MODEL REFERENCE
Brother FAX-4100e
21 errors · 45 troubleshooting topics · 4 guides
The checks and guides below come from the official manuals for this model.
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Errors and messages
Shown on the machine display CHANGE DRUM SOONdrum is wearing out or its counter was not reset
- Keep using the drum until print quality deteriorates, then replace it.
- If a new drum was fitted without resetting, open the front cover, press Clear and then 1 to reset only the new drum’s counter.
CHECK PAPERpaper is missing or loaded incorrectly
Refill or reload the cassette and position the stack and guides correctly.
CHECK PAPER #1first paper cassette is empty or loaded incorrectly
Refill or reload the first cassette and position the paper correctly.
CHECK PAPER #2optional second cassette is empty or loaded incorrectly
Refill or reload the optional second cassette and position the paper correctly.
CHECK PAPER SIZEpaper size does not match the configured size
Load paper matching the configured size, or change the default size under Menu, 1, 1.
COMM. ERRORtelephone line quality interrupted communication
Try the fax call again.
CONNECTION FAILpolling destination is not waiting for a poll
Ask the other party to check that its fax is in Polled Waiting mode.
COOLING DOWNdrum or toner is too hot
Wait while the cooling fan runs. The machine resumes printing when it is ready.
COVER OPENfront cover is not fully closed
Close the front cover completely.
PLS CLOSE COVERfront cover needs closing
Close the front cover completely.
DISCONNECTEDthe other party ended the call
Try sending or receiving again, or call the other party to find out why the connection ended.
CHECK ORIGINALoriginal did not feed correctly or is too long
Lift the control panel, pull the jammed original carefully toward the front, close the panel and press Stop/Exit.
FUSER ERRORfuser temperature is too high or low
Switch the machine off and on, then leave it for ten minutes.
MACHINE ERROR XXmechanical fault needs service
Switch off the machine and contact Brother, reporting the complete displayed error number.
OUT OF MEMORYmachine memory is full
- For printing, reduce resolution or document complexity; with the documented Windows driver, try True Type Print as Graphics.
- Cancel a copy with Stop/Exit and clear stored faxes or disable Fax Storage if memory remains full.
- During fax scanning, Stop/Exit cancels; if a later page fails, Fax Start sends pages already scanned.
- Use Real Time Transmission under Menu, 2, 2, 6 to send without storing the fax in memory.
NO RESPONSE / BUSYdestination did not answer or is busy
Check the number and try again, making sure it belongs to a fax machine.
NOT REGISTEREDone Touch or Speed Dial entry is missing
Store the required One Touch or Speed Dial number before using it.
PLS OPEN COVERpaper or another object is caught inside
- Open the front cover and gently remove any trapped sheet, paper scrap or clip, then close the cover.
- Open and close it again if needed.
- If MACHINE ERROR XX appears instead of the normal date and time, contact Brother with that number.
PAPER JAMpaper is jammed
Locate the jammed path before pulling paper. Clear the cassette, drum or fuser path using the procedures below, without forcing paper or touching the hot internal parts.
TONER EMPTYtoner is missing or exhausted
Reinstall a missing toner cartridge, or fit a new cartridge if it is exhausted.
TONER LOWtoner is nearly exhausted
Order a replacement toner cartridge. Printing can continue while the Toner Empty indicator blinks and this message is displayed.
Troubleshooting
Find the problem you are experiencingReceived fax is condensed, streaked or cut offView
Make a copy to separate a local scanner fault from a noisy telephone connection. Clean the scanner if the copy is poor; contact Brother if the fault remains.
Received faxes have vertical black streaksView
Clean the primary corona wire. Ask the sender to make a copy to check its scanner, or try receiving from another machine. Contact Brother if streaks persist.
Voice is mistaken for a fax toneView
With Easy Receive on, speech or music can be mistaken for a fax tone. Cancel with #51 from an extension or Stop/Exit at the machine, and switch Easy Receive off if needed.
Received faxes have horizontal streaks or missing linesView
Ask the sender to send again; the guide associates this pattern with poor line quality.
Received faxes split across pages or add blanksView
Match Paper Size to the loaded paper and check that the fixed reduction ratio is suitable.
Dialing does not work2 steps
- Check for a dial tone, choose the correct Tone/Pulse mode, inspect the phone and power connections, and keep an external handset out of EXT while checking.
- For a manual fax, press Hook or lift the handset, dial and wait for fax tones before Fax Start.
Fax does not answer calls3 steps
- Choose FAX, FAX/TEL or TAD to match the installation.
- Check dial tone, line cord and an incoming test call.
- Test a standard phone on the fax line; if it does not ring, ask the telephone company to check it.
Handset has no dial toneView
Press Hook or lift the handset, check line and handset cords and test the wall jack using another line phone. Contact the telephone company if the wall jack has no dial tone.
Transmitted fax quality is poorView
Choose FINE or S. FINE resolution and make a copy to check scanner operation.
Transmission report says Results:NGView
Resend the fax. If repeated line noise or static prevents transmission, ask the telephone company to check the line.
Recipient says the fax is unclearView
Resend with FINE or S. FINE resolution and clean the scanner if a copy is also poor.
Recipient sees vertical streaksView
Clean this machine’s scanner and make a copy to check it. The receiving machine’s print head can also cause this problem.
Machine double-rings in FAX/TEL modeView
The double-ring means a voice call was detected. Answer at the handset, or answer an extension and enter the Telephone Answer Code, normally #51.
Transfer an answered call to fax receptionView
At the machine, press Fax Start and hang up. From an extension, enter the Remote Activation Code, normally *51, then hang up once the fax answers.
Custom phone features interrupt faxing2 steps
- Call Waiting, voice mail, an alarm or other shared-line features can interrupt data.
- Error Correction Mode can help; use a separate line without custom features when interruptions must be avoided.
Machine does not printView
Check power, installed toner and drum, interface cable and any displayed error message.
Printout is unexpected or garbledView
Reset the machine and check that the application’s printer settings match this model.
Later printed pages lose textView
Reconnect the printer cable securely so the computer can recognize the machine’s buffer-full signal.
Full pages will not print or printing exhausts memoryView
Lower resolution and document complexity, reduce graphic quality or the number of font sizes and try again.
Parallel-port printing reports a connection error2 steps
- For the legacy Windows setup in the guide, connect directly using an IEEE-1284 bidirectional cable, clear LCD errors and stop other drivers competing for the parallel port.
- Ask the computer manufacturer to confirm a bidirectional ECP port mode.
Application will not print through WindowsView
Install the Windows printer driver and select it in the application.
Windows printing reports OUT OF MEMORYView
In the documented driver, enable error recovery in Setup, reduce resolution or simplify the document and try again.
Paper does not loadView
Check CHECK PAPER or PAPER JAM. Reload a straight stack, straighten curled paper, turn the stack over or reduce its size. Ensure manual-feed mode is not selected in the driver.
Load envelopesView
Feed envelopes through the manual slot and choose the envelope size in the application’s page or document setup.
Transparencies do not loadView
Straighten a bent outer chute and retry with supported transparencies. Contact Brother if feeding still fails.
Choose suitable printing mediaView
Use plain paper, envelopes, transparencies or labels intended for laser machines, within the manual’s specifications.
Copies have vertical streaksView
Clean the document scanner and primary corona wire.
Printout is too dark or lightView
Adjust Print Density from its middle factory setting to suit the printout.
Printed pages have white stripes or faint areasView
Wipe the scanner windows with a clean soft cloth and check heat and humidity. Replace the drum if defects persist with CHANGE DRUM SOON displayed.
Printed pages have dark stripes or toner stainsView
Clean the interior and primary corona wire, returning its tab to Home. Replace the drum if defects persist with CHANGE DRUM SOON displayed.
White spots interrupt black text or graphicsView
Use paper within specification and check humidity. Rough or thick media can cause the defect; replace the drum if white spots persist with CHANGE DRUM SOON displayed.
Toner scatters across the pageView
Adjust Print Density, clean the interior and use supported paper. Check room conditions and replace the drum if the defect persists with CHANGE DRUM SOON displayed.
Entire page prints blackView
Wipe the electrical terminals and avoid heat-sensitive paper. Replace the drum if black pages persist with CHANGE DRUM SOON displayed.
Printed page is blankView
Check toner remaining, wipe the electrical terminals and remove any torn paper covering the scanner window.
Marks repeat at regular intervalsView
Try making several copies, especially after long disuse. Replace a scratched drum or one damaged by excessive light if marks remain.
Page is blurred at its centre or edges3 steps
- Check heat and humidity and put the machine on a flat surface.
- Gently rock the installed toner/drum assembly side to side and wipe scanner windows.
- Replace the drum if blur persists with CHANGE DRUM SOON displayed.
Ghost images appearView
Adjust Print Density and use supported paper, avoiding rough or thick media that causes ghosting.
Clear document and paper jams5 steps
- For originals, lift the control panel, pull toward the front, close it and press Stop/Exit.
- For cassette jams, remove crumpled sheets and adjust guides.
- For drum-path jams, open the front cover and remove the drum without force before pulling the paper.
- For fuser jams, open the rear cover and remove paper, then print a few test pages.
- Avoid hot shaded parts and never force jammed sheets.
Choose paper, media and source in the legacy Windows driver2 steps
- In the driver described by this guide, match Paper Size and Media Type to the loaded sheets, choose portrait or landscape, and select the first-page and remaining-page sources.
- Use Plain Paper for ordinary sheets and the specified thick-paper, bond-paper or transparency option for those media.
Print multiple pages and collated copies4 steps
- Use Multiple Page to reduce several document pages onto a sheet or enlarge a page across sheets.
- Set a border if wanted.
- When printing several copies, enable Collate to keep each document’s pages together.
- These controls describe the legacy Windows driver supplied with this model.
Print on both sides with manual duplex4 steps
- In the legacy Windows driver, select Duplex Printing and enable Manual Duplex.
- Choose the orientation and duplex direction.
- The driver prints even-numbered pages first, pauses with instructions for reloading the paper, then prints odd-numbered pages after OK.
- Set Binding Offset if space is needed along the bound edge.
Scale the document to fit the loaded paper2 steps
- In the legacy driver’s Page Setting, choose Off for original size, Fit to Paper Size for the available sheet size, or Free to reduce or enlarge.
- Mirror and Reverse Print are separate options on this page.
Configure an optional lower paper tray4 steps
- Install the optional second cassette in the legacy driver as well as on the machine.
- In Accessories, highlight its model under Available Options and select Add.
- Assign each source’s loaded size and Update it, then set a default source for unmatched jobs.
- In the Windows 2000 driver, set Lower Tray to ON and match Form To Tray Assignment to the actual paper.
Print using the documented classic Macintosh setup4 steps
- These instructions apply to Mac OS 8.5–9.2, not current macOS.
- Connect using a USB cable no longer than 1.8 m.
- Open Apple menu, Chooser, select HL-1200/MFL Pro and the machine, then close Chooser.
- In the application, use Page Setup for paper size, orientation and scaling, and Print for copies, resolution, source and media before starting the job.
Guides
Routine maintenance
Instructions from the manualClean scanner, printer and corona wire5 steps
- Disconnect the telephone cord first, then unplug power.
- Clean the document scanner glass and white pressure bar using a soft lint-free cloth lightly moistened with isopropyl alcohol.
- Use a soft dry cloth for the printer’s laser scanner window, keeping alcohol and fingers away from it.
- Slide the blue corona-wire tab side to side and return it to Home before reinstalling.
- Reconnect power before reconnecting the telephone cord.
Troubleshooting and routine maintenance
Instructions from the manualReplace the toner cartridge4 steps
- Open the front cover, remove the drum/toner assembly, release the cartridge and fit a compatible TN-430 or TN-460.
- Rock the new sealed cartridge side to side five or six times, remove its protective cover and seat it until it clicks.
- Clean the corona wire and return its tab to Home, then reinstall the assembly.
- Keep clear of hot internal parts.
Replace the drum and reset its counter4 steps
- Fit the toner into a new drum and reinstall with the front cover still open.
- Press Clear, then 1.
- When ACCEPTED appears, close the cover.
- Reset only after replacement; the drum’s remaining-life percentage can be checked using Menu, 2, 0, 3.
Advanced tab
Instructions from the manualSet print resolution and toner saving3 steps
- In the legacy driver’s Advanced tab, select Print Quality and choose 300 or 600 dpi.
- Toner Save reduces print density to use less toner.
- For the Windows 95/98/98SE/Me driver, Auto Print Setting chooses settings for the document, while Manual exposes brightness, contrast and graphics quality.