Is this an XP problem? (extra printer driver keeps appearing)

[Big Mac]

Is this an XP problem, or is it related to my printer driver as the
culprit?

I have been putting up with this long enough, and now it happens with
my new computer. Something keeps making a copy of my printer driver
when I boot (start\control panel\Printers & Faxes).

* This does not happen all of the time. If I delete the extra copy,
it may be several reboots before the extra copy is made.

The original:
Brother MFC-5100C USB

The copy:
Brother MFC-5100C USB (copy 1)

Ok - why worry about it you ask... Well, the problem is, sometimes at
boot up, with the extra copy there, it will change which of the two
drivers is the online driver, and then also independent of which is
online, which one is the default driver (a check mark in front of it).

These two seemingly random changes mess with me when I want to print
something. If I am lucky, I can print on the 1st try. But lots of
times I don't know which driver is the one that'll work this time when
I press "print", or if any will work.

When my 1st attempt will not print, sometimes I can go into the
control panel\printer & faxes, and cancel the task that wouldn't
print, and then change which driver is default, and/or online, and try
and reprint again. but sometimes I cannot figure out how and what in
the hell. I end up deleting the extra driver, then selecting the one
that is left as online and default, and then reboot, and hope to hell
an extra copy is not made again.

again, I'll repeat, not on every boot or reboot) And also it doesn't
matter which position they occupy (1st or 2nd when displayed).

I shouldn't have to go through this. Anyone have a clue as to what is
going on?

There are also drivers in there all in the "ready" status, that I
never use: "Bother PC-Fax", "Paperport Color" "Paperport" and
"PrintMe". Don't ask me what the "PrintMe" one is for, I have no
clue.

 

[Sharon F]

I have been putting up with this long enough, and now it happens with
my new computer. Something keeps making a copy of my printer driver
when I boot (start\control panel\Printers & Faxes).

* This does not happen all of the time. If I delete the extra copy,
it may be several reboots before the extra copy is made.

The original:
Brother MFC-5100C USB

The copy:
Brother MFC-5100C USB (copy 1)

Sounds like a driver problem. Is the printer connected to the same USB port
every time it is used or do you switch to a different port? A different
port could explain why the copy appears as the drivers need to be pointed
to each one that the printer uses. However this "pointing" usually happens
seamlessly and behind the scenes. Normally it is not apparent to the user.

The PrintME thing was added on my system when I installed the Adobe Acrobat
Reader 6. I haven't taken the time to look at the Reader plugin very
closely but there's a "Learn More" shortcut for it in the Start Menu.

 

[Big Mac]

Sounds like a driver problem. Is the printer connected to the same USB port
every time it is used or do you switch to a different port? A different
port could explain why the copy appears as the drivers need to be pointed
to each one that the printer uses. However this "pointing" usually happens
seamlessly and behind the scenes. Normally it is not apparent to the user.

The PrintME thing was added on my system when I installed the Adobe Acrobat
Reader 6. I haven't taken the time to look at the Reader plugin very
closely but there's a "Learn More" shortcut for it in the Start Menu.

Sharon - it happened with my original computer, and now with my new
computer of 2 months. Same thing. I'm not switching USB ports. I do
leave the multi-function on all of the time, even when turning off the
computer.

It just happened again today - the copy of the printer driver became
"online", and the original "default" computer became offline. I am
getting better at figuring out what to do - I just made the online
printer default, canceled the printing task for the offline printer
that was loaded, and went back and chose the now default driver as the
printing source, and it worked. Hassle, but at least I didn't have to
reboot to print. I will bet I don't even have to choose a default
driver - just know which one of them is online and choose that one
when going to print.

Big Mac

 

[Sharon F]

Sharon - it happened with my original computer, and now with my new
computer of 2 months. Same thing. I'm not switching USB ports. I do
leave the multi-function on all of the time, even when turning off the
computer.

It just happened again today - the copy of the printer driver became
"online", and the original "default" computer became offline. I am
getting better at figuring out what to do - I just made the online
printer default, canceled the printing task for the offline printer
that was loaded, and went back and chose the now default driver as the
printing source, and it worked. Hassle, but at least I didn't have to
reboot to print. I will bet I don't even have to choose a default
driver - just know which one of them is online and choose that one
when going to print.

Big Mac

I'm glad to hear that you're finding a "comfort level" with the situation.
Multi-purpose printers can be interesting animals. Keep an eye out at the
Brother site for updated drivers that may correct the problems you're
having. May want to browse their online documentation on the printer in
your spare time. You may come across an article that has solutions or
workarounds to help you along with this.

 

[Big Mac]

I'm glad to hear that you're finding a "comfort level" with the situation.
Multi-purpose printers can be interesting animals. Keep an eye out at the
Brother site for updated drivers that may correct the problems you're
having. May want to browse their online documentation on the printer in
your spare time. You may come across an article that has solutions or
workarounds to help you along with this.

I just experimented with one more thing. I deleted the extra copy of
the printer driver it makes on occasion with a boot-up - I' tried this
before and it made an extra copy again anyway - but this time I
moved up the other 4 drivers that share the Window (control
panel\printers & faxes) so there are no empty spaces left to fill in
the extra driver into - if it makes a copy it'll either be at the end
of the line or it'll put it right next to the original driver, in
which case I'll be back to square one.

Big Mac