Did CUPS kill my HPLJ 6L?
 

HPLJ-6L is an old parallel-port printer. I tried to set it with a new debian install, and a new install of CUPS.

The first time I tried it, with the new install, the printer made a screaming loud whirring noise, and will only print sheets covered with light black ink. The printer has never done that before. I tried connecting the printer to a windows box, but it does the same thing.

I have tried unplugging, and re-plugging, and so on. I have canceled the print jobs. But as soon as I put in paper, the printer does the same thing.

I might have done something wrong when I set up the printer with cups. If I did, could it have caused all that?

It is an old printer, I wonder if, by coincidence, the printer died the first time I tried it with my new debian/cups install? I have read that a scanner motor going out will cause the whirring noise.

Much more likely to be a hardware problem. This was a common printer, there would be plenty of reports if CUPS (or any software) caused problems on it.

Maybe even something like the cartridge not seated properly?

I would say it was purely coincidental.

The printer is probably dead.
It is not the fault of cups
Sorry.

I still have a HPLJ 6L, but realise that its life may be nearing its end.

HP still make good stuff, so I'll eventually replace it with something else from HP, as they have always supported linux.