This is how I finally felt today about my printer....

[steve2470]

I have a tax document I desperately need to print out. I guess I could finagle a way to have it mailed to me but nope, gonna do it all high-tech. It's a Brother HL-L2340DW monochrome printer (don't even get started on tech support...will explain why). Worked great with both USB and wireless.

Well, I have not used it in months because I don't print much stuff out, no need to. I had left it just plugged into the wall (big mistake) during our little hurricane back in September.

Long story short, the damn thing will NOT work in Windows 8 or Windows 10 whatsoever. I guess I could have gotten really ambitious and tried Windows 7 (yes it's an older model) but meh.... I even called freaking Brother and spent an hour on the phone. I tweeted Microsoft and one of the nice folks on the Insiders team took all my info, but nope, no resolution there either. Yes, I tried it with stable Windows 10 too, nopers. I even tried the oldest version of Windows 10 I had, which is the initial one way back in 2015. Yes, I had the exactly correct printer software from the Brothers site itself. The Brothers rep verified it and we both struggled with it.

I'll spare you all the geeky details. Finally today, I just F****** GAVE UP LOL and decided ok, the printer is probably f**** up because of a power surge when the power came back on after our hurricane. It didn't TOTALLY f*** it up, no that would be too obvious. Just enough that it will NOT work when I need the damn thing to work.

I just bought a new cheapy Brother printer that actually replaces this one. Just not worth it any more. Nope. Life is too short to get more gray hairs off this stupid f***** printer. Whew, now I feel better LOL

eta LOL:

[tonedevil]

1. Damn...

it feels good to be a gangster.

[Motley13]

2. Guess I'll have to do that too, every time I want to use it, there is some problem

that needs to be taken care before I can print, so I usually decide to hell with it. It won't print in black even with a new cartridge

[steve2470]

3. it's either a software or a hardware problem and....

when you've spent an hour on the GD phone with the printer manufacturer.....and contacted MS....

it's probably a hardware problem that cannot be fixed unless you want to gut the thing and replace the innards. Nope, not worth it to me.

Good luck with your printer!

[procon]

4. There must be some secret industry rule that says computer stuff goes obsolete

the minute you buy it. I had an expensive multifunction printer that did everything but make coffee, but I seldom used it and never took full advantage of all the features, but I had to buy it. It was still brand new, but it couldn't be upgraded to match all the new developments on my computers so it became a very large paperweight. It makes me have a panic attack to toss things away when my inner frugal self is screaming they should still be functioning.

[northoftheborder]

5. Printers are undependable, in my experience.

My latest, only the chip-containing cartridges sent in the mail from HP work in my HP printer, because they let the company know when I'm running out of ink. They are counting the number of pages I've printed via Wi-Fi. Can't use off the shelf ink. Me smells a rat. Printer doesn't tell me I'm out of ink, but I get an email from HP. ??????

[Timewas]

8. Printer companies

Have stated time and time again that they could actually give printers away if they could force you to buy the ink just from them...

[UTUSN]

21. HP wireless is *exactly* my problem, same ink deal. But it DISCONNECTS from wireless

unpredictably, spend an hour or two going through all the Troubleshooting runarounds, then 45 minutes with Tech support, and nothing works. Then the NEXT DAY, turn on and voila it's working (for the time being).

I don't print much, but when I need it right now, it's NOT connected. It's 7 months old and am ready to take a bat to it like in the O.P.

[SWBTATTReg]

6. If you have a kinko's in the area, you might be able to ...

download file to flashdrive and take to kinko's, and get printed off there...just a thought...thanks for the laugh and good luck w/ printer

[steve2470]

7. good idea, if I was in a huge hurry I would definitely do that

My new printer will arrive in a week, print the damn thing out, mail it back, bingo, I'm all good.

Thanks again

[Motley13]

9. what kind did you get, I'm going to replace mine

[steve2470]

10. this one

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828120038

[lastlib]

14. UPS stores do it too....

Think Office Depot will as well. If you can save it to a thumb drive, take it to 'em. My printer's B&W, but when I need a color print, I go to UPS store.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

11. Not sure about your area but I'm near Philly and...

...Walgreens has a Canon 3 in 1 Wireless Printer MG3620 for $40.
You need a store loyalty account.

[steve2470]

12. thanks, already bought one, oh well :) nt

[Historic NY]

13. Printer & scanners....

I just went through this with an Epson photo scanner that does film. It would work with documents and pictures but nothing with slides or film. Try all the downloads, Epson tech support for almost 2hrs...from Japan and windows tech support another two hours. Zip...nothing. This worked perfectly fine for years and a couple months ago. Apparently there is some glitch in the software the would not allow Epson menu to open. When I Googled about the problem apparently there are lots of people out there with the problem. In the end I bought new software from a private vendor works like a charm. i think something in one of the windows 10 updates corrupted the software.

I have an old HP Multi-function printer/fax/scanner my employer bought them back in 1997. Mine is the only one still in use. I had an electrical spike that killed it back when it was 6 months old. HP wanted 250 to just look at it. Our IT Dept. was going to check around so I brought it back home, left it sit for a few weeks. Before I was going to take it to the recycle place I plugged it back in, it powered up it has worked ever since. I do sometime have to unplug the connection from the computer and replug it. Something about the Port on my new Dell Desktop.

Try generic printer settings to the computer. Of course the Windows 10 Tile for printer also wants you to choose your printer, if it setup.

[LeftInTX]

15. I have had Brother laser printers for the last 17 years

I have never had a problem with them.
Mine is wired to the router/modem.
I love the fact that the toner is cheap compared to ink. We print out alot of documents. I usually get a new one when the drum needs replacing.



I also have a scanner/printer color/inkjet that is wireless. That thing gives me grief. I have to run the printer every so often or the ink will clog the jets. I bought a new printer when I could not unclog the jets. Disruptions in internet/power will kick it offline and then it takes forever to set it back up again.

[RKP5637]

16. My old Samsung ML-1750 B&W cube laser printer. I have no idea why, it just

runs and runs. It's an extraordinarily simple printer, nothing fancy. It's the ONLY printer I've ever had that did not eventually stop or fall apart, it even works with Linux drivers. ... other than my prehistoric ribbon type Epson dot matrix printer, a real workhorse, but the dot matrix head is a little slow on web pages LOL!!! I think I got the Samsung about 2004.

.tumb

[steve2470]

17. that is really awesome, lucky you!

I used to have an HP-5M monochrome laser printer and it was the same. Just ran and ran, and I forget why I got rid of it. I think it was because HP would not update the drivers for Windows 7.

[TreasonousBastard]

18. That Samsung looks a lot like my Brother (similar to the one Steve had) and could be made by...

the same Chinese factory.

Anyway, I'm on my second Brother in maybe 10 years and the only reason I got rid of the last one is a dropped it down the stairs.

Toner cartridges are dirt cheap for these things. Too bad my local OfficeMax closed-- they were the cheapest.

[RKP5637]

19. Yep, possibly. I've been amazed with the Samsung that drivers are still available and especially

toner cartridges. I get the cartridges off eBay now for a fraction of the old cost way back. They're of good quality and last. I have a Brother on another system here, one of the newer ones, that looks like this one, the one with the ink cartridge separate from the drum. So far it's been working extremely well. It's also wireless, but I've never used it, just plug it into USB.

[nolabels]

20. Got a Epson Eco-tank, it's always seems to have plenty of ink and works well always

It was like double or better in price compared to those other pieces of crap but the peace of mind and saving me time is worth it alone. I think it's going to be more economical too. It comes with the ink bottles to fill it up. I have used mine a lot and probably would have used about three black cartridges and the black ink level on this new one is only down about a tenth of a tank. I got an okay deal from Amazon, the local office stores wanted like a hundred or more dollars extra for it.

The large ink capacity was my reason for the purchase (about 8 months) but have been surprised because I haven't once had to clean the head yet.
Maybe I will do that now just to be on the safe side