Multiple copies of printer driver installed every time printer is connected

Question

Multiple copies of printer driver installed every time printer is connected

Because my multi-port USB hub is currently on the blink, I have to temporarily disconnect my printer cable to use the USB port on my Mac whenever I need to use another USB device on this port. When I reconnect my printer (Brother laser printer), the driver for this printer is reinstalled automatically and I end up with multiple copies of this printer displayed in my print dialog window. Of course, all of these printers also show up in the Print & Fax System Preferences pane. I suppose there really is no problem here, but I feel compelled to get rid of all the extra copies of the printer driver.

Is there a fix for this?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Mar 24, 2012 5:21 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Mar 24, 2012 4:34 PM in response to Fred L Johnson

It is a problem because it should not happen. The Mac should recognise that a printer proxy already exists and not create another. Now I remember this being an issue with my Canon printer at one stage and I think it was resolved by a driver update. So check the Brother web site for an update to the printer driver for your model.

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Answer 2

Mar 24, 2012 7:05 PM in response to PAHU

That actually did work. The latest driver, which I installed, was released in December 2011.

Thanks for the great insight!

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Answer 3

Jun 1, 2012 6:23 PM in response to PAHU

Well, the problem just returned. I now have 3 copies of the Brother HL-1440 series driver. It happened simultaneously with my computer not seeing the printer when it should have been online. I have been having to disconnect its USB connection from the computer and reconnecting it to get the computer to see it. I suspect the extra copies of the driver are being installed when the computer sees the "new" printer connection.

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