Very new and very scared
 

I don't understand anything - all the techie stuff is a blank to me, shells, CUPS, scary lines of code - so I hope some kind person can help me.
I run Ubuntu and my HP Laserjet P1006 was running fine until a few hours ago. Printer status shows print jobs as completed but nothing comes out of the printer!
I switched everything off and restarted (three times!). I ran my Ubuntu updates. I have deleted and reconfigured the printer. I send a test page and it comes up completed on the status, but nothing happens at the printer. Same if I send document to print.

It sounds like you're missing firmware. Don't know how to install it in ubuntu. Try this

When you write this, do you mean that you also switched off the printer too? If not, try turning the printer itself off with the power switch on the printer for a few minutes and see if it resets itself.

Also, is this printer connected directly to the computer, or are you accessing it through another machine, or over the network?

I just found this thread dealing with what appears to be the same issue you are having:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...Laserjet+P1006

Perhaps that will help you with your situation.

Cheers!

Don't worry. I have messed up computers for decades and still do it. The only difference is I generally know how to fix it. At some point you will learn how to ask the correct question to help get you to the solutions.

Great news is that if you use the work ubuntu in the search, you generally get to ubuntu paqes that might help. That is a benefit of using a popular distro.

Most everyone on this forum is kind and will help you, so just keep plugging along.

Might peek at these to see if they offer any help.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Ne...tingWithUbuntu

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Printers

OK, Your printer used to work so you need to ask yourself what you did in the period between it working and not working. Did you change any files which may be needed for printing, have you added any software? HP have something called HPLIP which is used to control their printers with Linux. If you've no connection to the printer it would tell you. (It does when my PSC 750 is off)

You haven't mentioned how the printer is connected yo your computer; Centronix parallel cable, USB cable, network attached? You didn't stretch your feet out at some crucial moment and manage to kick the cable out? Have you checked the cable connections? I assume there are no error status lights on the printer?

I notice you've not responded to anyone's Posts yet. Have you fixed it? If so, what was the solution?

Anyway... Play Bonny! :hattip:

Sometimes Ubuntu (candy-coated Debian Unstable) sets up a printer to two different print queues, i.e. both hplip and foomatic, or both gutenprint and foomatic gutenprint. So, log into the CUPS server by typing the URL: localhost:631 into a web browser. Look if there are any printers accepting jobs. Try a test page. Check if there's paper and ink in the printer.

If CUPS says the job was completed, it was sent to the printer! Something received the spool file. Make sure you are printing to the proper print queue (printer name). I've seen frustration due to the default printer set to: print to file, which writes a postscript file to the hard drive. The print job completes, but nothing comes out of the printer.

Also, certain printers have incomplete support in Linux, so you can print, but you might not get an error if you're out of paper. I have a printer like that. If it's out of paper, the print job completes, but the printer flashes an error code! HP offers much help to the open source community for development of open source drivers, but certain drivers actually program the printer. This programming code is also called firmware!

All Debian documentation is correct for Ubuntu also, because Ubuntu IS Debian! I've actually heard it asked, "Do you think Ubuntu will consolidate the Debian branch, and just focus on the main distro?" So, if you can't find any Ubuntu-specific documentation, you can search for Debian related issues also!

Thank you all
 

Wow! I haven't had time to look at all this great help and will get down to it this weekend.

I'm sorry to say that it isn't anything obvious like "print to file" or a loose cable. Everything including the printer has been offed and onned several times too. It is a USB connection and was working dandy mid-morning and then on strike an hour after I'd last used it.

I'll gird my loins and get to grips will all the advice you have posted.

The tip about including "ubuntu" in the enquiry is so blindingly obvious I am embarrassed. Thanks again everyone, it's nice to be welcomed.