HL-2170W

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs & Troubleshooting

The printer prints unexpectedly or it prints garbage.

Check the following points.

NOTE: The screens may differ depending on operating system being used and your Brother machine.

  1. Make sure that the printer cable is not too long. We recommend that you use a parallel or USB cable that is no longer than 2 meters (6.5 feet).

  2. Make sure that the printer cable is not damaged or broken.

  3. If you are using an interface-switching device, remove it. Connect your computer directly to your printer, and then try again.

  4. Make sure that you have chosen the proper printer driver as follows:

    For Windows users:

    1. [Windows 2000 users]
      Click Start => Settings => Printers.

      [Windows XP/ Windows Server 2003 users]
      Click Start => Printers and Faxes.

      [Windows Vista/ Windows Server 2008 users]
      Click Start => Control Panel => Hardware and Sound => Printers.

    2. Right click on the printer icon for your machine and choose the Printing Preferences from the Menu.


    3. Check the printer driver name.
      If your printer name appears on the top section of the Printing Preferences window, the correct printer driver is chosen.
      If not, reinstall the correct printer driver referring to Quick Setup Guide that is available on the Manuals section. To go to the Manuals section, click Manuals link on this page.
      Printer Driver Name


    For Macintosh users:

    1. Click the Apple icon and open the System Preferences.

    2. Click the Print & Fax, Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners icon.
      The Print & Fax, Print & Scan or Printers & Scanners window will be displayed.

    3. [Mac OS X 10.3.x - 10.4.x users]

      1. Choose your printer name in the left section. Make sure your printer name appears next to the Selected Printer in Print Dialogue. If not, choose your printer name.

      2. Click Printer Setup.
        Print & Fax Dialogue

      3. Choose Printer Model from the pull-down menu and check the printer driver name.
        If the printer driver name matches your printer name, the correct printer driver is chosen.
        If not, reinstall the correct printer driver referring to Quick Setup Guide that is available on the Manuals section. To go to the Manuals section, click Manuals link on this page.
        Printer Driver Name


      [Mac OS X 10.5.x or later users]

      1. Choose your printer in the left section. Make sure your printer name appears next to the Default Printer. If not, choose your printer name.

        Print & Fax or Print & Scan Dialogue

      2. Compare the printer driver name of red line below.
        If the printer driver name matches your printer name, the correct printer driver is chosen. If not, reinstall the correct printer driver. Go to the Downloads section of this website to install the latest drivers.

        Printer Driver Name

  5. Make sure that the printer is not connected to the same port that is also connected to a storage device or scanner. Take away all other devices and connect the port only to the printer.

  6. Turn off the Status Monitor as follows:

    For Windows users:

    1. If the Status Monitor is displayed on the desktop, right click on the Status Monitor Window.
      If the Status Monitor is displayed on the taskbar, right click on the Status Monitor icon.

    2. Click Exit.
      The Status Monitor is turned off.
      Status Monitor


    For Macintosh users:

    Click on the X button on the top of the Status Monitor window.
    The Status Monitor is turned off.
    Status Monitor


    --OR--
    Go to the menu bar and click Brother Status Monitor => Quit Brother Status Monitor or Quit Status Monitor.
    The Status Monitor is turned off.
    Status Monitor

If your question was not answered, have you checked other FAQs?

Have you checked the manuals?

If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

Related Models

HL-2140, HL-2150N, HL-2170W, HL-4040CN, HL-4050CDN, HL-5340D, HL-5350DN, HL-5370DW, HL-5380DN

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