Printer list empty

Question

Printer list empty

I was trying to install the scanner for the Brother MFC-9460CDN printer but it did not work.

I reset the printing system and tried to add the printer again via wifi hoping that the scanner would work after installing the brother scanner driver again. When I pressed add, no printers were showing up. I added the Brother printer via IP address but when I press print it said "printer in use".

I plugged in an ethernet cable and I am able to print but not via wifi.

Please may someone advise? 10.8.5 OSX

I am willing to install the operating system again. How do I do this if there are no other options?

Thank you.

Posted on Jul 9, 2014 2:29 AM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

141,024 points

Jul 9, 2014 6:42 AM in response to noprintershowing

Reset the printing system again, and don't attempt to run any scanning software. It's not required.

As of "Lion" and later versions of OS X all scanning functions are incorporated natively in OS X.

You can scan three ways:

Use Preview: File > Import from scanner
Use Image Capture
(Preview and Image Capture are both in your Applications folder.)
System Preferences > Print & Scan. Select your device and use the Scan tab.

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Answer 2

Jul 9, 2014 6:45 AM in response to John Galt

Hi John,

Thanks for your reply. I have reset the printing system again but it still shows no printers nearby.

Any other suggestions please?

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

141,024 points

Jul 9, 2014 7:04 AM in response to noprintershowing

That isn't a wireless printer.

Connect its Ethernet cable to your router, either directly or through a switch. Don't connect it directly to your Mac.

On the printer's front panel go to Settings > All Settings > Network > Wired LAN. The terminology used may be different for your printer.

I suggest specifying a static IP address, since it will always reside at that address regardless of other devices on your network. You will need to specify that address in the Brother's front panel's Setup menu. The terminology they use is "BOOT method > Static".

Then, add it in System Preferences > Print & Scan.

Add it as an IP printer by following these instructions:

OS X Mountain Lion: Set up an IP printer

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Answer 4

Jul 9, 2014 7:22 AM in response to John Galt

I was able to print via WIFI before I clicked reset printing system. At the moment, I am using an ethernet cable to print.

Would resetting my mac to factory settings be a quicker solution as this mac is new anyway. If so, how would I go about doing this?

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

684,033 points

Jul 9, 2014 9:02 AM in response to noprintershowing

Would resetting my mac to factory settings be a quicker solution

Probably not. You would have to boot into the Recovery Volume (command - R) during a restart to reinstall.

If you have the printers IP address open Terminal applications/Utilities and at the prompt type: ping {printerIP}. You will get a reply or failure.

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

141,024 points

Jul 9, 2014 9:21 AM in response to noprintershowing

I was able to print via WIFI before I clicked reset printing system.

Not with that printer you weren't. It has to be connected to your router.

You're probably confusing it with printing from a wireless Mac. All Macs are wireless, and communicate to the printer through your wireless router or access point.

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Answer 7

Jul 10, 2014 4:30 AM in response to John Galt

I am having the same issue as this user: no printers show up despite reinstalling drivers

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Answer 8

Jul 10, 2014 5:40 AM in response to noprintershowing

Hi,

I was trying to install the scanner for the Brother MFC-9460CDN printer but it did not work.

This model printer is USB only and will only be visible once you connect it to the machine via a USB cable. Once connected, sharing cabe enabled to allow wireless users to print to the printer via the machine.

Cheers

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