[SOLVED] HP printer doesn't work with Mint 18.3

[donreid]

I upgraded from Mint 18.2 to Mint 18.3 using Software Sources / Synaptic. I didn't do a clean install. Now my HP colour laserjet M252dw printer does not work at all.

I reinstalled anything to do with CUPS and I updated HPLIP to the latest version with no improvement. I then ran HP-doctor from a terminal and found out that Linux Mint 18.3 is not compatible with my printer and that several files were missing (python3-dev, python3-notify2, libusb, libtool). I installed these files using Synaptic Package Manager.

Still can't print. I can print a test page from within HPLIP but can't print any documents from within HPLIP or from any application. When I send something to print the printer kicks into action for a fraction of a second then stops and an error is reported. Running diagnostics just reports that the printer state is Ready. The current situation is that when I run HP-doctor I get the result in the attachment (see especially the highlighted text).

This seems surprising but I can't live without a printer so my questions are:
- Is there a solution to this?
- Would it be any different if I did a clean install of 18.3?
- Is it likely to be corrected by updates to Mint 18.3?
- Do I need to go back to 18.2?

Your assistance would be appreciated, thanks.

[JerryF]

...
This seems surprising but I can't live without a printer so my questions are:
- Is there a solution to this?

There is, but we don't know just what it is---yet.

...
- Would it be any different if I did a clean install of 18.3?

I would do this as one of the last resorts.

...
- Is it likely to be corrected by updates to Mint 18.3?

Update and see. You may also want to try an earlier kernel.

...
- Do I need to go back to 18.2?

Again, one of those last resorts.

[pdc_2]

Hi Don; I just wonder if you run

Code: Select all

hp-check

for us; maybe it is just the same as hp-doctor; if so, I apologise

and then if not too much missing, if you delete the existing entry for the HP from the PRINTERS folder; (as it isn't working ...) and then run

Code: Select all

hp-check

...... there is a chance that will do the right thing by you and set things up;

___________-

there are other things lurking in the background that maybe we need to go to; if no joy as above. Karl from our forum here, did quite a bit of sleuthing last year on hplip; https://bugs.launchpad.net/hplip/+bug/1 ... omments/13

and the summary seems to be that when you put the new hplip in; the older version is not properly removed; so his excellent summary details what files you need to specifically remove; before doing a new install; maybe we just see though if any joy above ......

[Joe2Shoe]

karlchen's post on HPLIP was correct. Before you can install a newer HPLIP, you must uninstall/purge the existing version.
Another important tip is to update Python first, then be sure to install the version of HPLIP that corresponds with the Python version on your system.
I installed HPLIP on 4 HP printers in the last month, and everything works fine.
I wrote a piece on installing HP printers and HPLIP Uninstall/Reinstall that I use now to correctly install HP printers.

[donreid]

Thanks everyone for your help. Someone suggested I run the lp command from a terminal. I did that and to my amazement it printed perfectly. I then tried to print the same thing from an application and that worked, too. Whatever the problem was it seems to have cleared itself and I can now print normally. Astonished but pleased.

[Ozo]

Congratulations. I know how you feel as my HP laser jet recently failed to work and nothing I tried fixed it. I reloaded the os (18.3 Serena) and then the printer and scanner loaded automatically with no need for installing the HP-lip utility.

Marking this solved will be a good feeling.

[ponchuk]

karlchen's post on HPLIP was correct. Before you can install a newer HPLIP, you must uninstall/purge the existing version.
Another important tip is to update Python first, then be sure to install the version of HPLIP that corresponds with the Python version on your system.
I installed HPLIP on 4 HP printers in the last month, and everything works fine.
I wrote a piece on installing HP printers and HPLIP Uninstall/Reinstall that I use now to correctly install HP printers.

what was your procedure. mine prints but no xsane

[ponchuk]

I had the almost the same problem with 18.3. everything worked except the scanner. solved it with the newest update from hp. hplip 3.18.3. download and install and everything will work