CUPS = only blank pages
 

I use Vectorlinux 4.0 (2.4.27) on a PIII laptop and am trying to make my Samsung ML-1750 (Postscript) laser printer to work. I have CUPS 1.1.20 installed along with foomatic and all the relevant stuff as part of a package provided by the guys at VectorLinux (printing-stable-1).

This config used to work very well up until a few weeks ago. I don't know what exactly happened (installing gimp-print for my photo printer maybe?) but since my printer only spits out blank pages if I try to print the test page, and does nothing at all when I try OpenOffice or Firebird. It used to work with everything!

I tested other versions of CUPS, removing everything and re-installing but no luck. Strangely enough, initially at least I could print a .ps file via lp, but now after all the experiments this is failing as well.

Help someone, I am getting desperate! Is there a log somewhere that may be of help? The only thing I have found is that the CUPS GUI job log marks the test pages I send as aborted.


Any help will be greatly appreciated!

George

Some extra info
 

Just in case it helps, here is what /var/log/cups/error_log reports when you send a test page to the printer:

I [13/Nov/2004:00:31:47 -0800] Started "/usr/lib/cups/cgi-bin/printers.cgi" (pid=8755)
I [13/Nov/2004:00:31:54 -0800] Started "/usr/lib/cups/cgi-bin/printers.cgi" (pid=8756)
I [13/Nov/2004:00:31:54 -0800] Adding start banner page "none" to job 8.
I [13/Nov/2004:00:31:54 -0800] Adding end banner page "none" to job 8.
I [13/Nov/2004:00:31:54 -0800] Job 8 queued on 'Samsung' by 'root'.
I [13/Nov/2004:00:31:54 -0800] Started filter /usr/lib/cups/filter/pstops (PID 8757) for job 8.
I [13/Nov/2004:00:31:54 -0800] Started filter /usr/lib/cups/filter/foomatic-rip (PID 8758) for job 8.
I [13/Nov/2004:00:31:55 -0800] Started backend /usr/lib/cups/backend/usb (PID 8759) for job 8.
W [13/Nov/2004:00:31:55 -0800] [Job 8] Media tray empty!

.... which by the way is not empty and is not reported as such by the GUI...

George