Ubuntu
hplip package

USB finds printer but cannot print (Lucid Lynx)

Asked by edgar@olg.com

I am trying to print on an HP Laserjet 5L using a USB-to-parallel cable adapter.
I am using a Compaq Presario C700 laptop running an Intel Pentium double core processor and Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid) and Linux Kernel 2.6.32-24. The system recognizes the printer but then the print jobs just pile up on the queue.

I can print OK with the same HP printer and the same USB cable with another laptop (Compaq Presario 2175 using AMD AthlonXP2400) running Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid) Linux Kernel 2.6.32-26 but this one, I don't know if it makes any difference, also has a parallel port and a serial port as well as the USB port. This computer has no problem printing either with the parallel port or USB port.
Help!

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marcus aurelius (adbiz) said : 		#1

you mentioned you have different kernels on the machines. have you tried updating the kernel on the laptop that doesn't work?

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edgar@olg.com (edgar-olg) said : 		#2

OK, I updated to the 2.6.32-26 Kernel on the Compaq C700 and that didn't
fix it. In the Document Print Status column, it notifies me that the job
is being processed and the printer is not connected. After a while the
jobs sometimes disappear or they are aborted.
However, the USB port where the printer is connected works OK with other
devices such as a mouse or flash drive but it does not discover the printer.
The other computer (Compaq 2175) works well under this kernel and worked
well under previous Kernels too (2.6.32-21 and 2.6.32-24).

marcus aurelius wrote:
> Your question #136107 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/136107
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> marcus aurelius proposed the following answer:
> you mentioned you have different kernels on the machines. have you tried
> updating the kernel on the laptop that doesn't work?
>
>

Revision history for this message
ahambidge (ahambidge) said : 		#3

Hello,

Search for HP inkjet printers in the Synaptic Package Manager.

Regards,

Allan :)

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edgar@olg.com (edgar-olg) said : 		#4

It's a Laserjet not an Ink-jet and I can install the driver manually but it makes no difference to the problem.
Anyway I connected an Epson Stylus Photo R340 which is a USB printer, and everything works just fine on the Presario C700.
I am beginning to think it's a USB speed problem because I just realized that the other difference between the two computers is that the one that works well with the HP Laserjet has an old low speed USB port and maybe when you use a parallel-to-USB connection you need a slow rate for it to work.
Is there a way to slow the USB down???

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask edgar@olg.com for more information if necessary.

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