Urgent: Can't get Sony Laptop to recognize Brother Printer

I have a Sony PCG-Z1VA Laptop with two USB ports. A newly installed Brother MFC 8440 (Multi-function) monochrome laser set up goes only as far as the screen telling me to plug in the USB. This is done and there is a tone indicating connection but nothing else happens and the software installation hangs. I have installed and uninstalled the software several times and am getting no farther ahead. I have downloaded off the Brother support site the drivers (and uninstall programme) and these also get me nowhere.

The guy from CompUSA suggests I may have to reload Windows. Any other ideas out there? Thanks in advance

Iain Benson