Print from linux to windows (FC2 to WinXP)
 

BIG PROBLEM! - I have tried many, many, many times to do this, spent countless hours googling for help, and even posted a thread here before, but never been able to solve this stupid problem.

I can still remember when I first installed linux (RH8) on my box a couple of years ago. I loved it, and was over the moon when I figured out how to print to my windows box. Now, however, I am suffering. For the past year or so (since RH9), I have had to make a short trip to my windows box so I could print something. I usually just transfer a file (using samba), then print from there.

Whilst I could and still can put up with this for the joys of linux, the rest of my family cannot. I have install FC2 on a spare machine for others to use (I also have FC2 on my machine), however I get yelled at when they need to print.

I know that there is a lot of people around the world with this same problem, and would really love to not just get it working for me but make their lives happier as well. IF ANYONE CAN SOLVE THIS, PLEASE DO!!!!

Here's the low-down: I can setup printing numerous way, but when I visit localhost:631 and use CUPS, I get the closest to being able to print. I can setup a printer, print the test page, and all seems well from my end. However, looking from the windows machine's print queue, I see:
"Remote Downlevel Document" with a status of "Printing". It stays like that for about 30 seconds (whilst the printer remains a still as ever), before it is automatically deleted from the queue.

Here is how I set it up in cups:
* Go to the "Printers" page
* Press "Add printer"
* Enter name: "hplaserjet", location: "P2600" (the computers name), leave description blank, then press "Continue"
* Select the device called "Windows Printer Via SAMBA" and press "Continue"
* Enter the "Device URI": "smb://administrator:ADMINS_PASSWORD@Djurovich/192.168.98.1/laserjet", of course my workgroups name is Djurovich, the computers IP is 192.168.98.1, and the shares name is laserjet. I then press continue
* Select make: "HP", press continue.
* Select model: "HP LaserJet Series CUPS v1.1 (en)", press continue.
* The printer is then successfully added, and I click on its name which takes me to it.
* I press "Print test page", and the test page is sent.
* It is sent to the queue then is deleted by windows

I have a HP LaserJet 1000 and a HP DeskJet 930C. I used the laserjet in this example above, but both printers have the same problems.

Sorry for the long thread, and thanks for reading. All help is greatly appreciated! :D

what does smbclient -L P2600 -N show? i am referencing a how to here

http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-mini/...ing_to_windows

good luck.

I had similar problems to yours - test print working - printing appearing to start but nothing printing. Finally I configured using CUPS like you did but using the smb format as follows:

smb://user:password@windows_name/printer_share

where windows_name is the name of the machine not IP address. I'm not sure whether the windows user has to be an administrator - in my case it is but I've just tested changing it to an ordinary user and it's worked.

First of all, to PEACEDOG:

"what does smbclient -L P2600 -N show?": I have tried this command before and did it again just to check.
It shows both the printers:
deskjet Printer HP DeskJet 930C
laserjet Printer HP LaserJet 1000


And secondly, to andrewdodsworth:

"Finally I configured using CUPS like you did but using the smb format as follows:

smb://userassword@windows_name/printer_share

where windows_name is the name of the machine not IP address. I'm not sure whether the windows user has to be an administrator - in my case it is but I've just tested changing it to an ordinary user and it's worked.": I used the URI that you suggested, with a normal user and the computer name, however this did not fix the problem. It shows in the print queue on windows that the owner is the normal username, and not administrator like before - a suggestion that the print has gone through correctly as a regular user.

Thank-you both for your help, and fast replies. Now if only I could find a solution to this problem! :(

I just relized that when I used to have printing working, it was only on my deskjet printer. the difference at the time between it and the laserjet was the laserjet was using usb, and deskjet was using parallel. Does anyone know if this could effect it? I might give the printer a try with the parallel cable again if I can find it, however I would much prefer use usb.

so the share name is laserjet, not

am i correct in this assumption.

yes the share name is laserjet, good assumption.

In the CUPS setup, you need to specify the printer driver.
However the default driver settings may need tickling..
If my memory serves me correctly, use the Generic Postscript driver and make sure the paper size is correct.
I'm in Europe and use A4 while the driver defaults to US Letter size..

Do you have the foomatic package installed?
It contains a huge number of drivers..

Wow, I can't believe my eyes!
After peter_robb said " use the Generic Postscript driver", I tried that instead of the HP LaserJet Driver, and the printer responded! However, I was not quite finished - because it printed on line of text that made no sense, then printed about 10 blank sheets.
I decided to try setting up the printer using the Fedora printer configure GUI, using the postscript driver to see if there was any difference. Nup, same thing. However, I then thought I would have one last shot at this GUI since that is how I originally had my printer set-up a long time ago. Now they work!!! :D

Ok, for those of you readers wanting to know what I did, here are my steps:
* From the Fedora menu I chose: System Settings > Printing
* Entered my root password
* Pressed "New", then next in the popup wizard.
* Entered the name "deskjet", and left the description blank
* Selected queue type: "Networked Windows (SMB)"
* Pressed specify
* Entered my workgroup name (all in capitals) for "workgroup", computer name for "server", //COMPUTER_NAME/SHARE_NAME for "share", the machines username for "username", and the machines password for "password"
* Pressed forward
* Selected "HP" from the manufactures drop-down menu
* Chose "DeskJet 930C" for the make
* Pressed forward, then finish
* Applied the changes, then selected the new printer from the list and pressed "Edit"
* Chose the "Queue type" tab
* Changed the "Server hostname or IP address" from the IP address to the computers name
* Pressed ok, and applied changes

Hope my experiences can help future readers.