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Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
I just installed Debian yesterday for the first time on my "new" Dell Optiplex 9020 but my printer doesn't work. The printer works fine with my old computer, a Dell Optiplex 760 running an older version of LXLE Linux. CUPS on the old computer has lots of HP printer drivers that are not shown on my new Debian machine. There's even a driver for my specific printer. It is possible to transfer the printer drivers from my old computer to my new Debian machine?
I've tried all the available drivers provided in Debian, both the generic PCL and HP specific drivers, but nothing works at all. CUPS detects the printer and displays its correct make and model (HP M1212ns MFP), but none of the available drivers work. There's no printer response at all. I'm not even sure anything is being sent from the computer to the printer but a message says the print job has finished.
My old computer uses CUPS version 1.4.3. Is it possible to install that version of CUPS on my new Debian machine?
I tried to find a driver for my printer in the HP web site but no luck.
HP has a printer system called HPLIP that looks like it can be installed from their web site but I don't know if it's worth the effort. I risk trashing my whole system that way.
Thanks!
I've tried all the available drivers provided in Debian, both the generic PCL and HP specific drivers, but nothing works at all. CUPS detects the printer and displays its correct make and model (HP M1212ns MFP), but none of the available drivers work. There's no printer response at all. I'm not even sure anything is being sent from the computer to the printer but a message says the print job has finished.
My old computer uses CUPS version 1.4.3. Is it possible to install that version of CUPS on my new Debian machine?
I tried to find a driver for my printer in the HP web site but no luck.
HP has a printer system called HPLIP that looks like it can be installed from their web site but I don't know if it's worth the effort. I risk trashing my whole system that way.
Thanks!
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Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Have you tried the system-config-printer tool, a simplified graphical manager to add and configure your printer?
https://lescahiersdudebutant.arpinux.or ... ig-printer
https://lescahiersdudebutant.arpinux.or ... ig-printer
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Thank you. I'll look into that. I'm not optimistic because I've used HPLIP before. It's nothing to brag about, especially coming from a company with the resources of HP.
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Thanks arochester. System-config-printer is the tool I've been using to config the printers on my old and new machines. The version on my "old" computer includes far more HP drivers than the version currently on Debian (and other distros). That's why I wonder if the drivers can be transferred. I guess HP decided they need sell more printers so they wiped out the drivers for some of the older models. What a shame!arochester wrote: ↑2022-09-21 17:27 Have you tried the system-config-printer tool, a simplified graphical manager to add and configure your printer?
https://lescahiersdudebutant.arpinux.or ... ig-printer
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Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Note, some HP devices require a binary plugin. HPLIP is the only way to get it as far as I know. HPLIP installs a bunch of little tools you can use for diagnostics and scripting. For instance, 'hp-scan -t in --box=0,0,3.4,2.2 -mcolor -sfile' will scan credit card size area, good for scanning all sort of cards.
All of them:
All of them:
Code: Select all
hp-align hp-diagnose_queues hp-linefeedcal hp-print hp-systray
hp-check hp-doctor hp-logcapture hp-printsettings hp-testpage
hp-clean hp-fab hp-makecopies hp-probe hp-timedate
hp-colorcal hp-faxsetup hp-makeuri hp-query hp-toolbox
hp-config_usb_printer hp-firmware hp-pkservice hp-scan hp-uiscan
hp-devicesettings hp-info hp-plugin hp-sendfax hp-unload
hp-diagnose_plugin hp-levels hp-pqdiag hp-setup hp-wificonfig
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Thanks for the tip! I've never heard of this. I'll look into it. I'm very interested to know how to print without a driver.Segfault wrote: ↑2022-09-21 20:25 https://openprinting.github.io/driverless/
Or you can resort to driverless printing!
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
After hours of investigation I've had a breakthrough of sorts. I installed MS Linux on another machine and found that its version of system-config-printer has a long list of HP printers and drivers. I found my printer and a driver that works. That driver is called "foo2xqx". After googling foo2xqx I found that this driver is part of something called "foomatic". I then found foomatic in Debian's package installer (synaptic) and installed it. The driver (foo2xqx) now appears in system-config-printer on Debian along with the long list of HP printers. So far most functions of my printer seem to work properly although I haven't used it a lot.
Next I'll try to configure the scanner feature of this multi function printer. I again tip my hat to the MX Linux folks because the scanner function is detected automatically by their version of system-confg-printer. The scanner was also detected on my old LXLE machine. Debian doesn't detect it for some reason.
Next I'll try to configure the scanner feature of this multi function printer. I again tip my hat to the MX Linux folks because the scanner function is detected automatically by their version of system-confg-printer. The scanner was also detected on my old LXLE machine. Debian doesn't detect it for some reason.
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
MX Linux may have HPLIP installed. I don't know what lousy experience you have with it, there are people working on it, this driver is open source under constant improvement. I use it gladly.
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
I guess I must have the wrong hardware. But how do I know what works before I buy it?
I installed HPLIP on my Debian system. It says there are no HP devices connected!
Also, I'm finding that when my computer goes to sleep after a period of inactivity it won't wake up. I have to power it down and reboot to get it going again. So yes, after hours of trying, Debian on my hardware is starting to wear me out. I feel like I'm beginning to see why so many other distros are derived from it.
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Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Driverless printing requires a modern printer. Yours seems to be a decade or more old so driverless is not going to work.c3po wrote: ↑2022-09-21 22:24Thanks for the tip! I've never heard of this. I'll look into it. I'm very interested to know how to print without a driver.Segfault wrote: ↑2022-09-21 20:25 https://openprinting.github.io/driverless/
Or you can resort to driverless printing!
However, Debian is moving towards driverless printing, which may affect the way printers connect. How are you trying to connect the printer? USB connections with non-driverless printers/scanners have issues in Bullseye I seem to remember.
viewtopic.php?p=746365#p746365
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Maybe one of my neighbors will put a newer printer out by the street soon. Then I'll upgrade my equipment. That's how I get my computer stuff. I've never bought a new computer and only one dot-matrix printer 30 years ago. That's why I recommend Windows.FreewheelinFrank wrote: ↑2022-09-22 08:41Driverless printing requires a modern printer. Yours seems to be a decade or more old so driverless is not going to work.c3po wrote: ↑2022-09-21 22:24Thanks for the tip! I've never heard of this. I'll look into it. I'm very interested to know how to print without a driver.Segfault wrote: ↑2022-09-21 20:25 https://openprinting.github.io/driverless/
Or you can resort to driverless printing!
However, Debian is moving towards driverless printing, which may affect the way printers connect. How are you trying to connect the printer? USB connections with non-driverless printers/scanners have issues in Bullseye I seem to remember.
viewtopic.php?p=746365#p746365
Thanks for informing me about driverless technology. I thought that only applied to cars.
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Not going to work? There are PCL printers much older than a decade, you sure they won't work? I'm not.FreewheelinFrank wrote: ↑2022-09-22 08:41 Driverless printing requires a modern printer. Yours seems to be a decade or more old so driverless is not going to work.
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Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Good point actually. I saw that the foo2xqx is a driver for printers originally designed to work with Windows, and assumed that the printer would not have driverless capability (which seems to be more driven by Apple).Segfault wrote: ↑2022-09-22 15:59Not going to work? There are PCL printers much older than a decade, you sure they won't work? I'm not.FreewheelinFrank wrote: ↑2022-09-22 08:41 Driverless printing requires a modern printer. Yours seems to be a decade or more old so driverless is not going to work.
I have checked the driverless databases and can't see this printer listed, although some in the M1200 series are.
The term "modern" used by Debian doesn't seem to be very useful to be honest. My printer (bought a few years ago) isn't driverless, yet there are older printers which are, as you point out.
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
I'm not sure my printer is PCL. I tried the PCL drivers found in system-config-printer. No joy.Segfault wrote: ↑2022-09-22 15:59Not going to work? There are PCL printers much older than a decade, you sure they won't work? I'm not.FreewheelinFrank wrote: ↑2022-09-22 08:41 Driverless printing requires a modern printer. Yours seems to be a decade or more old so driverless is not going to work.
BTW, I read something interesting about CUPS. It's owned by Apple and used and on several Apple OS's.
Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
FYI, my printer is listed in openprinting.org as "LaserJet Professional M1212ns MFP". The foo2xqx driver is recommended.FreewheelinFrank wrote: ↑2022-09-22 16:56Good point actually. I saw that the foo2xqx is a driver for printers originally designed to work with Windows, and assumed that the printer would not have driverless capability (which seems to be more driven by Apple).Segfault wrote: ↑2022-09-22 15:59Not going to work? There are PCL printers much older than a decade, you sure they won't work? I'm not.FreewheelinFrank wrote: ↑2022-09-22 08:41 Driverless printing requires a modern printer. Yours seems to be a decade or more old so driverless is not going to work.
I have checked the driverless databases and can't see this printer listed, although some in the M1200 series are.
The term "modern" used by Debian doesn't seem to be very useful to be honest. My printer (bought a few years ago) isn't driverless, yet there are older printers which are, as you point out.
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Re: Transfer printer drivers from older Linux install
Yes, I found that too.
It seems to be a "Winprinter" because the driver depends on code form the Windows operating system.
See this link. Different printer, but similar. Video at end may be useful too.
https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2420331
The printer also depends on a plug-in to support full function including scanning.
https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imag ... lugin.html
NB installation doesn't seem to accept Sudo and requires root access.
viewtopic.php?p=756946#p756946
There is also the complication of Debian moving towards driverless printing, which means using HPLIP in Bullseye you will not be able to find the printer with a USB connection without changing the configuration. A wireless connection should be OK.
viewtopic.php?p=746334#p746334
See video in previous link as it shows how to find the printer wirelessly.
Sorry, I know this all just worked in previous versions, but hardware support in Debian can fall by the wayside over time.
PS I bought a dot matrix printer 30 years ago too. Cost me £200, for which today I could have bought four of my current laser printers, even before taking inflation into account.