Printer confused about page orientation - not printing

My Officejet Pro K550 has been working faultlessly for years.

Suddenly, it won't print. It will load the page, run the printer heads across once, then give a page load error.

It will correctly print its own test configuration page without being connected to a computer.

Well told to print a test page through the CUPS web interface or hp-toolbox, it will fail.

Looking at the printed line, it appears to be trying to print at right-angles: i.e. it thinks it is working on a landscape sheet of paper, not a portrait sheet, and when the printer head reaches the end of the printable area, it gives an error message.

This printer only has one option for loading A4 paper.

This has happened since upgrading from Ubuntu Karmic/9.10 to Lucid test/10.04.

hplip is 3.10.2

I'm looking for any hints I can get, at this stage, especially where to start looking.

hp-check -t is:

hp-check[20458]: info: :
Initializing. Please wait...
Ubuntu

10.04

scheduler is running

Linux skilja 2.6.32-19-generic #28-Ubuntu SMP Wed Mar 31 17:46:20 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux

hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :---------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| SYSTEM INFO |
hp-check[20458]: info: :---------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Basic system information:
hp-check[20458]: info: :Linux skilja 2.6.32-19-generic #28-Ubuntu SMP Wed Mar 31 17:46:20 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Distribution:
hp-check[20458]: info: :ubuntu 10.04
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking Python version...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, version 2.6.5 installed
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking PyQt 4.x version...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, version 4.7.2 installed.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for CUPS...
hp-check[20458]: info: :Status: scheduler is running
error: Version: (Not available. CUPS may not be installed or not running.)
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dbus/python-dbus...
hp-check[20458]: info: :dbus daemon is running.
hp-check[20458]: info: :python-dbus version: 0.83.0
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :------------------------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| COMPILE AND RUNTIME DEPENDENCIES |
hp-check[20458]: info: :------------------------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
note: To check for compile-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -c parameter (ie, hp-check -c).
note: To check for run-time only dependencies, re-run hp-check with the -r parameter (ie, hp-check -r).
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: CUPS - Common Unix Printing System...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: CUPS DDK - CUPS driver development kit...
warning: NOT FOUND! This is an OPTIONAL/RUNTIME ONLY dependency. Some HPLIP functionality may not function properly.
hp-check[20458]: info: :To install this dependency, execute this command:
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes cups
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: CUPS devel- Common Unix Printing System development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
hp-check[20458]: info: :To install this dependency, execute this command:
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes libcups2-dev cups-bsd cups-client
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: CUPS image - CUPS image development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
hp-check[20458]: info: :To install this dependency, execute this command:
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes libcupsimage2-dev
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: DBus - Message bus system...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: gcc - GNU Project C and C++ Compiler...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: GhostScript - PostScript and PDF language interpreter and previewer...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: libcrypto - OpenSSL cryptographic library...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: libjpeg - JPEG library...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: libnetsnmp-devel - SNMP networking library development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
hp-check[20458]: info: :To install this dependency, execute this command:
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes libsnmp-dev
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: libpthread - POSIX threads library...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: libtool - Library building support services...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: libusb - USB library...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: make - GNU make utility to maintain groups of programs...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: PIL - Python Imaging Library (required for commandline scanning with hp-scan)...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: PolicyKit - Administrative policy framework...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: PyQt 4 DBus - DBus Support for PyQt4...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: Python DBus - Python bindings for DBus...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: Python devel - Python development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
hp-check[20458]: info: :To install this dependency, execute this command:
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes python-dev
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: Python libnotify - Python bindings for the libnotify Desktop notifications...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: Python XML libraries...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: Python 2.3 or greater - Required for fax functionality...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: Python 2.2 or greater - Python programming language...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: Reportlab - PDF library for Python...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: SANE - Scanning library...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: SANE - Scanning library development files...
error: NOT FOUND! This is a REQUIRED/COMPILE TIME ONLY dependency. Please make sure that this dependency is installed before installing or running HPLIP.
hp-check[20458]: info: :To install this dependency, execute this command:
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes libsane-dev
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: scanimage - Shell scanning program...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for dependency: xsane - Graphical scanner frontend for SANE...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :----------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| HPLIP INSTALLATION |
hp-check[20458]: info: :----------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Currently installed HPLIP version...
hp-check[20458]: info: :HPLIP 3.10.2 currently installed in '/usr/share/hplip'.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Current contents of '/etc/hp/hplip.conf' file:
hp-check[20458]: info: :# hplip.conf. Generated from hplip.conf.in by configure.

[hplip]
version=3.10.2

[dirs]
home=/usr/share/hplip
run=/var/run
ppd=/usr/share/ppd/hplip/HP
ppdbase=/usr/share/ppd/hplip
doc=/usr/share/doc/hplip-doc/HTML
icon=no
cupsbackend=/usr/lib/cups/backend
cupsfilter=/usr/lib/cups/filter
drv=/usr/share/cups/drv

# Following values are determined at configure time and cannot be changed.
[configure]
network-build=yes
pp-build=yes
gui-build=yes
scanner-build=yes
fax-build=yes
dbus-build=yes
cups11-build=no
doc-build=yes
shadow-build=no
hpijs-install=yes
foomatic-drv-install=yes
foomatic-ppd-install=yes
foomatic-rip-hplip-install=no
hpcups-install=yes
cups-drv-install=yes
cups-ppd-install=no
internal-tag=3.10.2rc1.9
restricted-build=no
ui-toolkit=qt4
qt3=no
qt4=yes
policy-kit=yes
hpijs-only-build=no
lite-build=no
udev-acl-rules=yes
hpcups-only-build=no
hpijs-only-build=no

hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Current contents of '/var/lib/hp/hplip.state' file:
hp-check[20458]: info: :# hplip.state - HPLIP runtime persistent variables.

[plugin]
installed=0
eula=0

hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Current contents of '~/.hplip/hplip.conf' file:
hp-check[20458]: info: :[last_used]
printer_name = Rembrandt
working_dir = .
device_uri = "hp:/usb/Officejet_Pro_K550?serial=MY5CL3122H"

[commands]
fax = hp-sendfax -d %FAX_URI%
scan = /usr/bin/xsane -V %SANE_URI%
prnt = hp-print -p%PRINTER%
pcard = hp-unload -d %DEVICE_URI%
cpy = hp-makecopies -d %DEVICE_URI%

[installation]
version = 3.10.2rc1.9
date_time = 08/04/10 10:46:14

[settings]
systray_messages = 0
systray_visible = 0

[fax]
email_address =
voice_phone =

[refresh]
rate = 30
enable = true
type = 2

[polling]
enable = false
device_list =
interval = 5

hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :--------------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| DISCOVERED USB DEVICES |
hp-check[20458]: info: :--------------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: : Device URI Model
hp-check[20458]: info: : -------------------------------- ---------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: : hp:/usb/Officejet_Pro_K550?seria HP Officejet Pro K550
  l=MY5CL3122H
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :---------------------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| INSTALLED CUPS PRINTER QUEUES |
hp-check[20458]: info: :---------------------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Rembrandt
hp-check[20458]: info: :---------
hp-check[20458]: info: :Type: Printer
hp-check[20458]: info: :Device URI: hp:/usb/Officejet_Pro_K550?serial=MY5CL3122H
hp-check[20458]: info: :PPD: /etc/cups/ppd/Rembrandt.ppd
hp-check[20458]: info: :PPD Description: HP Officejet Pro k550, hpcups 3.10.2
hp-check[20458]: info: :Printer status: printer Rembrandt is idle. enabled since Thu 08 Apr 2010 10:21:02 EST
hp-check[20458]: info: :Communication status: Good
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :----------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| SANE CONFIGURATION |
hp-check[20458]: info: :----------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :'hpaio' in '/etc/sane.d/dll.conf'...
hp-check[20458]: info: :'hpaio' in '/etc/sane.d/dll.d/hplip'...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found. SANE backend 'hpaio' is properly set up.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking output of 'scanimage -L'...
hp-check[20458]: info: :
No scanners were identified. If you were expecting something different,
check that the scanner is plugged in, turned on and detected by the
sane-find-scanner tool (if appropriate). Please read the documentation
which came with this software (README, FAQ, manpages).

hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :---------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| PYTHON EXTENSIONS |
hp-check[20458]: info: :---------------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking 'cupsext' CUPS extension...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking 'pcardext' Photocard extension...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking 'hpmudext' I/O extension...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking 'scanext' SANE scanning extension...
hp-check[20458]: info: :OK, found.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :-----------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| USB I/O SETUP |
hp-check[20458]: info: :-----------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Checking for permissions of USB attached printers...
hp-check[20458]: info: :
HP Device 0x1812 at 002:016:
hp-check[20458]: info: : Device URI: hp:/usb/Officejet_Pro_K550?serial=MY5CL3122H
hp-check[20458]: info: : Device node: /dev/bus/usb/002/016
hp-check[20458]: info: : Mode: 0664
hp-check[20458]: info: :getfacl: Removing leading '/' from absolute path names

# file: dev/bus/usb/002/016
# owner: root
# group: lp
user::rw-
user:jhepburn:rw-
group::rw-
mask::rw-
other::r--

hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :---------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| USER GROUPS |
hp-check[20458]: info: :---------------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :jhepburn adm dialout cdrom plugdev lpadmin admin sambashare

hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :-----------
hp-check[20458]: info: :| SUMMARY |
hp-check[20458]: info: :-----------
hp-check[20458]: info: :
error: 7 errors and/or warnings.
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Summary of needed commands to run to satisfy missing dependencies:
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes cups
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes libcups2-dev cups-bsd cups-client
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes libcupsimage2-dev
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes libsnmp-dev
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes python-dev
hp-check[20458]: info: :sudo aptitude install --assume-yes libsane-dev
hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Please refer to the installation instructions at:
hp-check[20458]: info: :http://hplip.sourceforge.net/install/index.html

hp-check[20458]: info: :
hp-check[20458]: info: :Done.