MX Linux Printer Settings

MX Linux is great at finding printers but some might need some config.

If you don't use Linux regularly it's easy to forget this.

Open a web browser and go to "http://localhost:631/printers".

Click "Modify Printer" and set following parameters.

- Your device will probably be shown already as "discovered"

- lpd://(Your printer's IP address)/binary_p1       for Device URI

- Brother       for Make/Manufacturer Selection

- Your printer's name       for Model/Driver Selection

Be sure to scroll through the list and select your printer even though it looks like it knows the right model because it was shown as device.

Try a test print

You can always go to the Brothers site and download the deb cups driver and install but it should not be necessary.

My MFC=7840W was a pig to get going until I found the access to the cups admin page and did the above settings.

Previously MX always grabbed the printer and worked without accessing cups admin so I was spoiled.

Obviously, if running in a virtual environment the network can not run NAT or it will not be on the local network.

Clear Print Spooler - Buffer

Oddly I have had to do this a couple times lately. Easy to find when searching but documenting it anyway.

net stop spooler

del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\* /Q /F /S

net start spooler

Refill Toners

I've never tried this but am considering it.

http://www.inkowl.com/index.php?p=product&B=1&S=4&q=Brother+HL-5250DN&product=924

Remove All Traces Of Printer Drivers

Rarely but sometimes a previously installed printer driver will leave traces that will make installing that driver again is impossible. This may happen with network installed printers being changed. Here is a procedure to remove all traces of printer drivers.

http://www.imagescience.com.au/kb/questions/211/Remove+all+traces+of+a+printer+driver+on+Windows

Oki Printer Drivers

Our trusty B6100 Oki does not have a driver for Windows 7-64. We use the network function of the printer with IP set to 192.168.20.184 (for my reference).

Choose the Oki C7100 (PS). Works fine.

Edit: the B4545 drivers did not work properly. The spooler world not clear completed job and would hang after one print job.
We tried the Oki B4545 (PCL) driver and it worked. (PCL = printer control language)

CutePDF Out / Bullzip In

FREE PDF Printer
The Bullzip PDF Printer works as a Microsoft Windows printer and allows you to write PDF documents from virtually any Microsoft Windows application.

This program is FREEWARE with limitations, which means that it is FREE for personal and commercial use up to 10 users. It does not contain any advertising or popups. For commercial applications with more that 10 users there is a commercial version of the product available at www.biopdf.com.

Comments: Cute is out and Bullzip is in. Does the same thing and much more flexible.

Stalled Printer Repair

Stalled Printer Repair Cancels Print Jobs Without Waiting Years, No Batch File Required - Printers - Lifehacker
Just fire up Stalled Printer Repair next time you're staring at a stuck job in the print queue that won't be deleted.

Comments: We know how miserable stalled print jobs can be to delete. This portable program fixes it (I guess).

Stalled
Printer Repair [Fantastic Freeware]

Why Print To PDF?

I'm adding things here as they come up so let's talk PDF. I recommended CutePDF Writer to my son and he asked why he needed it. I use it often so there must be a reason.

1. You want to print but can not connect to the printer for some reason. Save the pdf file for later printing.
2. You want to print a web page but always get useless sheets in the process.
3. You want to print a web invoice or rebate app. to process later.
4. You want to print a web page and email it.
5. You want to email an Excel spreadsheet so that the output is difficult to edit.

The list goes on. CutePDF Writer may not be the best but it is the best I have tried and free is always good. It installs fine in Windows 7. You may need to run the installer as admin.

CutePDF Writer is different than the afore mentioned PDF-XChange Viewer. Cute is a printer driver and appears as a printer in your operating system.