[SOLVED] Any Printers that Work Out of the Box - no drivers needed?

[tigerflag]

I have two urgent problems:

1. My inkjet printer has died and I can't seem to find one that Linux will recognize out of the box, without me having to figure out how to download and install drivers. My business has ground to a halt - I haven't been able to print invoices and shipping labels for two days because I can't get a new printer to work!

2. I'm running PCLOS 2009 and can't get the repositories to work anymore. I tried ftp://klid.dk/pclinuxos/apt/ but can't get it to work.

CUPS and LPR recognized my trusty old Lexmark Z52 and Z53 printers without my having to install any drivers. I need another inkjet printer that Linux will recognize like this. Please tell me there is an inkjet printer besides an HP that I can get at Best Buy or Walmart or somewhere that I can just plug in and it works. I can't use HP printers because they have a toxic ingredient in their toner that the fumes make me very ill.

I bought a Brother MFC255CW because I'd heard Brothers were supported. Can't get it to print. CUPS sees it and sends a test page to be printed and nothing happens. Following the directions in this thread:

www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,66695.msg542564.html#msg542564

I downloaded the lpr and cupswrapper drivers in .rpm format but can't install them

Where it says:

Code:

Copy downloaded RPMs to a new folder on desktop

Open container folder -
Right mouse - Actions - Open Terminal here.

Log in as root user using "su" command
run script in this order....

rpm -ihv --nodeps XXXclprXX.rpm
..&..
rpm -ihv --nodeps XXXcupswrapperXX.rpm

I got the error that there was no such file. Please, can some kind person either recommend a printer or walk me step-by-step through a driver installation? I'm desperate here!

Thanks so much.

[ff103]

I'm not sure I follow you, first you said any out of the box "inkjet" printer, which would be most HP printers. But then you said that HP uses a "toner" that you are allergic to. An inkjet wouldn't use a toner. But, I believe there is a thread on the forum somewhere that lists a bunch of printers that work "out of the box" .

[bicol_willem]

I think by opening PPC and try to let printerdrake install the printer, a loooong list of supported printers can be seen. It can't be hard to find a printer model that works that way.

[bicol_willem]

You downloaded these drivers?

http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/download_prn.html#MFC-255CW

http://www.brother.com/cgi-bin/agreement/agreement.cgi?dlfile=http://www.brother.com/pub/bsc/linux/dlf/mfc255cwlpr-1.1.2-1.i386.rpm&lang=English_lpr

http://www.brother.com/cgi-bin/agreement/agreement.cgi?dlfile=http://www.brother.com/pub/bsc/linux/dlf/mfc255cwcupswrapper-1.1.2-2.i386.rpm&lang=English_gpl

Installs fine here, even if I have no such printer. Should work, look at it again. Put the drivers in a dedicated folder for ease, open terminal, go root (su + password) and rpm -ivh these things!

[tigerflag]

ff103: I goofed when I said "Toner". I meant Ink, as in inkjet ink.

bicol_willem: PPC doesn't have any icons to setup a printer, only a scanner, which is wierd, isn't it? I've never even had a scanner...

Yes, I downloaded those drivers and tried to install them. I don't understand " rpm -ivh these things!" Can you please explain in simple steps for a non-techie? I don't understand commandline.

I downloaded them to /home/tigerflag/Downloads
From there I really need step-by-step instructions more detailed than the ones in the thread I quoted.

I really appreciate your help.

[bicol_willem]

This:

"bicol_willem: PPC doesn't have any icons to setup a printer, only a scanner, which is wierd, isn't it? I've never even had a scanner..."

Means to me that Printerdrake is not installed?  Check it in Synaptic.

" rpm -ivh these things!" stands for "rpm -ivh full name of driver.rpm"  I.e: rpm -ivh mfc255cwlpr-1.1.2-1.i386.rpm

[old_guy]

tigerflag

You say:

2. I'm running PCLOS 2009 and can't get the repositories to work anymore. I tried ftp://klid.dk/pclinuxos/apt/ but can't get it to work.

Look at:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,72364.0.html

Earl

[bicol_willem]

Wow ... yes "old_guy", I oversaw that ... 2009!  Tigerflag, time for a update!

[tigerflag]

bicol_willem: Thank You! The drivers installed perfectly with your command. The command I tried earlier had "-- nodeps" at the beginning of the line and I think that's what messed it up. (That's the problem with doing commandline stuff when I don't understand what it is I'm telling the system to do.)

You literally saved my business. I am eternally grateful.

old_guy: This old-gal thanks you for that. I will try it in a little bit.

I haven't wanted to update to v.2010 since it uses KDE 4 and I heard it was buggy. I'm really happy with what I have now, but I'm in the process of downloading the newest version and will consider updating when I have time to study it and tinker. Right now I'm so behind in work, I have no time!

[bicol_willem]

  Well, good luck from now on    Happy that I was able to (finally) be of help here .... LOL!

[kjpetrie]

When KDE 4.0 first appeared it was alpha-quality and Tex wouldn't touch it until it reached about 4.3, when it became good enough for normal use. It's now at version 4.4.5 and about to move to 4.5, and it's rock solid here.

It was very buggy a couple of years ago, but that was then and this is now. Give it a try.

[wayne1932]

After I upgraded to KDE4.5, The canon s820 on my wife's XP computer was recognized accross the LAN and installed automatically under the PCC>SetupPrinter.   I just reinstalled KDE4.5 for my buddy, and his EpsonRX680 was recognized and configured automatically.

I think the bugs in KDE4.5 are now overrated.  Just my opinion. YMMV