I have posted this here rather than elsewhere because the problem relates (in my confused mind!!) specifically to Kubuntu. Basically, I installed Breezy on my IBM Thinkpad 600X and cannot print from it at all. In Debian Unstable, I could print without problems. Debian Unstable is now gone and I am more than happy with Kubuntu so far.

Initially, I tried to set up a network printer. The printer and server are fine. Other boxes (none of them are Kubuntu -- mainly Mandriva) can print to the printer easily. I can locate the printer on the network and set it up using KDE tools but nothing prints --- though all seems to be well. The printer appears in localhost:631. This particular printer is attached to a Windows 98 SE PC. I "stole" the printer and tried setting it up connected directly to my laptop but that also failed to print. The printer was detected though!! There is another printer on my network. It is attached to a Mandriva box and serves six other boxes. I can't even find that printer when setting up printers on my laptop.

All printing related software seems to be installed (well done Kubuntu) but I can't print.

Clearly the problem is with my laptop and not the network.

Please help. I feel like crying but I am going to be brave.

Help me out, maybe I just need some sleep here.

Here is your scenerio:

1) You have an IBM Thinkpad600X with Kubuntu installed on it. No printing is available at all (network or local)

2) You're trying to have Linux machines print to a Windows 98 printer on a network.

3) Your IBM Thinkpad600X is connected to a Linux server and is supposed to be able to see and use the printers, but can't do either of them.


Let me know if I'm close. Then we'll try to fix each problem.

Best regards,
Steve

Yes. That's correct. I cannot print at all --- though local and network printers are detected. The printer I wish to print to in particular is connected to a Win 98 SE PC. Other Linux boxes are able to print to this Win 98 SE printer. My Kubuntu laptop cannot print to this or any printer. This worked previously when I had Debian SID on this laptop. I no longer have SID on this laptop -- except in the form of Kubuntu. As far as point 3 is concerned, yes. I am running a cups server locally on my laptop.
I know that this is a Kubuntu issue. As a matter of interest, I installed Mandriva 2005 LE on a spare partition and printing to *all* printers is possible. It is not an issue.

Thanks for looking.

I know nothing about how Kubuntu reacts or has been set up. Since you have been able to get your system to work with other distributions, you obviously have the basics down. Contact Kubuntu directly.

Sorry, I thought I'd be able to offer a quick solution. I'll let you know if I find anything out. Let me know if you find a solution.

Thanks for trying. It's very frustrating when something seems to be a specific distro problem, isn't it? I have removed Kubuntu : I don't trust things that don't do what they are supposed to do (I am not afraid to edit config files). I am trying Mandriva 2005 on my laptop now. Not bad so far --- all services working inc. wifi and printing. The fonts are odd in KDE but others might think they are fine! Of course, Debian is staying on my desktop at home.
Cheers.

I have asked another Kubuntu user to try to connect to printers on my network and he CANNOT. He was confused but could not resolve the problem either. He is much much better at sysadmin than I am. There is a problem with Kubuntu. What effect would there be if I replaced all of the Kubuntu printing stuff with Debian? Any problems?