/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp has failed with an HP LaserJet p3005

Ever since 10.04, I can't print to an HP Laserjet P3005. I'm even using an entirely different computer now with a fresh install of 10.10. I've tried with and without the latest hplip.

Recently, sometimes I can get it to print a few things, but eventually it always fails (usually when printing a pdf from the document viewer (also doesn't work with adobe pdf reader)). Sometimes it fails so bad the printer gives an error saying it needs to be turned off and on again.

I can't seem to find a fix anywhere, I've googled all over the past year and tried every fix I could find. It does say that the /usr/lib/cups/backend/hp has failed.

It also doesn't make a difference if I create the printer using hp-setup or Ubuntu's own printing control panel. I delete and re-create the printer, no difference eventually. I use the default printer settings or custom settings, no difference.

I can print perfectly find to a networked printer at home - an HP officejet 6310. It seems to be networked HP printers at work that I can't print to anymore (except occasionally right after re-installing the printer driver).

What's the recommended way to install HP printer drivers and reset or clean out everything from before. Or where are the right logs to read or debug commands to do to find out what may be the real cause of the printing problems?

Solution 1:

I have had a few issues with HP printers in the past. The reason I keep buying HP printers is because to some extent they do support open source.

Here is all the issues I have had suggested install as you requested and solutions

Here are a few things that helped me First make sure your printer is supported http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/supported_devices/index.html You can check your printer for hplip compatibility I usually check the list before buying a new printer.

Install hplip, Check cups version #cups-config --version to make sure its updated. install sane if its an all in one and you might ever want to use the scanner later.

Sane recommends uncomment hpaio in /etc/sane.d/dll.conf. Running hp-setup as root may help you add your device. (do this)

• Setting up a static route for the printer. (this usually also is the issue if the computer was saying that it printed but nothing printed, DHCP would assign a new address occasionally and they didnt want to talk anymore.. static makes everything easier) this might be your issue if it works right after you install it again but not later

Other help ... tail /var/log/cups/error_log this will display cups errors newest to oldest.

If you see something like this printer-state-reasons=paused Just resume printing in cups printer admin page.

Solution 2:

When my printer had a problem, I didn't find the 'enable' in printer properties because I didn't know to look there. To solve the problem, I opened a terminal and entered the command:

cupsenable "queue-without-quotes"

Background information which lead me to cupsenable:
from http://www.openprinting.org/download/files/beh

# Usually, if a CUPS backend exits with an error status other than zero
# (for example if a printer is not turned on or not reachable on the
# network), CUPS disables the print queue and one can only print again
# if a system administrator re-enables the queue manually. Even restarting
# CUPS (or rebooting) does not re-enable disabled queues.