HPLIP

Getting error installing a dependency while trying to install drivers in Kubuntu 20.10

Asked by Jason Wallwork

I'm falling the install steps https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/install/install/index for installing the HP driver for Kubuntu 20.10. Everything goes well - I pick Ubuntu as the distribution since it's the closest to what I have. It seems to fail at step 8 which is about installing dependencies. More specifically it's the package python-pyqt5 and 2 lines proceeding and the last line which is the error message reads like this:

Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Command failed. Re-try #1...

After several attempts choosing to retry fter a few attempts to retry, I get this error:

error: Package install command failed with error code 100

No matter how many times I retry the install can't get past this. If I choose 'no' to skip retrying, it just fails on the next package, python-dbus.mainloop.pyqt5 . And the process begins again. I would expect it would continue the installation as the steps described show.

I've used all the default settings until the error. I want to also note, in case it's important, that in the step before step 8, it shows this:

INSTALL MISSING REQUIRED DEPENDENCIES
-------------------------------------
note: Installation of dependencies requires an active internet connection.
warning: Missing REQUIRED dependency: pyqt5 (PyQt 5- Qt interface for Python (for Qt version 4.x))

INSTALL MISSING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCIES
-------------------------------------
note: Installation of dependencies requires an active internet connection.
warning: Missing OPTIONAL dependency for option 'gui_qt5': pyqt5-dbus (PyQt 5 DBus - DBus Support for PyQt5)
warning: Missing OPTIONAL dependency for option 'gui_qt5': python-notify (Python libnotify - Python bindings for the libnotify Desktop notifications)
warning: Missing OPTIONAL dependency for option 'fax': reportlab (Reportlab - PDF library for Python)
warning: Missing OPTIONAL dependency for option 'scan': pil (PIL - Python Imaging Library (required for commandline scanning with hp-scan))
warning: This installer cannot install 'pil' for your distro/OS and/or version.

I tried installing' pyqt5' and 'pil outside the installer using 'sudo apt install xyz' for each. It says it's unable to locate the package in each case.

I'ved tried turning off all programs but Konsole and the web browser, Firefox. I was using Brave but it complained about having that running so I closed it and restart the install process.

I also tried seaching in Muon (like synaptic) for the missing package. There are plenty that look similar but they have something else on the end, but this one looks very similar python3-pyqt5. I wonder if this is what it wants. But it's already installed anyway.

Not sure where to go on this one.

Jason

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
HPLIP Edit question
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Solved by:
Manfred Hampl
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Revision history for this message
Jason Wallwork (ranger71) said : 		#1

I forgot to mention two other things.

The installer is hplip-3.20.5.run.

I found the most recent log for the installer also it doesn't really show much information beyond what I said:

hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mHP Linux Imaging and Printing System (ver. 3.20.5)[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mHPLIP Installer ver. 5.1[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Copyright (c) 2001-18 HP Development Company, LP
hplip-install[26868]: info: :This software comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :This is free software, and you are welcome to distribute it
hplip-install[26868]: info: :under certain conditions. See COPYING file for more details.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Installer log saved in: [01mhplip-install_Thu-04-Jun-2020_14:44:37.log[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
note: Defaults for each question are maked with a '*'. Press <enter> to accept the default.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mINSTALLATION MODE[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m-----------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Automatic mode will install the full HPLIP solution with the most common options.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Custom mode allows you to choose installation options to fit specific requirements.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mINTRODUCTION[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :This installer will install HPLIP version 3.20.5 on your computer.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Please close any running package management systems now (YaST, Adept, Synaptic, Up2date, etc).
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mDISTRO/OS CONFIRMATION[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m----------------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Distro appears to be Ubuntu 20.04.

hplip-install[26868]: info: :
Initializing. Please wait...
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mENTER USER PASSWORD[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m-------------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mINSTALLATION NOTES[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m------------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Enable the universe/multiverse repositories. Also be sure you are using the Ubuntu "Main" Repositories. See: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu for more information. Disable the CD-ROM/DVD source if you do not have the Ubuntu installation media inserted in the drive.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mSECURITY PACKAGES[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m-----------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :AppArmor is installed.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :AppArmor protects the application from external intrusion attempts making the application secure
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mRUNNING PRE-INSTALL COMMANDS[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m----------------------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :OK
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mMISSING DEPENDENCIES[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m--------------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Following dependencies are not installed. HPLIP will not work if all REQUIRED dependencies are not installed and some of the HPLIP features will not work if OPTIONAL dependencies are not installed.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Package-Name Component Required/Optional
hplip-install[26868]: info: :pyqt5-dbus gui_qt5 OPTIONAL
hplip-install[26868]: info: :pil scan OPTIONAL
hplip-install[26868]: info: :reportlab fax OPTIONAL
hplip-install[26868]: info: :pyqt5 gui_qt5 REQUIRED
hplip-install[26868]: info: :python-notify gui_qt5 OPTIONAL
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mINSTALL MISSING REQUIRED DEPENDENCIES[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m-------------------------------------[0m
note: Installation of dependencies requires an active internet connection.
warning: Missing REQUIRED dependency: pyqt5 (PyQt 5- Qt interface for Python (for Qt version 4.x))
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mINSTALL MISSING OPTIONAL DEPENDENCIES[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m-------------------------------------[0m
note: Installation of dependencies requires an active internet connection.
warning: Missing OPTIONAL dependency for option 'gui_qt5': pyqt5-dbus (PyQt 5 DBus - DBus Support for PyQt5)
warning: Missing OPTIONAL dependency for option 'gui_qt5': python-notify (Python libnotify - Python bindings for the libnotify Desktop notifications)
warning: Missing OPTIONAL dependency for option 'fax': reportlab (Reportlab - PDF library for Python)
warning: Missing OPTIONAL dependency for option 'scan': pil (PIL - Python Imaging Library (required for commandline scanning with hp-scan))
warning: This installer cannot install 'pil' for your distro/OS and/or version.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mCHECKING FOR NETWORK CONNECTION[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m-------------------------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Network connection present.
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mRUNNING PRE-PACKAGE COMMANDS[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m----------------------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :sudo dpkg --configure -a (Pre-depend step 1)
hplip-install[26868]: info: :sudo apt-get install --yes --force-yes -f (Pre-depend step 2)
hplip-install[26868]: info: :sudo apt-get update (Pre-depend step 3)
hplip-install[26868]: info: :OK
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01mDEPENDENCY AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :[01m----------------------------------[0m
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes gtk2-engines-pixbuf'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Command failed. Re-try #1...
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Command failed. Re-try #2...
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Command failed. Re-try #3...
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Package install command failed with error code 100
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Package install command failed with error code 100
warning: Some HPLIP functionality might not function due to missing package(s).
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-dbus.mainloop.pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Command failed. Re-try #1...
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-dbus.mainloop.pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Command failed. Re-try #2...
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-dbus.mainloop.pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Command failed. Re-try #3...
hplip-install[26868]: info: :Running 'sudo apt-get install --assume-yes python-dbus.mainloop.pyqt5'
Please wait, this may take several minutes...
error: Package install command failed with error code 100

Revision history for this message
Best Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#2

(K)Ubuntu 20.10 is not yet supported by HPLIP. It is a future version for publication next October, not yet ready.

Installing the version of HPLIP that has been modified by Ubuntu should work.
Try
sudo apt install hplip-gui

Revision history for this message
brian_p (claremont102) said : 		#3

> I forgot to mention two other things.

Three things, really. What device are you using?

Brian.

Revision history for this message
Jason Wallwork (ranger71) said : 		#4

> Three things, really. What device are you using?

Good idea, doh! I'm using an HOP OfficeJet Pro 8710.

Revision history for this message
Jason Wallwork (ranger71) said : 		#5

Thanks Manfred Hampl, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
Christian Haunert (c.haunert) said : 		#6

Hi, even if I am outing me as total noob. But I do not get it. What was the solution?
I am running a Color Laserjet Pro MFP M277dw.
The Installation on Kubuntu 20.04 runs into the completely same error.

Can somebody give me a hint please?

Revision history for this message
Christian Haunert (c.haunert) said : 		#7

I present the solution here, that worked for me and HPLIP.

if you have or have not multiple version of python in your system. You just need to update "the symbolic link" of python inside /usr/bin/

root@xxxxx:/usr/bin# ls -lrth python*
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Apr 16 2018 python -> python2.7
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3.6M Nov 12 2018 python2.7
-rwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4.4M May 7 14:58 python3.6

In above example if you see the output of python --version you will get python2.7

Now update the python symlink using below command-

root@irshad:/usr/bin# unlink python
root@irshad:/usr/bin# ln -s /usr/bin/python3.6 python
root@irshad:/usr/bin# python --version
Python 3.6.8

share improve this answer

After having the symlink to Python3.8 the installation of HPLIP worked like a charm.

Revision history for this message
Jason Wallwork (ranger71) said : 		#8

Christian Haunert (c.haunert) write:
> Hi, even if I am outing me as total noob. But I do not get it. What was the solution?

Manfred's solution worked for me.

If I'm understanding this solution correctly it installs a slightly older version of the driver/gui-software from the Ubuntu repositories. The Muon package manager I use lists under details that the version number is 3.20.3+dfsg0-2.

From checking the release notes (at HP's developer's site), it looks like the improvements between .3 and .5 aren't needed for me. It adds support for Debian 10.3 and Manjaro 19.0 and newer printers but introduces 3 known issues, one of which could apply to me but I'm not sure. I know I had trouble getting scanning to work before upgrading my Kubuntu OS which may have been using .5.

I note that this page supplies info on whether to upgrade HPLIP:

https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/downloads

In my case, I wasn't trying to upgrade to .3 for .5 for the heck of it. When I upgraded to Kubuntu 20.10 from Kubuntu 19.10, the software seemed to break. I tried to print something and it acted like it was and then ejected a blank page. So I thought I'd just get the most recent software. At least now I know that it's ok to go with an older version when the newer one doesn't work. With hardware drivers, I thought previously this was a bad thing.

Revision history for this message
shmu26 (shmu26) said : 		#9

The workaround presented by @Christian Haunert worked for me.
I did not see exactly the same output from the command
 ls -lrth python*
but the following commands resolved the issue very nicely!

Revision history for this message
shmu26 (shmu26) said : 		#10

I should have mentioned that I am on Kubuntu 20.04, not 20.10.

Revision history for this message
Nils Tovik (nilstovik) said : 		#11

I recently upgraded from Ubuntu Mate 19.04 to Ubuntu Mate 20.04 and ran into similar problems when I was trying to install a new HP-printer (HP Smart Tank Plus 555 ).
 @Christian Haunert's solution worked for me - installation completed successfully. However, printing did not work! I got 'device not found' and 'channel write error' , but managed to find that the source of the problem was permission setting for the ppd file found in /etc/cups/ppd, in my case Smart_Tank_Plus_550.ppd.

Output of 'ls -lg' was -rw-r----- 1 lp 28975 nov. 23 21:38 Smart_Tank_Plus_550.ppd showing that only root and the group 'lp' had acces to the ppd-file. I was not member of the group lp, so I ran the command sudo usermod -a -G lp "username" to add myself to the group 'lp' and printing worked!

I recommend that the installation instructions be updated so users check python links before installing and ppd permissions if printing dont work after install.

Revision history for this message
Hans Jansen (jwjansen) said : 		#12

I stumbled on the same error; in my case I suspect that the "python" link was not updated (from python2 to python3) when python3 was installed. Now I can print, so thanks for this thread!

Revision history for this message
Jason Wallwork (ranger71) said : 		#13

Not sure if you're thanking more or all of us. In any case, glad it worked out!