Brother MFC-4550 Plus driver not working with Vista

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Any ideas on how to get the Windows Vista Home Premium(64-bit) "built in"
driver for a Brother MFC-4550 Plus to work ? I have called Brother and
they throw up their hands and say it is Microsoft who needs to resolve this
problem - Brother also says that the MFC-4550 Plus needs the "BMFC virtual
port" for this to work.
 
Thanks Alan! You are correct. The BMFC port was NOT created when I plugged
the device in - however, the Brother MFC-4550 Plus is a PARALLEL port
connection.


Alan Morris said:
I'll send this to the Brother driver developer here. I take it the BMFC
port was not created when you plugged the device into the USB port.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

CG-Jenkintown said:
Any ideas on how to get the Windows Vista Home Premium(64-bit) "built in"
driver for a Brother MFC-4550 Plus to work ? I have called Brother and
they throw up their hands and say it is Microsoft who needs to resolve
this
problem - Brother also says that the MFC-4550 Plus needs the "BMFC virtual
port" for this to work.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Brother sent me mail that they do not support this device on x64



From: Satoshi Matsu (Brother Japan)

Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:45 AM

To: Alan Morris

Subject: RE: Brother MFC-4550 Plus driver not working with Vista



Hi, Alan-san.

Currently, We have no release plan of multifunction MFC-4550+ driver for
Vista 64bit

because of hardware compatibility issue.

It's old device.

"BMFC" is our own solution for multifunction via parallel.

Best regards.

Satoshi Matsu



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

CG-Jenkintown said:
Thanks Alan! You are correct. The BMFC port was NOT created when I
plugged
the device in - however, the Brother MFC-4550 Plus is a PARALLEL port
connection.


Alan Morris said:
I'll send this to the Brother driver developer here. I take it the BMFC
port was not created when you plugged the device into the USB port.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

message
Any ideas on how to get the Windows Vista Home Premium(64-bit) "built
in"
driver for a Brother MFC-4550 Plus to work ? I have called Brother
and
they throw up their hands and say it is Microsoft who needs to resolve
this
problem - Brother also says that the MFC-4550 Plus needs the "BMFC
virtual
port" for this to work.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Brother sent me mail that they do not support this device on x64



From: Satoshi Matsu (Brother Japan)

Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:45 AM

To: Alan Morris

Subject: RE: Brother MFC-4550 Plus driver not working with Vista



Hi, Alan-san.

Currently, We have no release plan of multifunction MFC-4550+ driver for
Vista 64bit

because of hardware compatibility issue.

It's old device.

"BMFC" is our own solution for multifunction via parallel.

Best regards.

Satoshi Matsu



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Click to expand...
It is a fairly old model :-/

Similar experience upgrading Brother Software (W3.1 -> W95) for my
MFC 4500ML that used the Serial Cable for the Fax and Control
Settings
I had even paid for the upgraded Fax/Scan package :-( on W3.1
The Fax and Scanner part were Brother proprietary and I could not use
Win-Fax or others. The (upgraded version) Canadian company was
un-responsive to bugs (FAX failed when program was installed on a
drive other than C: . Found remnants of the temp files (in C: root)
from a failure). Toughy lucky on $90 software upgrade.
Everything works for my networked MFC-8820DN from Vista except the
Fax. That I can do from any W98, W2K or XP machine on my network if
not using a hard copy original. :-)
The MFC 45series is still a good printer. Just use HP Lj 2 drivers.
Steve U
 
Thanks Steve. Are you recommending any of the HP LaserJet 2000 series of
drivers for my MFC-4550 Plus to be able to print ?


Steve Urbach said:
Brother sent me mail that they do not support this device on x64



From: Satoshi Matsu (Brother Japan)

Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:45 AM

To: Alan Morris

Subject: RE: Brother MFC-4550 Plus driver not working with Vista



Hi, Alan-san.

Currently, We have no release plan of multifunction MFC-4550+ driver for
Vista 64bit

because of hardware compatibility issue.

It's old device.

"BMFC" is our own solution for multifunction via parallel.

Best regards.

Satoshi Matsu



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Click to expand...
It is a fairly old model :-/

Similar experience upgrading Brother Software (W3.1 -> W95) for my
MFC 4500ML that used the Serial Cable for the Fax and Control
Settings
I had even paid for the upgraded Fax/Scan package :-( on W3.1
The Fax and Scanner part were Brother proprietary and I could not use
Win-Fax or others. The (upgraded version) Canadian company was
un-responsive to bugs (FAX failed when program was installed on a
drive other than C: . Found remnants of the temp files (in C: root)
from a failure). Toughy lucky on $90 software upgrade.
Everything works for my networked MFC-8820DN from Vista except the
Fax. That I can do from any W98, W2K or XP machine on my network if
not using a hard copy original. :-)
The MFC 45series is still a good printer. Just use HP Lj 2 drivers.
Steve U
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Alan. But why would there be a Brother MFC-4550 driver that came with
the Vista Premium 64-bit OS and why would Brother's website claim that the
driver for this printer was a "built-in" in the OS ?

Alan Morris said:
Brother sent me mail that they do not support this device on x64



From: Satoshi Matsu (Brother Japan)

Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:45 AM

To: Alan Morris

Subject: RE: Brother MFC-4550 Plus driver not working with Vista



Hi, Alan-san.

Currently, We have no release plan of multifunction MFC-4550+ driver for
Vista 64bit

because of hardware compatibility issue.

It's old device.

"BMFC" is our own solution for multifunction via parallel.

Best regards.

Satoshi Matsu



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

CG-Jenkintown said:
Thanks Alan! You are correct. The BMFC port was NOT created when I
plugged
the device in - however, the Brother MFC-4550 Plus is a PARALLEL port
connection.


Alan Morris said:
I'll send this to the Brother driver developer here. I take it the BMFC
port was not created when you plugged the device into the USB port.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

message
Any ideas on how to get the Windows Vista Home Premium(64-bit) "built
in"
driver for a Brother MFC-4550 Plus to work ? I have called Brother
and
they throw up their hands and say it is Microsoft who needs to resolve
this
problem - Brother also says that the MFC-4550 Plus needs the "BMFC
virtual
port" for this to work.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Steve. I have now tried the HP LaserJet IIP Plus driver and it
prints, although it takes a very long time getting to the printer - I hope
this can hold out for me until as such time as MicroSoft or Brother put out a
genuine Brother driver that works for the MFC-4550 Plus on the Vista OS
(wishful thinking ?)

Steve Urbach said:
Brother sent me mail that they do not support this device on x64



From: Satoshi Matsu (Brother Japan)

Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:45 AM

To: Alan Morris

Subject: RE: Brother MFC-4550 Plus driver not working with Vista



Hi, Alan-san.

Currently, We have no release plan of multifunction MFC-4550+ driver for
Vista 64bit

because of hardware compatibility issue.

It's old device.

"BMFC" is our own solution for multifunction via parallel.

Best regards.

Satoshi Matsu



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Click to expand...
It is a fairly old model :-/

Similar experience upgrading Brother Software (W3.1 -> W95) for my
MFC 4500ML that used the Serial Cable for the Fax and Control
Settings
I had even paid for the upgraded Fax/Scan package :-( on W3.1
The Fax and Scanner part were Brother proprietary and I could not use
Win-Fax or others. The (upgraded version) Canadian company was
un-responsive to bugs (FAX failed when program was installed on a
drive other than C: . Found remnants of the temp files (in C: root)
from a failure). Toughy lucky on $90 software upgrade.
Everything works for my networked MFC-8820DN from Vista except the
Fax. That I can do from any W98, W2K or XP machine on my network if
not using a hard copy original. :-)
The MFC 45series is still a good printer. Just use HP Lj 2 drivers.
Steve U
Click to expand...
 
I think the driver works but it's their BFMC port software that does not
work on x64.

I bet this will install fine on an x86 Vista machine. I assume the driver
they pick is the 4550. I assume the device prints using the IIP by
selecting the LPT Port.

The driver is marked with ExcludeFromSelect. This setting hides the driver
from the list you see

"Brother MFC4550/4550J" =
MS_BRM4550.GPD,LPTENUM\_Brother_MFC_45503455,Brother_MFC4550/4550J ;
Hardware ID

[ControlFlags]
ExcludeFromSelect=LPTENUM\_Brother_MFC_45503455


Let me know if you want to attempt to install the driver software on your
x64 machine.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

CG-Jenkintown said:
Thanks Alan. But why would there be a Brother MFC-4550 driver that came
with
the Vista Premium 64-bit OS and why would Brother's website claim that the
driver for this printer was a "built-in" in the OS ?

Alan Morris said:
Brother sent me mail that they do not support this device on x64



From: Satoshi Matsu (Brother Japan)

Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:45 AM

To: Alan Morris

Subject: RE: Brother MFC-4550 Plus driver not working with Vista



Hi, Alan-san.

Currently, We have no release plan of multifunction MFC-4550+ driver for
Vista 64bit

because of hardware compatibility issue.

It's old device.

"BMFC" is our own solution for multifunction via parallel.

Best regards.

Satoshi Matsu



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

CG-Jenkintown said:
Thanks Alan! You are correct. The BMFC port was NOT created when I
plugged
the device in - however, the Brother MFC-4550 Plus is a PARALLEL port
connection.


:

I'll send this to the Brother driver developer here. I take it the
BMFC
port was not created when you plugged the device into the USB port.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

message
Any ideas on how to get the Windows Vista Home Premium(64-bit)
"built
in"
driver for a Brother MFC-4550 Plus to work ? I have called
Brother
and
they throw up their hands and say it is Microsoft who needs to
resolve
this
problem - Brother also says that the MFC-4550 Plus needs the "BMFC
virtual
port" for this to work.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Alan. Do I need to do something different ? When I first utilized
the Brother MFC4550/4550J driver a few days ago, Vista Premium would see the
printer and send my print job to the printer but it would hang - the printer
display said "Remained Data" - I tried numerous ways and times with the
Brother support folks who then concluded to me that the problem was not
theirs as it was a "built-in" driver and needed to be reported to Microsoft
and that the BMFC virtual port should be showing up.
I am willing to try anything - if it doesn't work at least now I know I can
print using the HP LJ IIP driver even though it is quite slow.


Alan Morris said:
I think the driver works but it's their BFMC port software that does not
work on x64.

I bet this will install fine on an x86 Vista machine. I assume the driver
they pick is the 4550. I assume the device prints using the IIP by
selecting the LPT Port.

The driver is marked with ExcludeFromSelect. This setting hides the driver
from the list you see

"Brother MFC4550/4550J" =
MS_BRM4550.GPD,LPTENUM\_Brother_MFC_45503455,Brother_MFC4550/4550J ;
Hardware ID

[ControlFlags]
ExcludeFromSelect=LPTENUM\_Brother_MFC_45503455


Let me know if you want to attempt to install the driver software on your
x64 machine.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

CG-Jenkintown said:
Thanks Alan. But why would there be a Brother MFC-4550 driver that came
with
the Vista Premium 64-bit OS and why would Brother's website claim that the
driver for this printer was a "built-in" in the OS ?

Alan Morris said:
Brother sent me mail that they do not support this device on x64



From: Satoshi Matsu (Brother Japan)

Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:45 AM

To: Alan Morris

Subject: RE: Brother MFC-4550 Plus driver not working with Vista



Hi, Alan-san.

Currently, We have no release plan of multifunction MFC-4550+ driver for
Vista 64bit

because of hardware compatibility issue.

It's old device.

"BMFC" is our own solution for multifunction via parallel.

Best regards.

Satoshi Matsu



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

Thanks Alan! You are correct. The BMFC port was NOT created when I
plugged
the device in - however, the Brother MFC-4550 Plus is a PARALLEL port
connection.


:

I'll send this to the Brother driver developer here. I take it the
BMFC
port was not created when you plugged the device into the USB port.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

message
Any ideas on how to get the Windows Vista Home Premium(64-bit)
"built
in"
driver for a Brother MFC-4550 Plus to work ? I have called
Brother
and
they throw up their hands and say it is Microsoft who needs to
resolve
this
problem - Brother also says that the MFC-4550 Plus needs the "BMFC
virtual
port" for this to work.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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