Printer hangs, then fixed with My Computer

I have this printer - actually it's a Brother MFC 7420 being used as a
printer - with an odd behavior.

After starting the computer and Windows XP, the printer will not print. When
I try to print a document from Word or even an e-mail, I get a message
saying "Failed to Print" and the print queue shows the job with an error
status.

However, if I then go into Windows Explorer and then choose My Computer, the
printer "unhangs". It prints any job that may be in the print queue, and
then continues to function fine.

Why is this? Is there some problem with the installation?

"Peter Rooney" wrote:
I have this printer - actually it's a Brother MFC 7420 being used as a
printer - with an odd behavior.

After starting the computer and Windows XP, the printer will not print. When
I try to print a document from Word or even an e-mail, I get a message
saying "Failed to Print" and the print queue shows the job with an error
status.

However, if I then go into Windows Explorer and then choose My Computer, the
printer "unhangs". It prints any job that may be in the print queue, and
then continues to function fine.

Why is this? Is there some problem with the installation?

I would be inclined to uninstall the printer and then reinstall it.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

I've tried that. It's a waste of time to be constantly reinstalling and
restarting. I want to know the underlying reason why merely "touching" My
Computer should have this beneficial effect. Is it magic?


"Peter Rooney" wrote:

However, if I then go into Windows Explorer and then choose My Computer,
the
printer "unhangs". It prints any job that may be in the print queue, and
then continues to function fine.

I would be inclined to uninstall the printer and then reinstall it.
Tony

It wasn't clear in your first post that you have already re-installed the
printer and the problem keeps returning.
I recommend one last try at reinstalling but after you uninstall open the
Printers applet in Control Panel. Select File/Server Properties and select the
Drivers tab. Select any and all mention of the printer and remove the driver.
If the printer does not exist there than this step will not assist.
Are you using the parallel or USb cable? Have you tried the other method?
It certainly isn't magic, but the above procedure will eliminate a driver
corruption, I know of dozens of this model installed and working well.
Tony

"Peter Rooney" wrote:
I've tried that. It's a waste of time to be constantly reinstalling and
restarting. I want to know the underlying reason why merely "touching" My
Computer should have this beneficial effect. Is it magic?


"Peter Rooney" wrote:

However, if I then go into Windows Explorer and then choose My Computer,
the
printer "unhangs". It prints any job that may be in the print queue, and
then continues to function fine.

I would be inclined to uninstall the printer and then reinstall it.
Tony