Printing/scanning on Linux

I've played with Linux on and off for a while now (at one point even used it for a month exclusively) and am considering switching back fulltime for several reasons. I do have several concerns though (no microsoft office.. aaaaah) - my biggest one being printing and scanning. It just seems like a total driver nightmare on Linux. Is it really as bad as it seems or will it just take a bit of config? Any other things I should worry myself with before switching? I think most of my concerns are just being a little too used to Windows.. Haven't used Linux in a few months

luxade wrote:I do have several concerns though (no microsoft office.. aaaaah) - my biggest one being printing and scanning. It just seems like a total driver nightmare on Linux. Is it really as bad as it seems or will it just take a bit of config?
"Seems like" based on what source?
luxade wrote:I think most of my concerns are just being a little too used to Windows.. Haven't used Linux in a few months
You will learn Linux the fastest and most deeply after you've committed yourself to using it as your main OS for more than a few weeks. I trust you've also encountered this idea that Arch Linux, in particular, is targeted more at people with a hacker mentality than some other distributions. If you're still pining for everything autoconfigured and guified like you're used to in Windows, I think you're facing a bit of an uphill battle, here.
Now for something more specifically focused on your question - how to make sure your printer/scanner works in Linux:
If you already have a printer/scanner, just google for how to get it working in Linux.
If you don't already have a printer/scanner, google for printers/scanners that work in Linux, before buying. That's how I found my HP PhotoSmart.
Last edited by /dev/zero (2011-12-18 19:43:06)

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Description:          EPSONserver
Location:          server
Driver:                    Local Raw Printer (grayscale)
Connection:          http://192.168.1.94:631/printers/R285
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Location:          server
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Connection:          http://192.168.1.94:631/printers/R285
Defaults:          job-sheets=none, none media=na_letter_8.5x11in sides=one-sided
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Driver:                    Local Raw Printer (grayscale)
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~~~~~How to get the HP Photosmart 2710 to Print, Scan... and maybe Fax over the network with Windows 7~~~~~
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (Fresh install -- Installed Win7 then Installed the HP software to ensure no conflicts)
Network Connection: Wired through a Belkin N+ router (did not use the 2710's wifi)
Status: HP Digital Monitor can see and track the printer and scanner, some scanning options may not work if your not using the HP software.
How to:
1) Download the latest "HP Officejet and Photosmart Full Feature Software and Drivers" package (about 164MB large)" for Windows VISTA (32bit & 64bit) and the 2710 and save to your desktop. Of course you should double check to ensure there's not a new Windows 7 software package available... just in case HP decided to help us out. If there is, download that instead and ingore the rest of this post. ;-)
2) Now goto "Start", "Control Panel", "System & Security", "Windows Firewall". On the left panel select "Turn Windows Firewalll on or off". Now ensure that both "Turn Off Windows Firewall" options are selected... save your settings. ALSO, ensure you've turned off any other 3rd party firewalls that may be running "ZoneAlarm, Norton, Symantec, etc". Finally, you may need to double check your router settings, although if the printer was working before Windows 7... chances are your network is fine.
3) Now "Right Click" on the driver package sitting on your desktop and select "troubleshoot compatibility"... once Win7 gets done "detecting problems" make sure you select "Troubleshoot Program" (2nd option). Now select "I don't see my problem listed" and click "Next".
4) On the new screen select "Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) and click "Next" and then select "I don't see my problem listed"... finally, click the "Start the program..." button that appears.
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7) Now you can slow turn the windows firewall and any other 3rd party firewall settings back to what they were before.. keeping in mind that you might have to give permission for the HP software to passthrough the firewalls you have running for it to work correctly.
Hope this helps, until HP does. I'll try to answer any questions to the best of my ability. Sorry about any spelling errors.
TK.
Message Edited by teknomedic on 10-25-2009 07:29 PM
Message Edited by teknomedic on 10-25-2009 07:30 PM

Thank you for the above. It got me most of the way, but I had to do a few more bits to get the drivers to work correctly on Windows 7 Professional.
* Install windows 7
* Install anti virus/spam/firewall solution
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* Installs the Vista drivers for the HP 2710, under vista service pack 2 compatibility mode, as above
* Download and install the Vista Reboot patch for Windows 7 upgrade (I think this stops the driver message at startup)
* At this point the printer worked, but scanner did not.
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* On startup allow the HP software to access the different network bits (say Yes) to can HPxxxx access networks etc..
* Update Win7 with microsoft updates
* Reboot PC
Now after a few reboots the PC starts with a full patched Win 7 Operating System and the HP 2710 can Print, Scan, Fax as normal. Now I can use the HP2710 for another year until it breaks on me.

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Ad

Printing/scanning on Linux

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