Brother HL-2600CN Series Windows manual

The Brother HL-2600CN Series is a color laser printer designed for small office and home office use, offering fast printing speeds, high-quality color output, and reliable performance. It supports Windows operating systems and includes features such as USB connectivity, network printing capabilities, duplex printing (optional), and user-friendly driver software. Below are key sections for setup, installation, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting specific to Windows environments.

1. Features at a Glance 2. System Requirements 3. Unpacking and Setup 4. Driver Installation for Windows 5. Printer Specifications 6. Control Panel and Settings 7. Printing from Windows Applications 8. Network Setup (Wired/Wireless) 9. Maintenance and Consumables 10. Regulatory and Safety Information 11. Troubleshooting

Features at a Glance

Key components: Color laser engine, control panel with LCD, paper trays, USB and Ethernet ports, toner cartridges (CMYK).

FeatureDescription
Print SpeedUp to 20 pages per minute (color and monochrome)
ResolutionUp to 600 x 600 dpi with Brother's image enhancement technology
ConnectivityUSB 2.0, Ethernet (10/100 Base-TX), optional wireless
Paper Handling250-sheet input tray, manual feed slot, optional duplex unit
CompatibilityWindows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP
Driver SoftwareFull Driver, Printer Driver, Scanner Driver (for models with scanning)
Toner CartridgesSeparate cyan, magenta, yellow, black (TN-210 series)
Drum UnitDR-210 series, replaceable
Control PanelLCD display, navigation buttons, Cancel/Go buttons
Energy SavingAuto power-off feature, low power consumption modes

System Requirements

Ensure your Windows computer meets the following requirements before installation.

NOTE: Check Brother website for latest driver compatibility with your Windows version.

Unpacking and Setup

Unpack the printer and prepare for initial setup.

  1. Remove all packaging materials, tapes, and protective covers from the printer.
  2. Install the toner cartridges: Open front cover, remove packing material, insert cartridges (C, M, Y, K) until they click.
  3. Install the drum unit (if not pre-installed): Slide into place until it locks.
  4. Load paper: Adjust paper guides in the input tray, load up to 250 sheets of plain paper.
  5. Connect power cord: Plug into AC outlet and printer, then turn on printer using power switch.
  6. Perform initial setup: Follow control panel prompts to select language, date/time.

WARNING! Do not touch the green surface of the drum unit. Keep toner cartridges in sealed package until ready to use.

Driver Installation for Windows

Install the printer driver on your Windows computer.

  1. Using Installation CD: Insert CD into computer, run Setup.exe, follow on-screen instructions. Choose connection type (USB or Network).
  2. Using Download: Visit support.brother.com, download driver for HL-2600CN series and your Windows OS. Run downloaded file.
  3. USB Connection: Connect USB cable after prompted by installer. Windows will detect hardware.
  4. Network Connection: Connect Ethernet cable to router and printer before installation. Installer will search for printer on network.
  5. Complete installation: Restart computer if prompted. Set HL-2600CN as default printer in Windows Devices and Printers.

Tip: For wireless setup, use the network installation option and follow wireless setup wizard (requires wireless adapter installed on printer).

Printer Specifications

Control Panel and Settings

Use the control panel to configure printer settings and check status.

Control Panel Buttons: Go (power), Cancel, Up/Down arrows, OK, Menu, Machine Status.

LCD Display: Shows menus, status messages, error codes.

Menu Options: - Report: Print network configuration, page count, etc. - Machine Setup: Language, sleep timer, buzzer, reset. - Network Setup: TCP/IP, wireless setup, WPS. - Toner Save Mode: Enable/disable to reduce toner usage. - Drum Reset: Reset drum counter after replacement.

Windows Printer Properties: Access via Devices and Printers > right-click printer > Printing Preferences. Configure paper size, orientation, quality, duplex, color profiles.

Printing from Windows Applications

Print documents from any Windows application.

  1. Open document in application (e.g., Microsoft Word, Adobe Reader).
  2. Select File > Print or press Ctrl+P.
  3. Choose "Brother HL-2600CN series" as printer.
  4. Click Preferences to adjust settings: Color/B&W, paper type, quality, duplex.
  5. Click Print to send job to printer.
  6. Monitor print job: Windows print queue shows status; printer LCD displays "Processing" then "Printing".

Advanced Features: - Poster Printing: Print large images across multiple pages (via driver settings). - Watermark: Add text or image watermark (via Printing Preferences). - Booklet Printing: Print folded booklet (requires duplex unit).

Network Setup (Wired/Wireless)

Connect printer to your network for shared printing.

Wired (Ethernet): 1. Connect Ethernet cable from router to printer Ethernet port. 2. Printer automatically obtains IP address (DHCP). Print Network Configuration report to verify IP. 3. Install driver on each Windows PC, selecting network connection during installation.

Wireless (if equipped): 1. Press Menu on control panel, navigate to Network > Wireless. 2. Select your wireless network (SSID) from list, enter password using arrow keys. 3. Alternatively, use WPS: Press WPS button on router, then select WPS on printer menu. 4. Print Network Configuration report to confirm wireless connection and IP address.

Windows Network Printing: Add printer via "Add a printer" wizard, choose network printer by IP address or browse network.

Maintenance and Consumables

Regular maintenance ensures optimal performance.

  1. Toner Replacement: When toner low message appears, replace cartridge. Open front cover, remove old cartridge, unpack new, insert until click.
  2. Drum Unit Replacement: Replace DR-210 drum unit every 12,000 pages (approx.). Open front cover, remove toner cartridges, pull drum unit out, insert new.
  3. Cleaning: Wipe exterior with soft, dry cloth. Clean paper feed rollers with lint-free cloth if paper jams occur.
  4. Firmware Updates: Check Brother website for firmware updates to improve functionality.

CAUTION! Use only genuine Brother consumables. Do not expose toner or drum to light for extended periods.

Regulatory and Safety Information

FCC Compliance: This device complies with Part 15 of FCC rules. Operation subject to conditions: (1) device must not cause harmful interference, (2) device must accept any interference received. CE Marking: Complies with European directives. Energy Star: Qualified for energy efficiency. Laser Safety: Class 1 laser product; complies with IEC 60825-1. Do not open covers; laser radiation inside. For support, visit www.brother.com or contact Brother Customer Service at 1-877-276-8437.

Troubleshooting

SymptomPossible CauseCorrective Action
Printer not respondingConnection issues, powerCheck USB/network cable; ensure printer is on; restart printer and PC.
Poor print qualityLow toner, dirty drumReplace toner cartridge; clean drum unit gently; run printer cleaning utility.
Paper jamsPaper misloaded, worn rollersOpen covers, remove jammed paper carefully; clean rollers; use recommended paper.
Driver installation failsIncompatible OS, admin rightsDownload correct driver for Windows version; run installer as administrator.
Network printing failsIP address change, firewallPrint network config report; reinstall driver with current IP; check Windows firewall settings.
Color misalignmentCalibration neededRun automatic color calibration from control panel (Menu > Maintenance > Calibration).
"Toner Low" message persistsCartridge not seatedReinstall toner cartridge; ensure protective tape removed.

Reset: To restore factory defaults, press Menu > Machine Setup > Reset.

Service: 1-877-276-8437; www.brother.com

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