Printer won't start

[logie]

I have tried to print from my new Pi 3, using Libre Office Writer and an HP 5100 series inkjet which works OK with other Linux machines. It won't print: I get an error message saying "could not start printer" and suggesting that I check the printer settings. When I do that, I find that they treat my printer as a generic printer, SGENPRT, and I cannot change some of the settings, while those that I can change are already what I normally use.

I would be grateful for any advice.

[fruitoftheloom]

I have tried to print from my new Pi 3, using Libre Office Writer and an HP 5100 series inkjet which works OK with other Linux machines. It won't print: I get an error message saying "could not start printer" and suggesting that I check the printer settings. When I do that, I find that they treat my printer as a generic printer, SGENPRT, and I cannot change some of the settings, while those that I can change are already what I normally use.

I would be grateful for any advice.

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install hplip

Now when setting up CUPS choose the HPLIP driver....

[logie]

Thanks for this. I put in the two apt-get lines and that seemed to work (a lot of work). However that itself did not change anything.
You mention setting up CUPS: how do I do that?

[fruitoftheloom]

Thanks for this. I put in the two apt-get lines and that seemed to work (a lot of work). However that itself did not change anything.
You mention setting up CUPS: how do I do that?

CUPS should be installed with HPLIP, this tutorial is for a different printer but the basics are the same, just insure you choose the hplip driver when configuring cups...

http://www.penguintutor.com/linux/printing-cups

[scruss]

That's a good tutorial (esp. the bit about lpadmin; I always forget about that) but if you're not command-line only, installing system-config-printer makes things a load simpler:

Code: Select all

sudo apt install system-config-printer

It gives you a nice point and click tool for finding and setting up printers.

[logie]

Thanks for all this. Being almost completely ignorant, and unabIe to choose, applied both sets of advice. Nothing happened, but then I switched it off and on again. Thereafter, I was able to print.

So, at least one piece of advice worked. Many thanks!