Microsoft Print Driver is brain dead (Win XP Pro SP1)

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I stupidly let Windows Update replace the driver for my Brother HL1650/1670 laser. This new “improvement” denies the existence of built-in duplexing (it will not let me add it as M$ has decided it is neither a product feature nor an accessory), as well as the previous driver’s 4 up and other nice features. My question is, how do I get even with the even more idiotic programmer who produced this mess? The “new” version is digitally signed, while the old wasn’t. Big deal. I’ve done too many other things since the restore point was set, so I do not want to revert back that far.

Jim (call me “Paper Waster!)

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Install the Brother driver. Go to the Brother support webstie. There should be instructions on downloading and installing the correct driver.

hth,
Joe

--Joe

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Thanks Joe – but the M$ and Brother drivers are one and the same. It seems the fault may lie with Brother. It allows duplexing, but only in manual mode. Automatic is greyed out, as if the printer lacks the capability. It no longer allows multiple pages on one sheet, watermarks, etc. Maybe this is the new marketing approach to inducing users to upgrade their printers – just downgrade the performance of previous models through software adjustments! Sheesh! I’ll search through some older Drive Image files and see if I can find an older, “unimproved” driver. I’ll also redirect my complaint from M$ to Brother.

Jim

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Jim, Where did you get the older driver? On a CD? With the printer? If it was a Win2k driver it will likely work on XP.

Joe

--Joe

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Joe, it was a previous version on the Brother website (no longer there). Before that, it was the original installation cd. I know can resolve this – just venting about having to fix it and warning everyone at Woody’s Lounge not to accept even original manufacturer’s driver updates blindly. Until I resolve this, I am now the owner of a much cheaper HL-1440 laser, not a 1650 with built-in duplexing, etc.

Jim

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Jim, Some vendors rushed out XP drivers that had less functionality than prior versions for different OSes just to get throught the WHQL. They can then say they have ‘official’ XP drivers. Maybe you can contact Brother’s customer support and find out if they are going to update the driver. It could be that it is a bug as opposed to an intnentional change.

Joe

--Joe

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