I really want to like Linux. However . . .

[Pool Hall Ace]

I have booted Slacko Puppy Linux v. 5.3.3 from a CD. It is so nice to be able to use my laptop again! However, I'm not able to find drivers for my printer (Lexmark Prospect Pro 205). Lexmark support is not very helpful (quelle surprise).

Here are the versions that are available for my printer: Debian, Fedora, Open SUSE, Linux Mint, PC Linux, and Ubuntu.

Should I give up on Puppy Linux and just use a version that is listed above, or is there a way I can work around it?

~ Thanks ~

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Try Ubuntu, Debian based and very user friendly.

[struggle4progress]

2. +. Or Mint

[Phillip McCleod]

22. i'm a mint fan meself...

i have lmde on one partition, arch linux on another, and mac os x on a third -- all on my little macbook and it works like a dream. nice thing about mint is focus on feature-rich usability, whereas ubuntu's going all tablet-y.

[gvstn]

3. I vote for Linux Mint

I find Ubuntu very confusing, at least when using the Live from CD or USB versions. Linux Mint is bit more user friendly for installing programs and maybe printers as well.

Puppy by definition is very small and thus limited in its support for printers. It is a good Linux version to try but probably a bit limited for long term use.

One thought if you have an empty USB flash drive is to put your Linux ISO file on a USB stick rather than CD. You still boot from it like CD but it allows "persistence" which means it will save your settings between boots which a CD can't do.

Lili is a good program for creating the bootable USB. You can use a downloaded ISO or have it download one for you. Set the persistence to at least 1gb for a 4gb USB drive or more if using an 8gb or larger drive. http://www.linuxliveusb.com/en/download

[Pool Hall Ace]

8. I have a USB stick that is no longer empty.

It has puppy_slacko_5.3.3.sfs and slackosave.2fs. Not useful, since I'm not able to boot from the usb drive right now. If I download Lili and use burncdcc, will that work?

And can I just erase the Slacko Puppy files from the usb stick?

[gvstn]

10. Lili

Lili is pretty much automatic. The empty part just means nothing you care about since it will be erased when Lili writes Linux Mint or whichever linux variation you choose. As long as you don't care about anything on the flash drive you can try several linuxes. Just write one using Lili to the flash and if you don't like try another until you find one you can work with.

Using Lili, I generally check the first two boxes in step 4 which formats (erases) the USB stick before writing the files to keep things clean. You just have to be aware that any personal files on the stick will be erased. Not a big deal for most people, just wanted to be clear that whatever is on the stick will be erased.

[AgingAmerican]

4. Try xubuntu

Xubuntu is an official release of Ubuntu, BUT it is made for older hardware.

If you have newer hardware, go with Ubuntu.

http://xubuntu.org/

[Pool Hall Ace]

7. My laptop is from 2006.

Is that considered 'older' ??

[AgingAmerican]

9. As far as windows 7 is concerned

Yes, but you might be able to run Vista on it....NOT!

[hunter]

5. I found this...

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=59015

You may have found it too. I don't know if it helps.

Personally, I stopped using Lexmark printers a long time ago. For the cost of one or two cartridges you can buy another brand. Or, if you are like me, find a working printer in somebody's trash.

My very old laptop runs Debian and LXDE. I installed the minimum Debian and then I did an apt-get install LXDE. It fits easily on the small solid state hard drive.

There are things I like about Puppy Linux. It has a nice community of users.

[Pool Hall Ace]

6. Oh, I did find that community!

In fact, I tried to join, but for some reason, I was not able to register.

And I agree with you about Lexmark printers. -_-

[PowerToThePeople]

11. I would change to supported distro

Last edited Fri Oct 12, 2012, 11:51 AM - Edit history (1)

http://support.lexmark.com/index?locale=en&page=product&productCode=LEXMARK_PROSPECT_PRO205&segment=SUPPORT&userlocale=EN_US&frompage=null#2

You could also set up a network printer on a headless box using lexmark drivers.

[Pool Hall Ace]

12. That's what I'm going to do.

I'm leaning toward Mint.

Although . . .

You could also set up a network sprinter on a headless box using lexmark drivers.

I don't know what this means. Could you expound?

[PowerToThePeople]

13. Mint is a good one to get started with

It means I was not checking my post.

spinter=printer in this case.

here is a how-to for Ubuntu. Should be very similar on Mint. it may help you understand

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=310450

You could use an old or low energy consumption device for the server. Heck, you could probably do it with a raspery-pi.

I have my printers hooked up to my main workstation. It is on 24/7. I allow printing from the network so any computer or device in my house can print to them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headless_system

[RoccoR5955]

14. Do yourself a favor, and get rid of the Lexmark printer

Get an old HP if you can. A friend had one of those Lexmark All-In-Ones on her computer running Puppy, I found a driver, and it printed fine. There are several drivers available for CUPS, which is what drives the printer, see the link below. At the end of the first post, there are a few options for you.

Here's a link on how to install printers in Puppy: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=59015&search_id=1142620377

[Pool Hall Ace]

15. I saw that post before

and I did download and install lexmark_inkjet_legacy-1.0.1.pet. However, I don't know what to do next.

[RoccoR5955]

16. You have to open CUPS

And add the printer to CUPS I believe. Let me check tomorrow at work. I can tell you from there.

I found a link referencing CUPS under Puppy here: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=62198

I believe that I am correct when I stated that you have to install the printer through CUPS.

[Pool Hall Ace]

17. I did open CUPS,

but then I have a herp-derp moment and don't know what to do. In other words, I don't know exactly how to "find" the printer. But I will check out that thread.

[RoccoR5955]

18. I believe you have to add the printer in CUPS

There should be a button there that says "add printer."
The rest should be pretty direct. Give it a name, tell it what port it is using, and then select the printer. Generally if the exact printer is not there, one that is close to the one you want to install feature-wise, but the same brand should work. I have had to do this in the past.

I haven't had a chance to check it out for sure at work today. I got swamped with calls, and have to leave early. Let me know, and the next time I get a chance, I'll try to document it at work. Be forewarned that I can have weeks of busy time at work, and then weeks of "idle" time at work, so I can't say exactly when. I just wanted to shoot off this quick response while I remember.

[Pool Hall Ace]

19. These are the choices when I try to add a printer:

Local Printers:

o SCSI Printer
o pdf writer (PDF)

Discovered Network Printers:

Other Network Printers:

o AppSocket/HP JetDirect
o Windows Printer using smbclient
o Internet Printing Protocol (http)
o Internet Printing Protocol (ipp)
o LPD/LPR Host or Printer
o Backend Error Handler

[RoccoR5955]

20. Isn't it a USB printer?

Scroll down for more choices. I'm home now, without the resources of work.

[PowerToThePeople]

21. Maybe this will help?

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting/database/cupsdocumentation