 8 or later)
| Brother
Did you go to this page? Install the built-in drivers (For Windows 8 or later)
| Brother
Did you try installation via control panel and add printer?
In this procedure in the last window you can download an overview of available drivers. Possibly, you will find the right driver for your printer there.
I did see that page from brother.
unplug/replug usb cable produces beep then if i go to devices & printers, it shows as hl-5040 'no driver available'.
the problem computer is a multi boot with XPPro, win7 & win10.
the printer works in XPPro & win7 but not win10. Its plugged into USB002.
i was able to get a successful test page from my other computer, also running win10pro, 22H2, but only when the problem computer is running XP or Win7. it sees it as a network printer & will print.
I think the bottom line is the driver is not loading like its supposed to when the usb cable is plugged in, or it can't find the driver.
I then tried 'add new printer'-'add local printer or network printer with manual settings'.
It did a search in updates & found brother hl-5040.
I click next & it spins for a bit & sez 'driver was not installed'.
Why is this thing refusing to install the driver?
I tried deleting the printer in settings-printers & scanners, unplugged usb cable, rebooted plugged in usb cable & it came up with a printer installed & ready message.
But when I go to settings it still sez 'driver unavailable' & is not listed as a choice if I try & print a document.
It will recognize the correct printer name & put it in settings page but will not install the driver.
I also retried manually installing. It finds the hl-5040, I gave it a diff name but same result.
Strange that it will print in XP & Win7 but win10 cant handle it.
My apologies for being a little bit repetitive, but can you confirm that you specifically followed the steps that Brother outlines for installing Windows built-in drivers?
yes ,i followed the steps.
i did find another instance of the printer in control panel-devices & printers. In there, under properties, it sez the device is working properly.
In settings-devices-printers & scanners, however, it sez the driver is unavailable.
i redid the disconnect usb cable, delete printers (it disappears from both locations) & reconnected & i get the standard usb windows of 'setting up new device' & then 'the device is ready to use'.
Unfortunately while usb may be happy, settings still sez driver unavailble & printer dont show up when I try & print a doc.
underlying all this is the fact the printer works fine if i boot to win7 so i'm thinking theres some obscure setting off in win10 somewhere?
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Got it!
Found solution searching for latest error msg.
Another user had a 5040 & said it wasn't even listed in the install new printer-updates list so he tried installing the driver for the 5140 & it worked.
I tried the same & it's working fine.
Strange, I wouldn't have thought of it in a million years since the 5040 did appear in my list.
Last edited by dblake2; 11 Mar 2023 at 15:03.
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