How to use HP Deskjet 3915 USB printer?

[jakobcornelis]

I want to use an HP Deskjet 3915 connected by USB to my Toshiba Satellite 1500 laptop; I have just successfully completed a frugal install of Puppy 4.1.2. The printer works fine with the other OS (Windows XP). I tried to use CUPS, but after going through the procedures, the printer went through the motions, so to speak, but didn't print. My subsequent search led me to a newer version of CUPS, but I can't make any sense of that one. Now I don't know what else to do. I haven't found anything else that seems germane to this problem on this forum, so far.

I am a total novice (used to do DOS, though). It says somewhere this ought to be easy. Any assistance would be appreciated. This problem separates me from total happiness

[ieee488]

I've never understood the point of saying such-and-such works with Windows XP. That is totally irrelevant. This is a completely different operating system. That the printer works with XP only proves that it isn't broken. Nothing more.

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=23820

[rcrsn51]

Your printer needs a package called hpijs. Are you using it? If not, go here and download the file hpijs-2.8.12.pet.

[ComputerBob]

...That the printer works with XP only proves that it isn't broken. Nothing more...

I think that's exactly why so many people say "It works in XP" -- so that after they go to all the trouble of describing their problem, someone won't ask, "Are you sure that the printer itself is working?"

BTW, for those who are keeping score, this is my very first post here.

[jakobcornelis]

"That the printer works with XP only proves that it isn't broken. Nothing more."

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=23820

Exactly

[rjbrewer]

I use a hp3930.

The driver package contains about 800 or more drivers.
You can save about 4mb of space by just saving the files
you need and deleting the rest.

rjb

[ieee488]

...That the printer works with XP only proves that it isn't broken. Nothing more...

I think that's exactly why so many people say "It works in XP" -- so that after they go to all the trouble of describing their problem, someone won't ask, "Are you sure that the printer itself is working?"

I disagree.

My belief is that most of the time people are trying to use a peripheral that currently works with Windows with Linux. That's why they write that "It works in XP", because that is their current point of reference.

[/b]

[jakobcornelis]

Your printer needs a package called hpijs. Are you using it? If not, go here and download the file hpijs-2.8.12.pet.

I got hpijs-2.8.12.pet. Supposedly it is now "installed". Now what? You see, I haven't a clue how to go about this. What does it mean it is "installed? It certainly doesn't make my printer go.

By the way, ieee488, we aren't all electrical engineers, and besides, you can believe whatever you fancy, but my reason for citing Windows experience was, as I already stated, that I know my printer works (thanks ComputerBob).

Now, Mr. ieee.488, can you assist me in getting my printer working with Puppy? That would be much appreciated.

[rjbrewer]

jacob c:

You start by going to menu-system-cups-manage printing.

rjb

[jakobcornelis]

jacob c:

You start by going to menu-system-cups-manage printing.

rjb

Thanks rjb.

Now it starts to make sense. However, trying half a dozen drivers from the HP list, none seems to activate the printer. I am still missing something. At least earlier on the printer was responding (although not printing).

Now, here's what the CUPS window shows:

Hewlett Packard "usr/lib/cups/foomatic-rip-hplip failed"
Description: HP Deskjet 3915
Location: home
Printer Driver: HP Deskjet 3940 Foomatic/hpijs 2.8.12.26
Printer State: idle, accepting jobs, published
Device URI: usb://HP/Deskjet%203900?serial=TH62A131QQ4CG

The driver is the latest I tried.

What does "failed" in the first line mean?

When I click Print Test Page, it show a short while later, after nothing has happened, at the bottom of the CUPS window under 'State' that the job is "stopped".

Any suggestions?

jc

[rjbrewer]

The driver my 3930 uses is 3920. It didn't come from the
puppy repository. Got it from Linux Open Printing.

Try this one. Click old one in package manager to delete it first.

http://openprinting.org/show_driver.cgi ... skJet_3915


edit:
My driver has ppd.

rjb

[jakobcornelis]

The driver my 3930 uses is 3920. It didn't come from the
puppy repository. Got it from Linux Open Printing.

Try this one. Click old one in package manager to delete it first.

http://openprinting.org/show_driver.cgi ... skJet_3915


edit:
My driver has ppd.

rjb

I tried this. The extraction gets hung on : /hplip-install: line 5: python: command not found

I haven't a clue what this means let alone what to do about it. Have you?

[Lobster]

Welcome to the kennels Jacob
Our CUPS info needs updating but for what its worth, here it is:
http://www.puppylinux.org/wiki/hardware/general/cups

[Flash]

...That the printer works with XP only proves that it isn't broken. Nothing more...

I think that's exactly why so many people say "It works in XP" -- so that after they go to all the trouble of describing their problem, someone won't ask, "Are you sure that the printer itself is working?"

I disagree.

My belief is that most of the time people are trying to use a peripheral that currently works with Windows with Linux. That's why they write that "It works in XP", because that is their current point of reference.

I've been administering this forum for some years and I have yet to see even the rankest beginner who did not comprehend what he was doing when he told this Linux forum "It works in Windows." I've said it myself. It's a useful piece of information to add, when you ask for help getting your hardware to work.

[jakobcornelis]

Welcome to the kennels Jacob
Our CUPS info needs updating but for what its worth, here it is:
http://www.puppylinux.org/wiki/hardware/general/cups

Thanks, Lobster. Frankly, I am a bit distrustful of "old" (1-year) information -- never mind that the most important link doesn't work, so it can not be followed through.

I still have the feeling I am missing something in all this.

jc

[ieee488]

I think that's exactly why so many people say "It works in XP" -- so that after they go to all the trouble of describing their problem, someone won't ask, "Are you sure that the printer itself is working?"

I disagree.

My belief is that most of the time people are trying to use a peripheral that currently works with Windows with Linux. That's why they write that "It works in XP", because that is their current point of reference.

I've been administering this forum for some years and I have yet to see even the rankest beginner who did not comprehend what he was doing when he told this Linux forum "It works in Windows." I've said it myself. It's a useful piece of information to add, when you ask for help getting your hardware to work.

You and I will just have to disagree on this.

From what I have seen it is almost always the rankest beginner who does this.

I don't find it useful, because the reason they are trying to use whichever piece of equipment is because they had it for their Windows use. I don't know of any reasonable person who would waste time trying to get broken equipment to work with Linux. Do you? The printer works with Windows; that's why they want to get it working with Linux. It is plain common sense.

[rjbrewer]

Jakob

The drivers I use are more than a year old.

deskjet_3920_hpijs.ppd
hpijs-2.8.6

no hplip

rjb

[ComputerBob]

You and I will just have to disagree on this.

From what I have seen it is almost always the rankest beginner who does this.

I don't find it useful, because the reason they are trying to use whichever piece of equipment is because they had it for their Windows use. I don't know of any reasonable person who would waste time trying to get broken equipment to work with Linux. Do you? The printer works with Windows; that's why they want to get it working with Linux. It is plain common sense.

It looks like several of us disagree with you on this.

IIRC, in your first reply in this thread, you said, "I've never understood the point of saying such-and-such works with Windows XP."

A couple of us told you why we think people say "such-and-such works with XP."

But then you revealed that you have read every user's mind and you know exactly what they're all thinking when they post their questions, so there's no point in discussing it with you any further -- obviously, you are right and we're all wrong.

[jakobcornelis]

I disagree.

My belief is that most of the time people are trying to use a peripheral that currently works with Windows with Linux. That's why they write that "It works in XP", because that is their current point of reference.

I've been administering this forum for some years and I have yet to see even the rankest beginner who did not comprehend what he was doing when he told this Linux forum "It works in Windows." I've said it myself. It's a useful piece of information to add, when you ask for help getting your hardware to work.

You and I will just have to disagree on this.

From what I have seen it is almost always the rankest beginner who does this.

I don't find it useful, because the reason they are trying to use whichever piece of equipment is because they had it for their Windows use. I don't know of any reasonable person who would waste time trying to get broken equipment to work with Linux. Do you? The printer works with Windows; that's why they want to get it working with Linux. It is plain common sense.

ieee, could you, please, take this argument elsewhere -- it doesn't help me one iota to get my printer going.

Thanks, jc

[rjbrewer]

JC:

I just installed my printer on a new partition.
1.Used the hpijs from the puppy package manager.
2.Generated a ppd file from this site.

http://openprinting.org/show_driver.cgi ... skJet_3930

3.Maybe yours will work with a 3845 or 3920 ppd. Download both.
4. The files download to my documents; move them to /usr/share/cups/model.
5.run cups setup again.

rjb