How to set up a new printer without Printer Setup Utility
Oct 16, '06 07:30:02AM
Contributed by: Anonymous
This is probably obvious to some, but it wasn't for me. My Printer Setup Utility stopped working about a month ago, and I needed to set up a networked printer on my iBook. Many frustrated afternoons of Googling later, I discovered this simple trick:
- Download the printer drivers you need from the manufacturer. I needed a Canon driver, and fortunately these were available in a standalone installer.
- Install the printer drivers.
- Make sure you have the latest version of CUPS (Common Unix Printing Service) installed. Download the latest .dmg and install.
- Restart (I don't know if this is actually necessary).
- Go to http://127.0.0.1:631/printers/. Now you have a web-based printer setup utility.
- When you install, you should use the PPD file at the PPD file prompt if your printer's driver is not listed. The PPD file came with my drivers, and was located at /Library/Printers.
Finally, after a month of having to transfer files to another computer to print, I can do it all from my iBook. Free, free at last!
[robg adds: Obviously, a better long term solution would be to fix Printer Setup Utility, but this will work in a crunch.]
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