I just purchased a Brother laser printer (HL-L2320D). I tried hooking it up to my 10.10.2 mac and was unable to get it working. I've downloaded the correct software and driver, even called Brother's tech support, all with no luck. Funny enough, the printer will work on a maxed out (can't be upgraded anymore) 10.6 mac. Any advice on what I can do to get it operational? Thank you!
iMac (20-inch Early 2009), OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)
These questions relate to my parents computer so I don't have it right in front of me. I'll check when I head there next time. Looking at the USB Device Tree will tell me what? I assume this will tell me whether or not the USB port "sees" the printer. If it doesn't, do you have any recommendations? I greatly appreciate your help!
This is how my Brother printer shows up when connected by USB to my computer:
Please note the usual connection for this printer is wifi. I just now connected it via USB to show you what System Profile will show when the USB connection is active. It's OS 10.10.2.
From what I can see, a powered usb hub has an ac adapter to it. Is that correct? And from what you are saying, maybe the printer doesn't work because the port doesn't have enough power, so the powered usb will help that. Is that also correct?
Correct on both counts. Once the hub is powered, any usb device you connect to it will not draw power from the computer.
So I don't have to make a second trip, what do you recommend if:
a. I don't see the printer listed.
b. I do see the printer listed, but I am still unable to recognize the printer in the printer section of my preferences.
The hub itself should be listed in the USB device tree. The printer will be listed as connected to the hub. (The image I posted shows the hierarchy.)
If neither the hub nor the printer show up in the device tree you will have to dig deeper. USB port on the computer? Cable? etc.
If the Mac sees the printer, i.e. it is listed as shown above, you can set it up in the usual way: System Preferences / Printers & Scanners / (plus sign to add a printer) -- the Brother printer will be listed. Select it and proceed.
The ideal situation is to have the printer attached to the main house computer, not the laptops.
Once the main computer sees the printer, other computers that are on the same network as the main computer can share the printer. All you need to do is setup printer sharing. System preferences / Sharing, and check Printer sharing.
Yes, it is a usb connection. I Don't know how you'd go about verifying if the port is active. Unless doing so is as simple as plugging in another sub item, like a mouse, and making sure the port works. I have done this and the port works. It's also not the cable since I've used the usb cable to hook the printer to an older machine. IIt is not the ideal situation, which is why I want to figure out what is going on.
Great - the port works and the cable is good.
Could you please describe what happens when you tell the Mac to add the printer? Does the Mac recognize the printer, or is this point where it gets stuck?
Also, when you talked with Brother tech support, did they have you reset the printer?
Check if the Mac is detecting the printer on the USB device tree. With the printer connected and turned on, go to Apple menu / About This Mac / System Report. Click USB in the left column and look at the info on the right, USB Device Tree.
Looking at the USB Device Tree will tell me what? I assume this will tell me whether or not the USB port "sees" the printer.
That is correct. If the printer is not listed in the Mac's USB tree, I would try a different port on the computer and / a different cable. Yes, I know you have verified they both work with other devices, but those are the two obvious suspects if the tree does not show the printer.
Is USB the only option for connecting this printer? No Wifi or ethernet?
USB is the only option. I tried looking up my own printer and didn't see it on the tree (this is a printer that is hooked up by usb and does work). What should I be looking for? Will it come out and list the printer like it does for the mouse and keyboard?
One further note: the printer was connected via a powered USB hub, not directly to the computer. I do this with all my USB devices because the built in USB will sometimes have difficulty when a device draws too much power.
I'm heading to my parents house today to see whether or not the USB port works. I'll also try using a powered usb hub and a different usb cable. I'm not familiar with powered usb hubs. From what I can see, a powered usb hub has an ac adapter to it. Is that correct? And from what you are saying, maybe the printer doesn't work because the port doesn't have enough power, so the powered usb will help that. Is that also correct?
So I don't have to make a second trip, what do you recommend if:
a. I don't see the printer listed.
b. I do see the printer listed, but I am still unable to recognize the printer in the printer section of my preferences.
Thank you again for all your help! It's becoming even more important since the laptop we currently have the printer connected to is being replaced. The ideal situation is to have the printer attached to the main house computer, not the laptops.
Problem solved thanks to your help! I originally tried looking for my printer and came up empty. I tried again with the power hub and what do you know, it worked! Now happily printing from the main computer. Thank you again 🙂
You are welcome, glad it worked. Perhaps one of these days manufacturers of usb devices will pay attention to the power they draw from the usb port. Until then we will have to connect through a powered hub.
Is this a USB connection? Have you verified the USB port on the Mac is active?
The Mac is unable to recognize the printer. They had me unplug everything and plug it all back in a specific order with a specific wait time. They also had me try reinstalling the software/driver.
Try plugging direct to computer USB ports, I
My brand new Brother HL-L2320D won't work with 10.10.2
