KenK wrote:

For those who asked:

Brother HL-2240
USB connection to computer

While not mentioned by you, have you installed the software that came
with or you can download for that printer? So far, all we know is you
attached the USB printer, but nothing about whether or not its software
ever got installed (from the printer maker rather than embedded drivers
that might be included in Windows).

https://support.brother.com/g/b/down...d=hl2240_us_eu

Since you said just "Windows XP", that means the 32-bit version (versus
the 64-bit version known as Windows XP x64). Make sure you get the
32-bit drivers. The bitwidth of drivers must match the bitwidth of the
OS.

Have you yet tried uninstalling the printer and then follow the manual's
instructions to install the software/drivers for that printer? That is,
uninstall and reinstall.

With the printer powered off during a boot of Windows, and after Windows
has finished loading, have you checked if scanning for new hardware
finds the printer? Go into Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) and use its
Action - Scan for hardware changes menu, then look under the Printers
tree node to see if the printer got discovered.

Other than mouse or keyboard, unplug all other USB devices except the
printer, reboot, and check if the printer is then detected upon Windows
startup.

Have you tried moving the printer to a different USB port (which
generates a new USB enumeration record, but the old USB enumeration will
remain for the prior port)? I mention about having to delete old USB
enumeration records in the registry that might've gotten corrupted.
Moving to a different USB port creates a new USB enum record. If that
works, you should delete the old USB enum record for the prior port, so
you don't get stuck with it not working again should you later move the
printer back to that prior USB port.