Brother HL-2140 printer not working in 14.04

Did you upgrade to 13.04 then to 13.10 then to 14.04 ?

Or did you do a clean install of 14.04 from CD / USB ?

I used a clean install using the 14.04 I downloaded and transferred to
DVD. The installation option I selected was "Update Ubuntu 12.10 to
Ubuntu 14.04 LTS" to keep files etc.

On 31/05/14 23:56, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #249565 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/249565
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested more information:
> Did you upgrade to 13.04 then to 13.10 then to 14.04 ?
>
> Or did you do a clean install of 14.04 from CD / USB ?
>

Please read this:

http://www.openprinting.org/printer/Brother/Brother-HL-2140

So you need to use the generic hpijs-pcl5e printer driver which is actually an HP driver that is compatible with your Brother-HL-2140 printer.

Please try the following drivers:

- Generic PCL-5e printer, Foomatic/hpijs-pcl5e
- Brother HL-1030, Foomatic/hl1250
- Brother HL-1040, Foomatic/hl7x0
- Generic PCL-6/XL printer, Foomatic/pxlmono

You will first need to ensure that the following packages are installed by running these Terminal commands one by one:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install foomatic-db

sudo apt-get install foomatic-db-compressed-ppds

sudo apt-get install foomatic-db-gutenprint

sudo apt-get install foomatic-filters

sudo apt-get install foomatic-gui

sudo apt-get install hpijs-ppds ijsgutenprint-ppds

sudo apt-get install openprinting-ppds

sudo apt-get install openprinting-ppds-extra

Source: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/foomatic-db/+bug/768727/comments/2
Source: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/foomatic-db/+bug/768727/comments/3
Source: https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/244971

Mark
Thank you for your reply.
I downloaded the hpijs-pcl5e driver specifying the hl-2140 model in
selection box and ran the suggested terminal commands with following results
1 update successful
2 unable to locate footmatic
3 '' ''
4 " "
5 " "
6 " "
7 done
8 done already
9 done cant locate extra
  I then tried to run a print but there was no difference. The printer
just spat out blank paper.
Are the 7 other drivers you list alternate drivers if the the
hpijs-pcl5e does not work?
Are these footmatic drivers essential for the printer to work?
Do I need to uninstall the printer and over ride the auto search for a
driver.
Your advice would be appreciated.

Alan

On 02/06/14 06:41, Mark Rijckenberg wrote:
> Your question #249565 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/249565
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Mark Rijckenberg proposed the following answer:
> Please read this:
>
> http://www.openprinting.org/printer/Brother/Brother-HL-2140
>
> So you need to use the generic hpijs-pcl5e printer driver which is
> actually an HP driver that is compatible with your Brother-HL-2140
> printer.
>
> Please try the following drivers:
>
> - Generic PCL-5e printer, Foomatic/hpijs-pcl5e
> - Brother HL-1030, Foomatic/hl1250
> - Brother HL-1040, Foomatic/hl7x0
> - Generic PCL-6/XL printer, Foomatic/pxlmono
>
> You will first need to ensure that the following packages are installed
> by running these Terminal commands one by one:
>
> sudo apt-get update
>
> sudo apt-get install foomatic-db
>
> sudo apt-get install foomatic-db-compressed-ppds
>
> sudo apt-get install foomatic-db-gutenprint
>
> sudo apt-get install foomatic-filters
>
> sudo apt-get install foomatic-gui
>
> sudo apt-get install hpijs-ppds ijsgutenprint-ppds
>
> sudo apt-get install openprinting-ppds
>
> sudo apt-get install openprinting-ppds-extra
>
> Source: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/foomatic-db/+bug/768727/comments/2
> Source: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/foomatic-db/+bug/768727/comments/3
> Source: https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/244971
>

Please copy-paste the commands I gave you, in order to avoid typing mistakes.

The package name is foomatic-db , not footmatic-db

Mark
Good news the printer now works. Thank you for your kind assistance.
I mangaged to carry out all but two of the commands you suggested. Despite copying and pasting as you suggested the gui and extra commands could not be located.
I then tried the second and third printing options you listed without success. This may because of another printer setting not being right. I could not get the first and last printing options to show in printer make and model box.

 I finally suceeded in running prints by changing the printer setting "Make and Model" to "Brother HL-2140 Foomatic/hl1250".

I also have a laptop computer which has had Ubuntu 14.04 installed and experiencing the same printing problem - blank paper continuously issuing. I got this computer to run prints with the same Brother HL-2140 printer by simply changing the printer setting "Make and Model" to "Brother HL-2140 Foomatic/hl1250". No other steps were necessary. This may be of interest to other people.

Thanks Mark.....

Generic PCL-5e printer, Foomatic/hpijs-pcl5e works for me..

I also had problems locating some of the suggested packages. After dropping those, the attempt to install the remainder wanted to remove cups (fine, if foomatic replaces the functionality) and ubuntu-gnome-desktop (not fine).

Entering the printer model number at http://support.brother.com and downloading their Driver Install Tool for linux gave me a script that fetched the necessary drivers for cups and installed them. Simple to use, and the printer now works properly.

Perhaps technically off-topic, but the Generic PCL-5e printer, Foomatic/hpijs-pcl5e driver also works for the HL-2240 (under Lubuntu 14.04). It does first require installation of the package printer-driver-hpijs.