[UNSOLVED] hp deskjet 840c lpt printer won't print in VB 3.2.4 - Win XP guest

[arjay]

Hi all - does VB 3.2.4 support use of parallel printers?  I have googled and searched but not much in the way of a helpful answer. Nothing much in the manual either and I can't find anything in Settings.  If no, is there any way to get one to work?

I am running uptodate 3.2.4 with guest additions etc.  My VM is win xp with SP3 and the host is good old LXDE on one PC and full 2010 kde on the other.  Everything runs fine including USB. But my trusty old HP DJ 840C which only has a parallel port connection won't run on either.  

It runs fine in PCLOS.  I have installed it in Win XP via Printers and Faxes in Win XP.  It shows up just fine but any test print does nothing for a few minutes then gives an "Out of Paper" Error (not correct).

I have updated the drivers on one PC to the latest Win xp drivers but no difference.

At the moment I have to copy the files for printing over to PCLOS and print them there.  In my Windows Golf Handicap program, that means converting to pdf files and then exporting them - a right PINA

Can anyone help?

Cheers

EDIT: 20 June - marked up as unsolved - hope this is ok...

[MCP]

arjay,

Have you setup samba?  If not please open System Settings Samba in Configure your Desktop.  It will require your root password.  Then to the shares tab and click on printers.  Edit this share and click on Public, Browseable and Available.  If Read Only is checked, uncheck it.  Now save and see if you can access it in your vm through the network.  You should also set up your vm to be on the same network as your host.

Hope this helps,
MCP

[arjay]

arjay,

Have you setup samba?  If not please open System Settings Samba in Configure your Desktop.  It will require your root password.  Then to the shares tab and click on printers.  Edit this share and click on Public, Browseable and Available.  If Read Only is checked, uncheck it.  Now save and see if you can access it in your vm through the network.  You should also set up your vm to be on the same network as your host.

Hope this helps,
MCP

Thanks for the reply.  I have set up samba as part of my efforts to get all my (mixed) network talking one with another.  What I may not have is a fully open share as you propose.  I'll check this tomorrow when I can get back to my PC that has the VM and parallel printer on it.

As to your other point - I have bridged network setups for both my VM guests and PCLOS hosts (on different PCs), so everything is now on the same network.

[arjay]

arjay,

Have you setup samba?  If not please open System Settings Samba in Configure your Desktop.  It will require your root password.  Then to the shares tab and click on printers.  Edit this share and click on Public, Browseable and Available.  If Read Only is checked, uncheck it.  Now save and see if you can access it in your vm through the network.  You should also set up your vm to be on the same network as your host.

Hope this helps,
MCP

OK - here is what I have done so far but first, a question:  Not sure why I need samba to print from a win XP guest to a printer that is directly connected to the PC which is running the VM?

Any way I tried your suggestions but no joy I am afraid.  I tried these steps/changes:

1.  I checked that samba is installed and running in the LXDE host, using a terminal.  I can also open shares on other linux and win XP VM's on the network - so that seems OK.

2.  I went to Configure your Desktop/System (and System/Advanced) but there is no Samba option there.  I also tried kdesu systemsettings in a terminal but still no Samba section.  I checked on another PC running full kde 2010 and the option IS there so it must be a problem in this install of LXDE.

3.  So I tried modifying the smb.conf file to provide read/write/available commands.  This is the modified code for anything to do with printing:

Code:

[printers]
    comment = All Printers
    path = /var/spool/samba
    browseable = yes
    # to allow user 'guest account' to print.
    guest ok = yes
    writable = yes
    printable = yes
    create mode = 0700
# =====================================
    # print command: see above for details.
    # =====================================
    print command = lpr-cups -P %p -o raw %s -r # using client side printer drivers.
    #   print command = lpr-cups -P %p %s # using cups own drivers (use generic PostScript on clients).
    # If you install drivers on the server, you will want to uncomment this so
    # clients request the driver
    use client driver = yes

[print$]
    path = /var/lib/samba/printers
    browseable = yes
    writable = yes
    printable = yes
    write list = @adm root richard
    guest ok = yes
    inherit permissions = yes

[pdf-gen]
    path = /var/tmp
    guest ok = Yes
    printable = Yes
    writable = yes
   
    comment = PDF Generator (only valid users)
    printing = bsd
    #print command = /usr/share/samba/scripts/print-pdf file path win_path recipient IP &
    print command = /usr/share/samba/scripts/print-pdf "%s" "%H" "//%L/%u" "%m" "%I" "%J" &
    lpq command = /bin/true

I'm not sure about the "use client driver = yes" statement but left it in as it was auto-generated by the Samba setup  script in PCLOS' "Configure Samba" option in "Configure your Computer".  I also added my user name to the write list above.

4. I then restarted samba (smb) in a terminal and rebooted the Win XP VM. I still could not print from the guest.

5. I then shut down the Win XP guest and rebooted the PC (LXDE).  Still no joy.

Can anyone help me progress this?

Thanks

RJ