Learning Ubuntu 9.02
 

I now realize that there will be a learning curve for Ubuntu. I downloaded a printer to my desktop and don't even have a clue how to install it. If I can get the printer working, at least then I can print out instructions.

Which printer do you have? It may be that it's already been detected and is usable.

HP Laserjet 1020
I already tried it, and it would not work.

Can you describe what you mean by "I downloaded a printer to my desktop?"

First I went to the HP site looking for a driver. They had a link to a third party driver that was for Linux. I downloaded to my Ubuntu desktop. I do not know what to do next. In Windows, I find the file, click on it, then install. This is new to me.\

Thanks

http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/index.html go here. HPLIP is what you need!

I already downloaded that to my Ubunut desktop. How do I install it?

Did you check out the Installation Directions from that website? It seems the Automatic Installer will work for Ubuntu.

Ubuntu should have everything you need installed by default.

Open a browser and enter "localhost:631" to get the cups configuration page. First, see if your printer is already there. If not, go thru the steps to add it. the first step has a drop-down menu--if you scroll down this, you should find your printer hardware already detected. Then, continue to install the driver. If the driver is not already there, then there is an option to specify the one you downloaded.

Having used it on Kubuntu and Debian, I would suggest you do this:

1. open a terminal
2. type in "hp-setup" (no quotes, do this as your user)
3. follow the prompts

It should install the printer for you that way. If not, you may need to add your user to the lp group.

Installing Printer Problem
 

Tried several times to install my HP Laserjet 1020 printer in Ubuntu 9.02. For the first few attempts it detected the printer. I ran the print test, and nothing happened. I also tried to print something, and still no printing. Now when I try to get Ubuntu to detect the printer, I get a different screen that can be seen in the attached image.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

If this is a local printer - USB or parallel cable connected - you have a hardware problem of some sort. See my local printer B4400 in attachment for the way it should look (fedora example).

I don't understand. It works fine in Vista.

Is it a local or network printer?

Local