[SOLVED] No windows driver for printer. Can raspberry pi solve the problem?

sundry_50 · 01-28-2016, 03:08 PM

We have a good (old) printer but the new microsoft os doesn't support the printer. Would a raspberry pi print server with the printer connected solve this problem? I'll pursue the project if the lack of microsoft drivers is not a stumbling block.

TIA

Habitual · 01-28-2016, 03:22 PM

You need to supply more info than "I haz a printer".
What make and model printer?

sundry_50 · 01-28-2016, 03:33 PM

Sorry for the poor English. We have a working printer. I don't know how it was changed to "I haz a printer". The printer is used on a classroom network. We can't find a printer driver for the Microsoft OS machines. Would a Raspberry Pi print server provide a solution?

Thank You In Advance

ardvark71 · 01-28-2016, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundry_50

Sorry for the poor English. We have a working printer. I don't know how it was changed to "I haz a printer". The printer is used on a classroom network. We can't find a printer driver for the Microsoft OS machines. Would a Raspberry Pi print server provide a solution?

Hi...

You didn't understand Habitual's question. He's wanting to know the brand and model of your printer. Without that information, there's really nothing we can do.

Regards...

sundry_50 · 01-28-2016, 04:35 PM

I feel like we're going down a blind path. Help me understand why we need the printer info when I have it functional as a network printer in a network of Ubuntu and W7 computers. I simply want to know if the PI server would supply the drivers for clients or if W10 clients need their own drivers (non-existant). I really am curious and don't intend to be obstinate. My phrasing of the question is likely the problem here. Generally, I find the answer when I get the question right.

ardvark71 · 01-28-2016, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundry_50

I feel like we're going down a blind path. Help me understand why we need the printer info when I have it functional as a network printer in a network of Ubuntu and W7 computers. I simply want to know if the PI server would supply the drivers for clients or if W10 clients need their own drivers (non-existant).

Hi...

But for what printer? There are many different brands and models of printers out there. These different brands and models have different drivers and capabilities. We won't know what's possible for your printer until we know what it is.

Regards...

sundry_50 · 01-28-2016, 05:49 PM

OK. I'm at W10 machine trying to print through a PI server. Does the PI printer driver receive a print request from W10 then send a linux print request to the printer? I hope the PI server acts as a middle man/translator for the W10 request. If not, then we'll need a new printer.

I'm not near the classroom location so I can't answer the model/mfg quickly. It is a Brother, I think.

Emerson · 01-28-2016, 06:44 PM

I have no clue about Windows 10, my last one was XP. However, you can try it out by enabling printer sharing in one of your Ubuntu machines.

sundry_50 · 01-28-2016, 06:45 PM

Thanks. I'll try that. Good idea.

michaelk · 01-28-2016, 08:10 PM

Post the model number when you get a chance. Many Brothers uses PCL which is used by HP printers. So you might get away with selecting an appropriate HP printer driver on the windows 10 PCs. In this case the pi is not required. Another method with the pi is to setup a dummy printer via samba and then with a filter script print to the Brother. You could use any generic HP PostScript Windows 10 printer driver.

I have not manually selected a printer driver yet on Windows 10 so may not be so simple...

MrTux · 01-28-2016, 10:25 PM

Why not check with the company website that made your printer? It would not make sense that windows is not support.

Unless we are talking about a IBM matrix printer lol