Brother QL-700 High-speed, Professional Label Monochrome Printer

I bought this in 2016. When I plugged it in, it acted like a flash drive and had a ready-to-use program called PKLITE10.exe. I ran it and it would not print "communication error". This was on a windows 7 machine. I moved the printer to each of several computers/laptops in my house, and none worked until I got to the last one, my server, which was running Server 2012. It printed fine. So I left it connected to that machine and used it weekly, sometimes several times a week. The software is so simple to use, and in my opinion as a software developer with over 30 years experience, very intuitive and simple....So I upgraded my server to 2019 because it was time :-) --- and now it doesn't print.It just says "printer communication error". Just like when run on windows 7, etc...Here is how I solved the problem, and it now works with every computer in the house.The program PKLITE10.exe, on the built-in disk of the printer was dated approximately 2011. This version only works up until windows XP and does not seem to work with 7, 8, 10, or 11.I had to "update the printer" with a later version of the built-in software. I downloaded it from Brother, ran the "transfer" program, and it updated the printer.Sooo, if you want to update yours, here it how I did it.Go to brother and find the QL700 downloads page and scroll to the bottom and download "P-touch Editor Lite Update Tool". run the program. If you get an error, hold down the little button on the printer next to the power button until the LED goes OFF. then re-run the program. Click the "transfer" button to transfer the new software to the printer. Mine took about 45 seconds. Then it said "Successful".I unplugged the USB cable an held the printer power button to turn it off. Then turned it back on and plugged in the cable. If the little LED to the left of the "status" LED is NOT lit, hold down the little button under it until it lights.This enables the "lite mode" which means the printer acts like a flash drive as well as a printer, and the window pops up that has the printers' built-in software.Note that the date of the PKLITE10.EXE file is now a lot more recent. Mine is dated 1/28/2015it used to be dated 2011 or thereabouts.Anyway, the printer now works with any computer in the house, and does not require any software installation.Good luck and I hope this is useful to someone, took me hours and hours to figure out.

Ok so after this box has been sitting on my home office floor for about 3 months (just never enough time to sit down and setup). I finally cracked it open to install. I use Windows 7 and the installation was flawless. No issues with drivers or updates. Once the printer was installed I made sure (as you should as well) you download the latest software version. The initial install has will place a button on your desktop just for this, a great little feature. I updated the software first and then the lite version which it stores on the printer memory itself.I then went to work. I tried the lite version first and in under 2 min I had my first label come out. Sweett!!!. Cutter blade is fast. I then went for the next big step. Creating a local spreadsheet as a database and then connecting that database to my first label design. This took longer of course since I have not used the software before. I did not use the express scree but the professional screen. A very easy toggle between the two at the bottom of the screen.Once I got my ADDRESS label to look how I wanted, I then added one more thing. A postnet bar code at the bottom of the label to seal the deal. A postnet barcode is what expedites your mail through the post office sorting system. This took a few minutes to figure out. Added the bard code first then linked it to the zip code field in the database. BAM !!! Done. I used a MS Word to validate the bar code that I already use for some window based envelopes I have, and the codes looked identical. I suggest you start with a test database first, like excel, just a few fields like name, address 1, address 2, City State and zip and just a few rows of data to get the hang of it. Once your done with how your labels look then simply blow up the database with the real data you will be using.From cracking open the box to this review 3 hours and I work in technology so this stuff comes a bit easier to me. Take your time this thing works but you can be overwhelmed with the design screen. BTW once you have the label layout file looking the way you want make sure you save it. I did this with the excel database and next time I went in to open it up. It linked up straight away to the database and brought up the label just as I have designed it.I will be sending a poor mans copyright letter (that's a letter mailed back to yourself) to make sure this thing makes it through the postal system just fine before I do anything in bulk. While at the post office I will inquire what I can do to cut down on the postage since I may be sending out a couple of hundred of letters with these labels on them.Stay tuned

I had a Brother laser regular printer years ago. Wow was that great printer! I have had quite a few label printers over the years. This is my first Brother label printer. Why didn't I get one long ago? I think I bought the cheaper ones and have been sorry.This one was a plug and play. It has a usb and printer cable(both came with it) to connect to the pc. Whenever I turn it on, my pc recognizes it just like I put a flash drive in. Then it takes me in Windows Explorer to the application file. I click on it and it takes me straight to a label. It automatically cuts the label off right after I print it. I can save labels that I use often in a easy to find directory. I'm sure I could put it in a shortcut to the program file, but I use flash drives all the time, so this is fine with me.It has the energy star label on it. If I have gone for awhile without using the software, then a screen comes on to have me stay in the program or opt out. The printer will shut done automatically without a response in a certain amount of time. I haven't had the time to really see if I can change the settings on that to stay on longer or not.It is easy to load and unload. The footprint is larger than my other ones, but it is the nicest looking one I've seen for the low price of $50.It has the capability to print postage using USPS approved software(It may be an add-in which is probably extra) that I am not sure how it works yet. I am going to check that out soon.I use this for a small accounting business. I would definitely recommend this to others.