PCC won't install printers [Solved]

[Ditzian]

I messed up PCC and lost it.  I recovered it, but now I find that the Hardware printer install does not work; there was no link.  investigated further and found that HPLip was not installed.  I reinstalled it using Synaptic, and now there is an indication of a link, but nothing opens when I click it.  I seem to remember having a related problem a year or more ago, and that hplip or some other HP program required manual installation.  

I just checked, and printing still works, but the link to configure a printer does not work.  I know I will need it some day.  

Is it one of the drakxxx programs that is bad?  CUPS is installed, but not CUPS-serial, but I suspect that this is not the problem, since printing works.

Can someone help me here?

Jan

[AS]

Hi,

try to install (reinstall)
task-printing
system-config-printer
system-config-printer-libs
system-config-printer-udev

Also, in Synaptic -> File -> History, you should find a log about your recent packages management activities.

HTH, AS

[Ditzian]

Hi,

try to install (reinstall)
task-printing
system-config-printer
system-config-printer-libs
system-config-printer-udev

Also, in Synaptic -> File -> History, you should find a log about your recent packages management activities.

HTH, AS

AS,

That worked.  I also added task-printing-scanning, because that has to do with the original problem.  I still have the original problem, with SANE, and I will post that as a separate question here in Help>Software, but you got this one right, and PCC now displays printers.  I still have to drain the swamp.

Thank you,
Jan

[jimwilk]

+1

Jim

[mountainsam]

I've had this problem with the last two installs, one XFCE and the other KDE. For a distro that prides itself on easy intuitive set up, this has become a serious and disappointing shortcoming in PCLinuxOS. One shouldn't have to stand on one foot and hold the radio antenna between two fingers while reciting the pledge of allegiance to get the car to start. Likewise, one shouldn't have to puzzle and post about getting something as basic as printer set-up when there is a link in the PCC that is supposed to do exactly that with no muss, fuss, or worries.

It is stuff like this that has driven many users toward PCLOS, and will just as quickly drive them and others away if it isn't addressed.

[AS]

I've had this problem with the last two installs, one XFCE and the other KDE. For a distro that prides itself on easy intuitive set up, this has become a serious and disappointing shortcoming in PCLinuxOS. One shouldn't have to stand on one foot and hold the radio antenna between two fingers while reciting the pledge of allegiance to get the car to start. Likewise, one shouldn't have to puzzle and post about getting something as basic as printer set-up when there is a link in the PCC that is supposed to do exactly that with no muss, fuss, or worries.

It is stuff like this that has driven many users toward PCLOS, and will just as quickly drive them and others away if it isn't addressed.

Hi mountainsam,

may be you want to re-read the original post, it start with: "I messed up PCC and lost it", then reread yours. Then ?

AS

[mountainsam]

I've had this problem with the last two installs, one XFCE and the other KDE. For a distro that prides itself on easy intuitive set up, this has become a serious and disappointing shortcoming in PCLinuxOS. One shouldn't have to stand on one foot and hold the radio antenna between two fingers while reciting the pledge of allegiance to get the car to start. Likewise, one shouldn't have to puzzle and post about getting something as basic as printer set-up when there is a link in the PCC that is supposed to do exactly that with no muss, fuss, or worries.

It is stuff like this that has driven many users toward PCLOS, and will just as quickly drive them and others away if it isn't addressed.

Hi mountainsam,

may be you want to re-read the original post, it start with: "I messed up PCC and lost it", then reread yours. Then ?

AS

I began a thread on this very issue some months ago when I encountered it during the XFCE install I referenced above. I thought it might have been peculiar to XFCE, but have since learned that it is inherent in PCC. Whether one loses their printer setup through their own accident/screw up or whether it is a fresh install like mine is irrelevant. The point is that the PCC no longer does what it is supposed to do vis a vis printer setup without the user, often a NEW user, having to go through an additional and what should be unnecessary series of steps. This totally defeats the image of PCLOS as being an out of the box distro. It wasn't this way before. Until recently setting up a printer was as easy as click and click no matter what sort of computer I installed it on or which desktop I used. It disappoints me and concerns me as a long-time user and advocate of PCLOS above all other distros. Ease of use and ease of transition are part of what we're supposed to be about. It does us no good to direct people to PCLOS under the impression that it is an easy set up only to have them frustrated and ready to give up at something that should be (and used to be) no sweat. That's all.

[AS]

Actually I don't understand why you reopened this thread that was related to some missed packages and not to printing problems.

However, although some printing problems may have been existed (or still exists), you should be aware that the very same problems existed on several other distribution because of the simple fact that nearly all Linux distros are using CUPS for printing, which in turn rely on other resources, notably hplip, ghostscript, third party ppd files. Depending on the distro (some updates early, some updates later ...) some issues may occur before or later.

From one side I see users requesting updates (newer, not extensively tested, packages but that includes new features/new printers), from another side they ask for stability (therefore some new printer may be not supported). This is a double edge sword, PCLinuxOS offer a good compromise between the two ends.

When there are some issue, as far as I can see, PCLinuxOS forum provide the best and the most friendly support available on the Linux world, at least this is my view.

I saw your thread, here:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,97161.0.html

there are suggestions from menotu and bicol_wilem but there is no feedback from you....  other members are watching the open threads but it is unlikely they will add comments to your thread until you will not provide further info ...  It was solved ? Is it still an open issue ? No one know about, so no one can offer further help if needed.

That said, PCLinuxOS is not only a printing system, although may be not perfect it's still very valuable, therefore I would not point the finger to PCLinuxOS because of some specific issue that may arise from time to time. 

AS

[wanderer5210]

I've had this problem with the last two installs, one XFCE and the other KDE. For a distro that prides itself on easy intuitive set up, this has become a serious and disappointing shortcoming in PCLinuxOS. One shouldn't have to stand on one foot and hold the radio antenna between two fingers while reciting the pledge of allegiance to get the car to start. Likewise, one shouldn't have to puzzle and post about getting something as basic as printer set-up when there is a link in the PCC that is supposed to do exactly that with no muss, fuss, or worries.

It is stuff like this that has driven many users toward PCLOS, and will just as quickly drive them and others away if it isn't addressed.

Hi mountainsam,

may be you want to re-read the original post, it start with: "I messed up PCC and lost it", then reread yours. Then ?

AS

I agree totally, so this may help:  http://localhost:631/admin (in your address bar and add printer through Cups Admin.  when you get
to root and password use root for root and your current login password.