Printer fails after upgrade to 11.10

Uninstall the packages, then reinstall. May help

I tried that, even re-downloading the zipped package from Lexmark's support page but it ends the same. There is a Java run-time file installed and it asks if I want to reinstall it, either way it results in the same thing, no printing. I did wonder if it may be trying to use another Java package which isn't compatible in some way?
I have a 64 bit USB installation stick (used for my desktop which works but is in a different room to the printer) and am tempted to install fresh on the dual-boot laptop, but I'm not sure the print driver would work in a 64 bit environment.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1223710

Its this sort of thing why 32bit is recomended on the download page

Thanks for the above helpful info in #3 above, it is a lot to take in but it does look like it might be a waste to go to 64 bit, I've created a 32 bit installer USB (I had a spare 8GiB one to hand) and if I can't work out why it doesn't work with the upgraded system I can try a new install and ultimately revert to 11.04 if I have to. I've backed everything up (I hope) including my Thunderbird files.
I'll let you know if it works later in the week.

I've re-installed Ubuntu 11.10 and run the update today (Sunday) that seems to be all "cups" related, but the problem is still there, the installation doesn't communicate with the printer, it is waiting for the USB lead to be connected but doesn't see it when it is. The "printers" contact from the desktop start menu sees it as going to the "properties" menu it not only identifies it but the "Test Print" is active only when the printer is connected but it doesn't print anything, the on-screen pop-up states the printing is stopped.
I noted a line in the Terminal response when running the installation has a warning line
(gtk:2110): Gtk WARNING **Unable to locate theme engine in module_path:"pixmap"
I don't know if this means a cups or other file is missing or has now got a new name but it is not something I have seen before. The install stops "waiting" shortly after that and doesn't return to the normal Terminal prompt.
I'll keep you informed if I find a solution, after all it did work correctly before the change to 11.10.
John

Despite the grub updates yesterday and today (Monday) the problem still exists, I have noted the cups software identifies the printer and seems to try and set it up overriding the installation sequence on plugging the USB in, leaving the installer software waiting for the plug-in operation, I know the printer works OK and has been used with Ubuntu for some years (when running 9.10) without problems. Is there a way of stopping the cups software from installing the printer automatically?

Hi John, I am am having similar problems. Can you start cups by typing "sudo start cups" from the terminal?

Hi yes I can and I get "job already running" with no printer connected or designated (I deleted the red flagged one), is it possible to stop it some how and install the software?
John

I've just tried typing "sudo stop cups" and it indicated it had stopped or was waiting, I tried reinstalling the software but it stopped at the same point, not seeing me connect the USB cable, with or without the printer switched on, under 11.04 and before just connecting the printer and sending a print job would switch it on if it wasn't on though I can't remember if it had to be on to install the software originally.
John

Yeah, I have the same problem since upgrading to 11.10. I am yet to figure it out unfortunately. When the printer was flagged red, what did it say next to "printer state" in the properties window? Initially I was getting an "insecure permissions" error but I went to the terminal and ran "sudo chgrp -hR root /usr/local/lexmark/" and afterwards the printer was no longer flagged. I still can't print though and the lexmark installation doesn't recognise the printer, as you describe, so I am not sure if it was progress.

I tried that as well, the permissions were originally set to user=root and group=bin so changing it to both=root should have removed that potential problem problem but all printing on a single user install sets the user as root for printing (at least that is what I read somewhere. I think I do remember seeing the icon without the "red flag" at one point but the "printer queue" indicate the printer is "busy stopped" which doesn't make much sense to me.
I've looked on other Linux and Ubuntu forums but without any other help so far. If I find a cure I will let you (and anyone else reading this) know the solution.
John

Thanks John. I have contacted Lexmark and let them know that a few of us are having difficulty with the installer. Very odd that the installer doesn't recognise the printer. I tried the steps mentioned here more in hope than expectation:
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1243920.html
It did not help.

I've looked at the info you liked to and it is definitely for the Lexmark X2550/2580 not the X2650 and I understand they were the EeePC printers that were offered at a silly price when the EeePC was first on sale. I'm using a Dell Vostro 1510 in dual boot with Ubuntu 11.10 (now) and Windows Vista Business, the later works OK using the driver and goodies on the disk supplied, not that I've ever had to do FAX or other fancy things.
The problem is the instructions in the liked offering still stalls at the same point i.e. connect the printer USB, exiting crashes the install with only the Java JRE installed and that has no link to the cups software to go further.
I have noticed another lot of cups updates today, could the problem be something in that not yet being sorted, there doesn't seem to be an option to install a driver if the printer isn't in the list of printers supported any more (it was there in the past).
John

It is definitely an issue exclusive to Ubuntu 11.10. I need my printer for work so I re-installed 11.04 and ran the lexmark deb package and the printer and scanner are working again.

Just for clarity, the deb. package was stopping at the same point for me in 11.10 but when I reverted to 11.04 it was no longer a problem. Very strange.

Yes that is what I found, I had been testing 11.10 in VirtualBox but never tried it with the printer and didn't try it with the 64bit version I have on my Desktop, I was warned that it might not work in a 64bit system anyway but it would have been a problem as the printer and Desktop are in different parts of my house.
I'll keep looking though, I've not done any work on the system so I'm not sure where to look or what might have changed in terms of it's function but I'm sure something in the way it detects and responds to USB insertion may be responsible, not checking to see if a program is running that may be expecting it, such as the driver software.
I don't have to use it for work (I'm retired due to health problems) but I do use it for copies of important documents I need. I don't trust Windows security (or more lack of it) to download and print but for now I'll have to transfer them via external storage (or the SD card) to print them. It's just annoying and time consuming having to boot up into Windows to do it.
John

I have just installed "synaptic package manager" (on longer a automatic install) and checked for Lexmark and it shows the Lexmark X2600 series driver is installed, but when I access the Lexmark Inkjet Tools the "Select printer queue" only gives it's self and the web "Manage Printers" option and no option for the printer I expect to see, it is installed but not looking for the printer. I think this may be because it needs the cable connection to initially identify it and know where to look.
This seems to be the problem, the access must be blocked by the "auto install" which prevents it from seeing it, a closed loop, can't see it because that USB socket is in use by the "auto install" which can't run because it can't see the tools that contain the driver proper!!!
I am at a bit of a loss now!
John

Further to yesterday I have tried the "Removable Media" and ticking the "Never prompt or start programs on media insertion" but this made no difference, the "Auto install" whatever still automatically tried and failed to install the printer!
John

Elsewhere on the web it has been suggested that Lexmark has been blacklisted preventing it's software being downloaded and installed so it needs some special permission to permit it to install the driver, I'm not sure what that entails but if anyone knows perhaps they could give some guidance.
John

I had a problem with Apparmor before and had to add a security exception in order to continue using the printer but I do not think that is the problem in this instance. I upgraded to 11.10 which meant that the amended Apparmor configuration file was preserved but I encountered problems nevertheless. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1767216

I never had problems with 11.04, (or the previous versions since 9.10) but I can only add I did a clean install after the on-line upgrade resulted in the printer not working, the download was very slow at the time and I was unsure if it had been corrupted, the downloaded version has the MD5 checking so should be clean. I created the USB installer using my Desktop which was running the 64 bit version but I downloaded the 32 bit version to create it for my laptop, the printer wasn't tried on the Desktop then but I've since tried it there with similar results, the difference is that on failing to install a driver it deletes the unusable printer from the list after announcing the driver was unavailable, it still prevents the installer completing.
John

I find this problem still exists even though lots of upgrades to the cups software have been produced, I have had to get an HP Deskjet 1050A printer which works (as I expected) without any additional driver software. I still have the Lexmark X2650 and want to make use of it other than printing in a Windows environment. Does anyone know if a printer can be used via Wine using Windows driver software?

Printing through Wine has only been reported to work in a very limited number of cases. http://wiki.winehq.org/Printing (see "What about Windows Printer-Drivers in wine")

If you want to try, you need to use something called ddiwrapper which loads the driver through Wine and links it with CUPS. http://patchlog.com/patches/ddiwrapper-on-ubuntu-9-04/

Thanks for the guide, I'll look into it.

Check for usblp module

# lsmod | grep usblp

If there is no output then its not loading.

#sudo modprobe usblp
# lsmod | grep usblp

You should get an output of the module having been loaded. If so restart cups and check your printer. This module doesn't work for all USB printers so it may not solve your problem. If it does then add it to /etc/modules so it loads at start up.

I get the following message
usblp 18239 0
But the printer still doesn't seem to work, the printer is now connected to my desktop computer and works under Windows XP Pro but in Ubuntu 11.10 it still crashes the driver installation when the printer is connected, with the cups "auto install" flagging there isn't a driver and the Lexmark supplied driver waiting for the "now connected" printer to be connected!
I have another printer (HP Deskjet 1050A) for use with my laptop now and that works OK, it just seems odd that the process for installing the driver for the Lexmark X2650 that worked on previous versions of Ubuntu no longer works!
Thanks for your help so far and if you think of anything else I can try I will appreciate it.
John

Sorry I just noticed the 64bit in your problem description. Is the driver you are trying a 32bit driver? If so try installing with --force-architecture.

example: #sudo dpkg -i --force-architecture <name-of-driver>.deb

This will force your 64bit system to install the driver as 32bit.

I don't think it is a 64bit issue since I was using the 32bit version and encountered the same problem. Judging by the bug report linked above it seems to affect multiple printers which use proprietary drivers, not just Lexmark.

Yes I'm sure this isn't to do with the 64 bit system as the same problem exists on my laptop which is running the 32 bit version of Ubuntu 11.10, the only difference is the 64 bit system on the desktop seems to abort the "auto install" when it fails to find a driver though it doesn't return to the Lexmark installer software.
 I will have another go at it later though, I'm still a little concerned in case it doesn't just apply to "some printers" but may also be a problem with other devices, it sees my mobile phone's micro-SD card in the Samsung phone though it doesn't see the phone's own memory (phone book etc) but I understand this may be common with non Android phones. (There is a download-able Windows interface but that isn't worth the effort in practice unless you want pointless apps).
John

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.

The problem persists, however someone referred to #883093 (see above) this may be a different problem as my problem with this printer is the fact that the "auto install printer" routine is preventing the Lexmark supplied driver installation from completing and leaves it hanging without enabling the printer and creates an unusable printer option. I doubt if I'll persist with this printer but the fact that it worked before but not after the upgrade and the next upgrade is to an LTS version of Ubuntu may mean it is going down the Apple road of "not approved by us" in the future.

My Lexmark has since developed a hardware problem so I got rid of it and bought a Samsung Laser SCX-3200 instead, thinking I could finally upgrade to 11.10. After upgrading to 11.10 the scanner ceased to function so I had to downgrade again. Ah, the joys of hardware compatibility with Linux!

Its manufacturers not supporting the OS actually. Vendors like Intel, Nvidia and HP all fully support Linux and users tend to buy the products as they know it will work.

http://macalga.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/installer-limprimante-samsung-scx-3200-sous-ubuntu-10-10/

Seems you need to edit a few files

I know it's the manufacturers. I'm am not complaining about Linux, just engaging in a bit of gallows humour.
That fix only works for 11.04 by the way but after upgrade to 11.10 scanning doesn't work again but thanks anyway. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sane-backends/+bug/879619

It doesn't work for me, this worked fine with 11.04, but not after upgrading to 11.10, it has also been reported on other websites as stopping some HP USB connected printers (though not the new Deskjet 1050A I purchased). It is the same with my Laptop (now running 11.10 32bit) and the Desktop (running 11.10 64bit).
I think it is a Kernel problem (there seem to be other peripherals like my SD card reader which has been referred as a Kernel problem) This version doesn't identify the Laptop's firewire port either though I don't have anything to try on it, previous versions identified it as "not used" but does detect the "finger-print reader", so it could be an error in the initialization sequence for them. I don't know enough about it but have been trying to learn a bit, if I make sense of it I'll report back but it isn't an easy task as my experience was prior to retirement ten years ago on mostly small DOS and some Unix set-ups for testing purposes.
John