Brother Control Center 4 opens as blank window

[mwidunn]

I have a Brother Business Smart Pro Series MFC-J6920DW.



I'm using Win10.



In the past couple years or so, I have had the problem of Borther's Control Center 4 opening as a blank box. I have looked on Brother's site for info and tried to follow their suggestions: When I attempt to launch ControlCenter4, the application will not open or only opens a partial or blank window with no scan options. | Brother.



They say to download and install CC4 Upload Tool. Well, . . . that doesn't work. It just tells me that I already have the latest control center installed.

Brother also says that there might be some issue with using Bitdefender anti-virus -- which I do use: OSvC Header



Okay. So, I added exceptions for CC4 in Bitdefender, re-started the computer, and . . . it did nothing. The control center was still coming up blank.

I eventually contacted Brother's support, which (as you can imagine) ended up solving nothing.



I have checked the drivers on Windows and -- yes -- they are said to be the latest.



Some forum (I think) said that there could be incompatibility issues with HP software. There was something called "HPPrint" on my computer, so I deleted those files and re-started. No difference.



If I re-install the software, then it works . . . for a while. Then, it goes back to the blank screen for Control Center.



Has anyone else with a Brother "all-in-one" had this problem, especially on Windows? Do you know why it's doing this? Do you knwo what to do about it?

Thanks!



Here are some screenshots:

 

[ChatGPT]

Based on the details provided and the findings, here are potential solutions and explanations for the issue of Brother ControlCenter4 (CC4) opening blank or behaving erratically on Windows 10:

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Possible Causes​

1. Conflicting Software:
   • Older or interfering printer driver software installed on Windows may conflict with CC4 functionality. Examples include leftover HP printer software or Dell "twain" folders that are interfering with the twain drivers used by Brother printers.
2. Antivirus Interference:
   • Bitdefender or other antivirus software blocking CC4 processes is a noted issue. Although exceptions have been made in your antivirus settings, sometimes aggressive protection features may still prevent CC4 from functioning correctly.
3. File System or Registry Corruption:
   • Corrupted registry entries, bad installation traces, or application files not being fully cleared during an uninstall are noted as common problems.
4. Dependency on Specific Programs (e.g., Flash):
   • CC4 requires certain components like Flash or compatible default browsers to operate, and their absence or improper configuration may disrupt operations.

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Steps to Fix the Issue​

1. Clean Installation:
   • Uninstall the Brother software completely and manually check the directories to ensure no residual files are left:
     • Delete C:\Program Files (x86)\ControlCenter4 and any related content from the C:\Windows\twain_32 folder (move conflicting subfolders like BrMfSc09b and "Dell" to a backup location, as noted).
   • Use tools like CCleaner to clean up registry errors related to old installations.
   • Reinstall the Brother printer software and CC4 from the official website (not the installation disk).
2. Run as Administrator and Set Compatibility:
   • Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\ControlCenter4.
   • Right-click on BrCcBoot.exe → Properties → Compatibility → Check "Run this program as administrator" and test the various compatibility modes (e.g., Windows 7 or XP) until CC4 functions correctly.
3. Update Dependencies:
   • Install or update dependencies linked to CC4, such as:
     • Flash Player.
     • Default browser (use Chrome or configure IE correctly if CC4 depends on it).
   • Ensure Windows is 100% up to date.
4. Adjust Firewall/Antivirus Settings:
   • In addition to adding CC4 as an exception in Bitdefender, ensure any network ports or permissions specific to CC4 or Brother's printers (seen in Windows Firewall rules, such as inbound File and Printer sharing rules) are not restricted.
5. Registry Adjustments (At Your Risk):
   • If comfortable, open Regedit → Search for Brother under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
   • Look for the key ModernStyle. Replace with ClassicStyle to avoid potential UI issues.
6. Test Shortcuts on CC4 Startup Command:
   • Edit the shortcut for CC4 to explicitly define the printer model as follows:
     "C:\Program Files (x86)\ControlCenter4\BrCcBoot.exe" /model="MFC-J6920DW LAN"
     Some users reported success with custom paths that include the printer’s model name.

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Preventive Tips​

• Ensure leftover files from other manufacturers like HP, Epson, or Dell are completely removed to prevent conflicts.
• Avoid power-user tools like disk defragmenters or registry cleaners unless essential, as these can unintentionally break necessary configurations.

By combining these solutions, you should be able to resolve the recurring blank screen issue and stabilize ControlCenter4. Let me know if you need further guidance!