[Gllug] Re: usb printing nightmare

[Liam Smit]

Hi Gary

> Many thanks for your help Colin.  Tried what you suggested and was able to
> set up username and password for printmanager.  Unfortunately when I try to
> configure cups through localhost:631 I still get a dialogue box asking for
> username and password.
> 
> Despite inputting the new username and password, I still keep being asked
> for username and password.

Try configuring and using your printer as root. This should remove any
problems you have that are related to usernames, passwords and
permissions.

This is sometimes the only viable course of action to get things
working. Once they're working you can concentrate on getting them
working as a normal user.
 
> I am really getting pissed off with this now, it's not as if it's unique to
> ubuntu either, when I plugged my usb printer (HP digital copier 410) into a
> mandrake box, I still couldn't print with it.

If it's a new printer then not all the bugs will have been ironed out
of the open source drivers for it.
 
> The system is detecting the printer so I know that there's data traffic
> being sent along the usb port, but when it comes to transmitting data, it
> kind of gets 'blocked' mid-way through, or at least that's how it seems.

Detecting a printer and getting it configured / set up to the point
where it can print are two very different things, but the fact that
the printer is recognised is a good first step.

> How can Linux purport itself to be a viable contender to windows when you
> have to deal with all this CRAP!!! just to get it to something as
> fundamental as printing?

Don't be silly. The only reason that this printer works under MSFT
Windows is that HP took the time to write drivers for that operating
system.

According to HP's web page: 
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?product=236549&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

You must contact them:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/contacthp?dlc=en&lc=en&product=236549&lang=en&cc=us

Try asking them why there is no Linux driver for their product.
 
> Incidentally i never had all this trouble when I had my Epson color stylus
> 880 connected via the parellel port.  That worked 'out of the box' but this
> is just driving me mad!

I've had trouble with a Canon S400 when plugged in via USB, using the
parallel port instead made it work first time, every time not 100%
sure why.

btw have you checked out the Ubuntu forums for help?

Cheers
Liam
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