Trouble Connecting to a Windows 7 Printer using Linux Mint 20

[RobertX]

I just found the problem last night that there is a problem with having CUPS or Linux Mint 20's system-config-printer 1.5.12 program connect a Window 7's printer, a Brother HL-2140, from the same network.

I had no problems sharing files from my computer or accessing computers that belong to the other computers. I should point out that I am working with three computers: one Linux Mint 20 and two Windows 7. The Linux Mint 20 and one of the two Windows 7 computers are printing off the other Windows 7 computer that is connected to a printer.

I should also point out that I am not using passwords on any of the computers except for the Linux Mint one; it uses a root password.

Now, the problem: whenever I go to system-config-printer on Linux Mint to access the printer by visiting the "Windows Printer VIA Samba" list item and then going to browse without typing anything on the provided text box, it would say "Three were no print shares found. Please check that the Samba service is marked as trusted in your firewall configuration." The thing is, I always keep the firewall (ufw or gufw) off, because I don't see myself needing it.

As far as security information goes, I don't really lock my computers up with passwords since the only people who are accessing my computers, well, one, is one that I trust.

Here are what I tried so far:

- install python3-smbc: that helped because it can at least try to detect the printer, not that it did much

- share the HL-2140 printer off the Windows 7 computer: the other Windows 7 computer can print without problems

- add the following lines onto the smb.conf file

name resolve order = bcast host lmhosts wins
server min protocol = NT1
client min protocol = NT1

I got this tidbit somewhere in a forum. tell me if I got it right. That blurb was able to help me share my files and access other files on the network. If it does matter, the workgroup is comprised of three characters: TNR.

- used localhost:631: the problem with that is, the tool does not identify the printer from the network; in fact, it did nothing, so it's just as good as dead

- sometimes, when I type the name of the computer that has the printer, it identifies it, but I have to type in the login information. In previous versions of Linux Mint (under 20), it would accept my Linux Mint login information when I typed it in, so I would assume it would fine here - but boy, was I wrong. So I tried to type that print server's login credentials (didn't have a password either), and that didn't help.

- crying about it: did nothing

- I checked the wires and the individual computers for their set up information and they check up, so I don't think that was the problem.

So I don't know. It seems that the best alternative of all these attempts is that I should plug the printer to the Linux Mint computer and share it off of there, but I'll only do that as last resort; it would be a mess to try to find a longer USB cable to connect to the Linux Mint computer as well.

It's not a big problem, but if the computer can't print its documents, it doesn't seem to be a point to use it anyways, is it? I can share files just fine, but it just can't print. Not crying, because I tried that (just kidding!), just looking for answers.

By the way, do any of you request that I put more information? What did I do wrong? What did I miss? Please help.

[RobertX]

New information: I've been told that Mint 20 has dropped its 32-bit libraries and will need multilib to work with Brother's printer drivers as they are 32-bit.

Any ideas?

[ill88eagle]

Here's a theoretical workaround: setup a "hot folder" and an automated print service on your win7 machine. Instead of printing direct to printer from linux, you print to file and dump it in the shared win7 "hot" folder. There are several software solutions for this. Top 4 results from a quick google:

https://www.print-conductor.com/articles...-documents
https://www.fileprocessor.info/support/a...from-a-hot
https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/8...-in-folder
https://www.foldermill.com/

[RobertX]

I'll check it out, but it seems to be a little too complicated. But part of being an anorak is to do the same work in crazy ways.

Thanks!

[RobertX]

Ok, I know this is an incomplete thread, so I'll end it off since I found a solution.

The printer drivers don't work apparently because it's for 32-bit systems and not 64-bit like mines.

Now, what I did is that I would "spoof-print" the document using the print to PDF option, converting the document into PDF, use Windows 2000 as a virtual machine, and print it off there using an antique Acrobat software since the Windows version is a 32-bit version and will print the document.

I guess ill88eagle will yell at me for this, but if ain't broke, why fix it.

I'll use my Windows 7 to print stuff and the Windows 2000 virtual machine as a fall back if my Windows 7 box fails to function.

Just thought I'd share the answer.

[Q91]

Can't you update the drivers to 64-bit on the Windows system... or are you using 32-bit version of Windows 7... if so... why?

[RobertX]

No, my system is 32-bit, so that's why I'm using Windows 7 32-bit.

I can't even update my drivers to Windows 8/8.1/10 32-bit.

I tried, but the hardware is apparently too old.

EDIT: Just pointing out that the Windows computer is the one that's 32-bit. The GNU/Linux box is not.

EDIT: That being said, I'm printing all right on the Windows box. Fantablous.

Q91: FYI, There were no 64-bit printer drivers for my GNU/Linux box. That was the root of the problem.

OK, thank you for all your answers.

[RobertX]

OK, I solved the issue after some random Googling and this is what I did:

1. Install python3-smbc. For printers being shared through the SMB protocol, you would have to install python3-smbc or nothing in the Printers configuration will work.
   
2. Create an account on your Mint that matches one in the Windows 10 computer sharing the printer. Use it when you're asked to login and put it in login/password textboxes in Set Authentications menu. Don't forget to check the Set Authentications option radio button as well. Click Forward and go to the Devices Selection Menu.
   
3. Go to a site like OpenPrinting and download the appropriate PPD file that matches your printer and the device type. My printer is HL-2140 and I chose the hl1250 PPD. Back of the Printers configuration: this is where you pick the PPD file that you downloaded. Click on the choose PPD option and pick the PPD file.
   

You should now be able to print; print a test page to see if I'm right. I know I was when using that formula in my Linux Mint box and my Trisquel GNU/Linux box.

That's what I did and it seems to work, no joke. I'm no computer expert as I just used everything that I read randomly, so I don't what your situation was if you couldn't get yours to work. Just RRTFM, I guess, or "randomly read the f**king manual."

[RobertX]

It seems I was wrong.

I dabbled with the configuration earlier today and found out that I don't have to use the driver from OpenPrinting to get the printer to work.

All I had to do was to pick hl2150 from the database to use the printer.

Just deleted the PPD driver today.