Weird Printing Problems

[Michael.267]

Hello.

So, I have recently been having printing problems in GNOME. First I had trouble in Xubuntu 11.04 so I tried Xubuntu 10.10, and now I am trying Mint 11 (which I like the best so far).

Here's the problem: The printer (HP Deskjet F4280 All-in-one) prints out the test page just fine. When I go to print from any source (I have tried printing from Chromium, Firefox, Libreoffice/Openoffice, Gedit...) the printer only prints out images and links, but no other text. Also, the image colours are sometimes inverted/messed up. The print previews all look O.K.

So, basically if I try to print a document I will just get a bunch of blue links but no text. I have tried installing HPLIP, reinstalling drivers, reinstalling CUPS. Also, I have tried printing from a Brother HL2040 Laser (which worked fine on all the linux versions I tried before) and now it just shoots out blank pages. When I tried a test page on that printer it probably printed about 15 blank pages before I got it to stop.

*Update: It appears that the printer is incapable of printing black. I changed the text to red in libre office writer and it printed out fine in red.
*Update2: The printer also prints in greyscale--except it is extremely faint. Could it be an issue that it is a tricolour cartridge (there isn't an actual black cartridge)?

[Kobin]

Did you try going to
http://localhost:631
to check CUPS errors?

Go to the "Administration" tab and choose "View Error Log".

If there is any specific errors then please post them here.

Another thing:
Have you tried printing with the same printers using Windows or other OS?

[Michael.267]

I went to http://localhost:631/admin/log/error_log and this is what it lists:

E [05/May/2011:00:19:58 +0000] Unable to bind socket for address [v1.::1]:631 - Address already in use.
E [05/May/2011:00:19:58 +0000] Unable to bind socket for address 127.0.0.1:631 - Address already in use.
E [25/Jun/2011:02:17:03 -0600] [Job 11] Unable to write print data: Input/output error

I actually got the Brother working last night by using a different driver. I selected Brother-2170W. I might try changing the driver for the HP as well to see if this works. Also, both printers work fine with Windows.

[DrHu]

All this started a couple of days ago. I never thought I would say this, but if I can't get this working I am at the point of considering going back to Windows... Despite how much I love everything else about Mint/Linux in general. So someone, please help!

...I am at the point of considering going back to Windows...
WOW, not again
--What can anyone say to that, other than OK then!

Just like some people who bang and bang on a public washroom door, it doesn't speed up an answer, no matter what that person thinks..

Check the HPLIP options, there might be a command level option to do color calibration..
http://linuxappfinder.com/package/hplip

* Command line utilities to perform printer maintenance, such as ink-level monitoring or pen cleaning and calibration

But of course the main problem is that the tri-color cartridge is combining colors to simulate black and white printing..

[slider]

Micheal.267

*Update: It appears that the printer is incapable of printing black. I changed the text to red in libre office writer and it printed out fine in red.
*Update2: The printer also prints in greyscale--except it is extremely faint. Could it be an issue that it is a tricolour cartridge (there isn't an actual black cartridge)?

Based on the symptoms and what you have posted you do not have a software problem.

You have a missing or malfunctioning black printer cartridge?

Open the front door and look inside the device > you should see two cartridges- one for black, the other for color (tricolor). An HP #60 or #60xl is what your printer needs.

If you do find a black cartridge try running a few cleaning cycles, also making sure that the cartridge is seated properly in the device.

Please check this before modifying anything else.

Let us know.

Regards,

S

[Michael.267]

FIXED. I replaced the black ink cartridge and it prints fine (sometimes it's the simplest fix...). Strange that it was printing fine from windows with low ink (and the low ink indicator didn't go on until a few hours ago).