SOLVED: printer using HPLIP just quit working

[petedecember]

Greetings--
Is anyone else suddenly having problems with HPLIP? My printer suddenly quit working, with a little red X on the printer icon in the HP software. The only thing that I can think of that I have done recently is to install Windscribe's GUI (a great VPN) and the Radio++ applet. I uninstalled the Windscribe GUI but the printers still didn't work. I uninstall HPLIP and the GUI that goes with it, but now when I try to install it from the file (hplip-3.22.4.run) it will run through the installation process only to flash a red error message and close the terminal window. The error flashes so quickly that I cannot see what it says. Does anyone have any idea on how to get my printer working again?

Thanks in advance.

[pdc_2]

can you tell us the model of this printer please?

[petedecember]

Thanks for getting back to me!

The printer is an HP printer/scanner/fax, model: HP ColorLaserJet MFP-M278-M281

I was able to install an older version of HPLIP via the Software Manager, but when I went to install the wireless printer (the bottom option) the install process freezes. The scanner is also not working.

Any ideas you might have would be appriciated!

[petedecember]

Just another thought--
when I try to get the status of the printer via HP Toolbox (HPLIP installed it) it says "Device communication error (5012)". Hope that gives you an idea of what's going on.
Thanks.

[pdc_2]

and which version of Mint are you running please?

Your printer would work with hplip > 18.5 so you shouldn't need a more recent version;

it is a wifi connection? HP says it is airprint compatible so it should connect "driverless"

What do the ffollowing commands return please?

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driverless

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lpinfo -v

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lpstat -t

[petedecember]

Thank-you again for getting back to me!

I am running Mint 20.2, kernal version 5.4.0-121-generic

Yes, I am using wifi to connect to the printer


The command "driverless" returns nothing. It just goes back to a flashing curser on a new line.

The command "lpinfo -v" returns:

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peter@peter-17Z90N-R-AAC8U1:~$ lpinfo -v
network ipps
network lpd
network beh
network http
network socket
file cups-brf:/
serial serial:/dev/ttyS0?baud=115200
serial serial:/dev/ttyS4?baud=115200
network ipp
network https
direct hp
network smb
direct hpfax

The command "lpstat =-t" returns:

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peter@peter-17Z90N-R-AAC8U1:~$ lpstat -t
scheduler is running
system default destination: HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281
device for Generic-PostScript: socket://192.168.0.203:9100
device for HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281: hp:/usb/HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281?serial=VNBNM4Q4GF
device for HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281-Fax: hpfax:/usb/HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281?serial=VNBNM4Q4GF
device for HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281_fax: hpfax:/net/HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281?ip=192.168.0.203
Generic-PostScript accepting requests since Tue 28 Jun 2022 03:14:28 PM EDT
HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281 accepting requests since Tue 28 Jun 2022 03:18:18 PM EDT
HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281-Fax accepting requests since Tue 28 Jun 2022 02:58:03 PM EDT
HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281_fax accepting requests since Sat 01 May 2021 04:11:09 PM EDT
printer Generic-PostScript is idle.  enabled since Tue 28 Jun 2022 03:14:28 PM EDT
printer HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281 is idle.  enabled since Tue 28 Jun 2022 03:18:18 PM EDT
printer HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281-Fax disabled since Tue 28 Jun 2022 02:58:03 PM EDT -
	Unplugged or turned off
printer HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281_fax disabled since Sat 01 May 2021 04:11:09 PM EDT -
	File "/usr/lib/cups/filter/hpcupsfax" not available: No such file or directory

Thank-you again for your help!

[brian_p]

Thank-you again for getting back to me!

I am running Mint 20.2, kernal version 5.4.0-121-generic

Yes, I am using wifi to connect to the printer


The command "driverless" returns nothing. It just goes back to a flashing curser on a new line.

Not at all surprising. The lpinfo -v output doesn't show any printers. Your WiFi connection is poorly.

[petedecember]

Thanks for the input, Brian.

I have to disagree with you though--i have a really strong WIFI signal, and this printer connection worked just fine for years. Something got screwed up somehow.

Thanks!

[brian_p]

Thanks for the input, Brian.

I have to disagree with you though--i have a really strong WIFI signal, and this printer connection worked just fine for years. Something got screwed up somehow.

Thanks!

Give

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avahi-browse -rt _ipp._tcp

[petedecember]

Well, I tried the command you posted....

The first time it just returned to a new line with nothing but

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peter@peter-17Z90N-R-AAC8U1:~$ 

which is normal.

So, to make sure that it wasn't my connection I went and stood right beside my router and ran it again....same result, just a flashing cursor.

So, I plugged a cable directly into my router, turned off the wifi on my computer and ran your command again....same result, just a flashing cursor.

I presume that I was supposed to get more than a flashing cursor?

Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[petedecember]

Plus in my list of possible wifi networks I can join there is "Direct-45-HP M281 Laserjet." I presume that that means my printer is still up and running?

[petedecember]

Plus in my list of possible wifi networks I can join there is "Direct-45-HP M281 Laserjet." I presume that that means my printer is still up and running?

[petedecember]

Opps--I just realized that the reason why I couldn't get responses to most of the commands was that I had Windscribe set to now allow any LAN traffic. My bad. Here are some answers to commands:

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peter@peter-17Z90N-R-AAC8U1:~$ lpinfo -v
file cups-brf:/
network ipps
network socket
network ipp
serial serial:/dev/ttyS0?baud=115200
serial serial:/dev/ttyS4?baud=115200
network beh
network lpd
direct hp
network http
network smb
network https
direct hpfax
network dnssd://HP%20Color%20LaserJet%20MFP%20M281fdw%20(81042D)._ipp._tcp.local/?uuid=564e424e-4d34-5134-4746-9c7bef81042d
network dnssd://HP%20Color%20LaserJet%20MFP%20M281fdw%20(81042D)._printer._tcp.local/?uuid=564e424e-4d34-5134-4746-9c7bef81042d
network socket://192.168.0.203
network ipp://HP%20Color%20LaserJet%20MFP%20M281fdw%20(81042D)._ipp._tcp.local/

The command "driverless" is still returning nothing.

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peter@peter-17Z90N-R-AAC8U1:~$ lpstat -t
scheduler is running
system default destination: HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281
device for Generic-PostScript: socket://192.168.0.203:9100
device for HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281: hp:/usb/HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281?serial=VNBNM4Q4GF
device for HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281-Fax: hpfax:/usb/HP_ColorLaserJet_MFP_M278-M281?serial=VNBNM4Q4GF
device for HP_Color_LaserJet_MFP_M281fdw_81042D_: implicitclass://HP_Color_LaserJet_MFP_M281fdw_81042D_/
Generic-PostScript accepting requests since Tue 28 Jun 2022 03:14:28 PM EDT
HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281 accepting requests since Wed 29 Jun 2022 05:43:11 PM EDT
HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281-Fax accepting requests since Wed 29 Jun 2022 05:43:11 PM EDT
HP_Color_LaserJet_MFP_M281fdw_81042D_ accepting requests since Wed 29 Jun 2022 05:33:56 PM EDT
printer Generic-PostScript is idle.  enabled since Tue 28 Jun 2022 03:14:28 PM EDT
printer HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281 disabled since Wed 29 Jun 2022 05:43:11 PM EDT -
	Unplugged or turned off
printer HP-ColorLaserJet-MFP-M278-M281-Fax disabled since Wed 29 Jun 2022 05:43:11 PM EDT -
	Unplugged or turned off
printer HP_Color_LaserJet_MFP_M281fdw_81042D_ is idle.  enabled since Wed 29 Jun 2022 05:33:56 PM EDT

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peter@peter-17Z90N-R-AAC8U1:~$ avahi-browse -rt _ipp._tcp
+ wlp0s20f3 IPv6 HP Color LaserJet MFP M281fdw (81042D)        Internet Printer     local
+ wlp0s20f3 IPv4 HP Color LaserJet MFP M281fdw (81042D)        Internet Printer     local
= wlp0s20f3 IPv4 HP Color LaserJet MFP M281fdw (81042D)        Internet Printer     local
   hostname = [NPI81042D.local]
   address = [192.168.0.203]
   port = [631]
   txt = ["mopria-certified=1.3" "mac=9c:7b:ef:81:04:2d" "usb_MDL=HP ColorLaserJet MFP M278-M281" "usb_MFG=HP" "TLS=1.2" "PaperMax=legal-A4" "kind=document,envelope,photo" "UUID=564e424e-4d34-5134-4746-9c7bef81042d" "Fax=T" "Scan=T" "Duplex=T" "Color=T" "note=" "adminurl=http://NPI81042D.local./hp/device/info_config_AirPrint.html?tab=Networking&menu=AirPrintStatus" "priority=10" "product=(HP ColorLaserJet MFP M278-M281)" "ty=HP ColorLaserJet MFP M278-M281" "URF=V1.4,CP99,W8,OB10,PQ3-4-5,ADOBERGB24,DEVRGB24,DEVW8,SRGB24,DM1,IS1,MT1-2-3-5-12,RS600" "rfo=ipp/faxout" "rp=ipp/print" "pdl=image/urf,application/PCLm,application/octet-stream,application/pdf,application/postscript,application/vnd.hp-PCL,application/vnd.hp-PCLXL,image/jpeg" "qtotal=1" "txtvers=1"]
Failed to resolve service 'HP Color LaserJet MFP M281fdw (81042D)' of type '_ipp._tcp' in domain 'local': Timeout reached[/code/]

I hope this helps out and that you folks can help me out of the mess!
Thanks!

[brian_p]

Opps--I just realized that the reason why I couldn't get responses to most of the commands was that I had Windscribe set to now allow any LAN traffic. My bad. Here are some answers to commands:

Thanks for the investigations.

The command "driverless" is still returning nothing.

You probably still have a network problem with hostname resolution, but we can work round it.

For driverless printing (that is, not using HPLIP) we need a URI. Here it is:

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ipp://192.168.0.203/ipp/print

Now substitute for URI in

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lpadmin -p M281 -v URI -E -m everywhere

Execute the command and test printing with

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lp -d M281 /etc/nsswitch.conf

[petedecember]

Thank-you! You did it! The scanner even works, although I don't get how that happened. But anyways, thanks for the help!

[brian_p]

Excellent!

Please don't forget that marking the issue as solved helps other users.