random reboots when printing to new brother 2280dw printer – WHY ???

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using xp pro sp3
runs solid although occasionally firefox will shut down after a reload ( a clue ?)
no problem as it has a restart command and brings all the windows back again

no problems with old printer
got new brother 2280dw printer

now i get random reboots when printing
not all the time
no consistent pattern concerning what i am printing
just a reboot right after the print is started

sometimes there is a thunk noise in the printer
other times the printer is quiet

possible culprits
printer is putting an electric spike back over the usb line that causes it
bad print driver (but how does that cause a reboot ??)
bad ram ??
other ??

brother claims it is a bad power supply in the pc
bad cable
bad UPS / surge protector
and similar issues.

i doubt the power supply is bad
the UPS needs a new battery but is not on – just a power strip
i may have reused the old cable – some usb2 usb3 differences ??
probably going to buy a separate UPS/surge protector just for the printer

Has anyone seen a problem like this ??

What is the most likely cause of it ??

How did you fix the problem when you encountered it ??

thanks for any tips

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Speedball,

The first thing I’d try would be to connect the printer to another computer and see if it causes the same problem.
Since this is a wireless printer have you tried printing that way vs over USB?
Both of these steps can help to eliminate the possibility of an electrical problem.
Another thing I would try is to make sure you don’t have drivers loaded for any old no longer used printers loaded. You can get rid of these via Printers and Devices, just right click the no longer used device and remove it. HTH :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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thanks

not sure how to do the wireless yet
still figuring out all this home net stuff

not clear how other drivers that do not run make a difference
i keep them around in case i switch printers aroudn which sometimes is needed

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You should make sure your system is not set to ‘Automatically Reboot on error’ – use this link to disable this function:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/disautorestart.htm

If you know this has been disabled (show error vs reboot) you can use the ‘Event Monitor’ to try to isolate the problem.
This article will help you with that:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/event_overview_01.mspx?mfr=true

I have a similar problem, but it only occurs when playing games and I have determined the problem is caused by the motherboard issuing a ‘reset’ (same as pushing the Reset Button on the case). I isolated the problem by swapping out everything except the motherboard. The motherboard is 6 years old and has served me will. I monitored the temperature of the CPU and GPU, the +5v and +12v and nothing spikes with the system reboots. I’m thinking your best bet is to use the event monitor to try to isolate the error that is causing the reboot.

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THANKS!!

i will try those things

what would make the MB want to do a reset ?

that certainly fits the symptoms

it is NOT a BSOD
but just a POR type action that occurs when printing

i could see some error happening with bad ram
or an electric spike from the printer

what else could cause an error to trigger a reboot ??

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You need to check your BIOS – somewhere in the power area to see what system will do with a power loss – mine is set to stay off, but it can be set to recover. The system I have (with the problem) is set to stay off and that’s another reason I think I am doing a soft reset. Reboots can be caused by components overheating (CPU, GPU, Memory, power supply), Bad power supply (high current draw causes the power supply to crowbar – save itself and reset) or voltage go below regulated settings. Software (Microsoft or any application can issue a system reset, but this would be intentional and probably a virus or Trojan in your system. Have you check for bugs (i.e. virus or Trojan)?
When ever I see this type of problem I look for things that can cause components to overheat (bad fans – spin, but not at rated speed), dust (in heat sinks – on components – or just about anywhere).
If it only occurs when you use the printer, what program are you running, that you are trying to print from?
Hope this helps

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thanks
everything is fine unless/until i print

no virus per norton, mbam, microsoft test program, etc.

it can happen when printing from internet
email or a pdf that i was reading

not consistent
totally random

i strongly suspect a bad buggy driver from brother
and or a bad design with the printer that allows a spike to come back when it wakes up to print

normally only programs running that *I* started are spyware blaster, firefox, eudora, and sometimes bridge baron
other programs auto started are often brothers driver and other brother stuff, tendra wireless for internet, win patrol, rubotted, mbam, realtek audio manager etc.

and if i poke around there is a lot of stuff that is runnng that i have no idea what it is shown in the task manager processes list

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As RG said, you could connect the printer via the network, rather than via a USB cable. But you don’t have to go wireless; you can use an ethernet cable and plug it in directly to your router. That will make the setup a lot easier. The important thing is to eliminate the direct connection between the printer and the computer. By networking the printer, you are connecting it indirectly, which will eliminate any possibility of electrical problems from the printer affecting your computer. It will also eliminate USB as a possible problem — maybe there is a USB problem with the printer.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, you might try installing a different version of the printer driver. Go here to get the driver:
http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public/us/us_ot/en/dlf/download_index.html?reg=us&c=us_ot&lang=en&prod=hl2280dw_us&dlid=&flang=English&os=7&type2=-1

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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thanks

i thought i had the ONLY driver
will check the link to see if there is another one

i may have to buy a router and go the ethernet route

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