Is there a way to force-stop the 'brctrlcntr.exe' process in Windows 7?

Yes, you can force-stop the process using Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). Locate 'brctrlcntr.exe' in the Processes tab, select it, and click 'End Task'. However, this should be done as a temporary measure, as it can cause issues with the printer software and might require a restart of the system or reinstallation of the software to resolve the underlying problem.