[SOLVED] HP-1020 Printer problem

Alok Rai · 02-17-2021, 06:59 AM

This is not the first time my HP-1020 has given me this problem, alas. And so, I am a bit of a veteran newbie with this problem!

However, it happens with new flavours every time. I try and replicate the steps that have been suggested in previous posts, and the solutions that have worked in the past. And yet - ever newer problems keep cropping up.

So, I'm using LinuxMint 19.1 - XFCE variant. And the printer is able to print the "Test Page" alright. But is unable to print the ""Self Test Page". It shows the printer state as "Idle".

I have run the solution suggested by Mark911, and that has worked in the past - but not this time!

Help needed - and welcome!

Alok Rai

business_kid · 02-17-2021, 07:22 AM

How_To_Ask_a_Question

That's what we need to know. Exact Problem, program output, pause/resume behaviour, connection (usb or wifi) etc.

shruggy · 02-17-2021, 07:40 AM

@OP.
I guess this is the solution you alluded to.

It may even not be needed for LM 19.1 anymore: LM 19.x is based on Ubuntu 18.04 where I get

Code:

$ apt-cache search foo2zjs
printer-driver-foo2zjs - printer driver for ZjStream-based printers
printer-driver-foo2zjs-common - printer driver for ZjStream-based printers - common files
hannah-foo2zjs - Graphical firmware downloader for the foo2zjs package
$ apt-cache show printer-driver-foo2zjs|grep ^Version:
Version: 20170320dfsg0-4

The version in Ubuntu 18.04 definitely supports your printer.

Alok Rai · 02-17-2021, 12:37 PM

Sorry, my problem is so familiar to me that I resorted to shorthand in reporting it!

I had to reinstall LM 19.1 on my computer recently, and now my printer - HP Laserjet 1020, connected via usb - is acting up. It prints the test page all right, but it reports the printer state as "Idle" when I try to print the self test page.

And shruggy, you are quite right. I ran the commands you suggested, in Terminal, and got the exact same output.

So, I continue to be baffled!

shruggy · 02-17-2021, 12:45 PM

But have you installed the shown packages?

Code:

sudo apt install .-foo2zjs

Alok Rai · 02-17-2021, 12:47 PM

Ah, so how do I do that - i.e. install the packages?

shruggy · 02-17-2021, 12:48 PM

I amended my post above.

Alok Rai · 02-17-2021, 12:52 PM

Brilliant! That did it. Many, many thanks!

AR

shruggy · 02-17-2021, 01:36 PM

Your printer requires its firmware to be loaded every time it is powered up. This is handled automatically by the driver, but the printer firmware file should be present on your system. See /usr/share/doc/printer-driver-foo2zjs/README.Debian.

The command to download the firmware for your printer is

Code:

sudo getweb 1020

Or use the graphical interface hannah-foo2zjs instead.

You may have to reconfigure the driver after that

Code:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure printer-driver-foo2zjs

Alok Rai · 02-18-2021, 05:12 AM

Thanks, shruggy. I did what you suggested, and then tried it out through a power-cycle of both the computer and the printer - and the config survived! The printer and the computer were still speaking to each other. Am deeply grateful.