A friend of mine has this scanner, running latest Mint Mate.
I have no experience with Ubuntu/Mint nor with HP and USB scanners.

Is there a good tutorial he can follow to get this scanner working? He has about one week of Linux experience.

Are you helping them directly? Have you checked out their system log to see what happens when you plug in the scanner? Have you or your friend searched the web for "hp2050 scanner linux"? One of the hits shows HP's support site discussing Linux drivers.

We meet at work, what I tell him is generic, as I said I have no Mint/Ubuntu experience. I open web pages for him, showing how to find information. He comes back next day and tells me he couldn't find the web pages I showed him ... he is not very young ...
I have no access to his computer.

Likely then you've found similar things which I've seen in my brief Google on the topic.

If this person can't even go to a web reference you've given them, then it seems unlikely that they're going to visit one, I or anyone else finds, that is passed along by you.

I only clicked the link to HP's support. Seems as if they have FAQ's and WIKI's on their devices coupled with Linux.

Ubuntu, MINT, they are not so vastly different from Gentoo. Linux is Linux.

Another option is they either can or cannot bring their computer in to work together with you and whether or not that is feasible.

Ubuntu and Gentoo are Linux alright, but installing software is different. There is Ubuntu way to install stuff, I'm not familiar with it.
This friend of mine is not that slow, he just needs good guidance. I think if there is a good tutorial how to install a scanner in Buntu he could follow it.

User probably needs to install HPLIP driver bundle.

This site appears to have suggestions on how to do that, although if your friend is unable to go to sites you refer him or her to, I don't know how you can effectively pass this on. Maybe print it out for him or her:

https://sites.google.com/site/tipsan...o/hplip-driver


After hplip is installed, recommend a reboot (it is the easiest way to get everything loaded and reset).

Of coure the user will require some application, like SimpleScan, to use the scanner, but maybe that will be best to tackle after the driver is installed.

2 members found this post helpful.

Thanks, I think this will help. Actually I think he got HPLIP installed following my instructions. I've never heard of SimpleScan, will tell him to install it.

Hi...

Please verify he did install HPLIP and the correct (or the latest) version. Is this the model here?

Regards...

1 members found this post helpful.

I believe so, yes. Thanks!

You're welcome

Regards...

HPLIP should do the installation. Once the scanner is connected to the computer and powered up, open a terminal and enter
sudo hp-setup

Hello

I think it is a very good printer but the only down side is that it doesn't come with a usb cord. You have to purchase that seperatley. I perosnally wish it would include that.

Hi...

Welcome to the forum

Yes, I wish all printers came with a USB cord, too.

Regards...

Interesting. All HP products I've purchased came with the necessary cords.
As the HP 2050 is an "all-in-one" product it is support by the HPLIP software for Linux.
HP does a good job of providing Linux support for their printers and "all-in-one" office products, but, very unfortunately, that can't be said for their standalone flatbed scanners.