How do I install a driver when it's not in the package manager?

[Usehername]

I'm trying to install a Panasonic KX-MB2000 laser printer. It recognizes the printer without doing anything but connecting the hardware, but it's not printing.

I've never installed a driver before, I've only done things through the package manager. What do I need to do?

It came with a CD but I'm not sure what to do and nothing popped up.

[DeBaas]

It's oustide the Synaptic package manager, I found this on Panasonic:

*2 Printer Drivers for Mac OS and Linux are provided via web download. Please visit [ http://panasonic.net/pcc/support/fax/world.htm ] for more information.

[Usehername]

Thanks, DeBaas.

The instructions say to download these driver files http://panasonic.net/pcc/support/fax/common/table/linuxdriver.html, but when I double click on them they show up as gibberish. When I right click on them there isn't a download option.

Am I doing something wrong, or are their files corrupt? I'm new enough to assume it's me.


http://cs.psn-web.net/support/fax/common/file/Linux_PrnDriver/Driver_Install_files/Linux_Install_for_KX-MB2000_series.pdf

[djohnston]

If you still can't right-click those files for download, try this. It's a zip file of all the ones you'll need. I can open the rpm files just fine. Unzip the file, which will give you a folder named "printer". The rpms and readme.txt are there.

[Old-Polack]

Thanks, DeBaas.

The instructions say to download these driver files http://panasonic.net/pcc/support/fax/common/table/linuxdriver.html, but when I double click on them they show up as gibberish. When I right click on them there isn't a download option.

Am I doing something wrong, or are their files corrupt? I'm new enough to assume it's me.


http://cs.psn-web.net/support/fax/common/file/Linux_PrnDriver/Driver_Install_files/Linux_Install_for_KX-MB2000_series.pdf

The actual driver download page is here.

http://panasonic.net/pcc/support/fax/common/table/linuxdriver.html

There are three rpm packages and a Readme.txt file about half way down the page under the heading Printer Driver.

Above the actual driver packages is a section headed <Installing Printer Driver> with links to download a one page .pdf file with instructions for installing the driver packages.

[djohnston]

That's where I got them from, Old-Polack. I figured he's having trouble with right-clicking the files and selecting "Save link as".

[Usehername]

That's where I got them from, Old-Polack. I figured he's having trouble with right-clicking the files and selecting "Save link as".

That was a problem! Thanks. I always that that was just a link address save rather than a content save.

I'm having trouble with logging in as admin. But I don't think that's related to this specific task.

[Phil]

"I'm having trouble with logging in as admin"

Easy when you know how.

At a terminal such as konsole:

> su
>password: (put in your root password)
#    (Look as hash in red probably, you are root....)
# cd /to wherever the downloaded packages are...)
#  (whatever the instructions say)
#exit
>   (see, you are back to user)

From user desktop
Press Alt and F2 at the same time
In the box which magically appears type say kdesu dolphin
Bang in your root password, wait, a root dolphin instance is there

kdesu command switches you to running that command as root, after you type in your password.

Enjoy

[wedgetail]

Usehername
I think you have landed yourself a printer that uses a so called GDI = Graphical Device Interface emulation , in practice it is not quite as simple to use in Linux as in Windows.

First however you have quoted the series name KX-MB2000, what model exactly is it you have got? Probably something KX-MB20XX ? there may be extra letters.

Exactly where do you have trouble logging in as Admin?  Because of the nature of this install please don't leave any steps out in describing what you are doing.  Try to use copy/paste to forum if possible.