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Help, cannot reinstall printer driver

14 years ago

I've been merrily using my brother printer now for a few years, no problems. Have been having problems with another brand printer-scanner and their tech support deleted a lot of files in my computer. Now my printer doesn't have a driver. I have the cd that came with it but it cannot install it as it's missing a file called BR5140.PPD, "that came with the computer". I don't recall getting a windows CD, instead was instructed to make a restore DVD, which I did. Can anyone help. I looked on some sites for this file and before downloading I get the message that some of these files may cause problems, so I'm here, again, for your sage advice!

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Comments (8)

ravencajun Zone 8b TX
14 years ago
check to see if that file might still be in your recycle bin if they did not empty it then what they deleted could still be in there.
Terrapots
Original Author
14 years ago
I looked there but there were far fewer files than what were deleted. Are there levels of files, if so how are they displayed? I didn't see them empty the recycle bin, however.
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owbist
14 years ago
Including the printer model would help. Especially as this is an older printer.

Who said "that came with the computer"?
fruitjarfla
14 years ago
Have you checked the Brother site for a driver? If you do an internet search for "driver for brother printer," for example, you will get lots of hits. As owbist suggested, the printer model, plus operating system, would help.
"..their tech support deleted a lot of files in my computer.." You might get some assistance from the questionable tech support that you think wiped away your driver.
kudzu9
14 years ago
Does this help (see "Download PPD" in box at top)?

Here is a link that might be useful: Driver
Terrapots
Original Author
14 years ago
Printer is not that old, about a year and a half. HP J6480, all in one. I have the Brother printer driver that came with it but when I try to install it I get that it needs file BH5140.PPD, insert CD that came with computer. The Brother is HL5140 and it's about 4 years old, never had a problem. It also could run on HP laserjet II driver and all the previous Brother drivers I have, V-8, V-10 which were installed through DOS. And, yes, it is a DOS and windows compatible printer. The HP is wireless and is the only printer I can use at this time. I'm burned out on spending so much time trying to get this to work, 8-9 hours with phone tech support over the last two weeks. HP now says it is a hardware problem and another printer is on the way, for a fee. They had little to offer even with the files they deleted, and truthfully, the last tech was just too hard to understand and I got tired of having him repeat his answers. I haven't tried to reinstall the drivers through DOS. They were there before I bought this last Brother laser printer as I had done most of my work in DOS. And I had also used them with win XP without additional tweeking, although were slower when used through windows until I added them to the windows programs. You probably don't need to know all this, LOL. My computer is an HP and it's the one that is "old", about 4-5 years. HP says it's old, amazing! One tech suggested WE may have to reinstall windows, I said No, NO, NO.
grandms
14 years ago
Brother is very good about updating and keeping driver files available for their products. I suggest going to their site and searching under the model and number of your printer for the driver files for your operating system. As for the HP printer, can't help you there except suggest you go to their site and under "support and drivers" enter your printer model number, and all the driver files for it should be available there. I have downloaded and installed drivers for several different HP products from their support site.
Terrapots
Original Author
14 years ago
HP tech support has downloaded drivers for my printer but none worked to make it scan. They finally concluded I had a hardware problem and are replacing it, at a fee of course. I'll give the Brother site a try, maybe they also have an email support. Thanks everyone.

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