"waiting for device"

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"waiting for device"

I have tried to print from my MacBook to my HP Photosmart 1215 without consistent success. I'm most likely to get the following error message "GenericClass: waiting for device." I downloaded the latest HPPhotosmart_Installer10.2-10.4.dmg, which eventully gives me a choice between Photosmart 1000 and 1100 Gimp-Print 5.0.0 beta drivers. (I chose the Photosmart 1100.) When I hit print, it starts the Gimp-Print driver, says it has reached 18% of the document, and stalls with the "waiting" message mentioned above. How do I get this all to work together? Thanks, Tom.

MacBook 2.16 Gz Core2Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Also have a PC

Posted on Sep 3, 2007 4:03 PM

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Answer 1

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Sep 3, 2007 5:29 PM in response to Tom_McRae

The symptoms and driver choices available make it sound like your printer is attached to a PC and shared from that. Or on a print server? The Gimp-Print drivers are part of OS X and don't come from that installer.

If I've guessed wrong, try repairing permissions (Disk Utility) and restarting before Adding the printer again and printing.

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Answer 2

Tom_McRae Author

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Sep 5, 2007 7:19 PM in response to greg sahli

I unplugged the HP Photosmart 1215 from the PC before turning it on. I went through the fix permissions routine, shut everything down, reconnected the USB cable, turned on the printer, then turned on and booted the MacBook, then reinstalled the most recent driver from HP. Still no dice.

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Answer 3

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Sep 5, 2007 10:07 PM in response to Tom_McRae

The driver from HP won't work for any network printing (IP printing or Windows printing) - it was written for USB only. This is why I asked you to confirm you were trying to print via network.
Try installing gutenprint or hpijs from
http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/macosx

Learn more about this driver situation by searching for HP network in this forum.

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Answer 4

Tom_McRae Author

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Sep 6, 2007 11:26 AM in response to greg sahli

I've tried the gutenprint 5.1.3.U, but I get the same message ("GenericClass: waiting for device"). Upon reading the .pdf files included therewith, it appears that I need to install some sort of CUPS file first (!!??). (Will that install in the right place, graphically, just by clicking on INSTALL? Which version?). Then when I read about hpjis, I read about TWO other files that must be installed ahead of it! I don't know much about UNIX, root directories, administrators and such, much less command line compiling, etc. I just want to find something that will make my MacBook work with an HP Photosmart 1215 printer via the Mac's USB port. I've never had this kind of problem with a Mac or with an HP ink jet. What's happened to OS X in this iteration (10.4.10)?

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Answer 5

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Sep 6, 2007 2:41 PM in response to Tom_McRae

Whoa -- slow down.
Do not attempt to install any new version of CUPS - that is already part of OS X and if you try to update that you will be sorry!

The linux-foundation files are STANDARD, OS X .DMG installer files -- don't do any compiling or even think about Unix when you download them and install them.

If in fact you are just trying to print with the printer directly connected via USB, I don't know why you are doing any of that. That is what the HP driver was designed for. Let's just try some generic OS X printing fixes:

Delete and re-ADD the printer(s) in Printer Setup.
Repair permissions (Disk Utility).
Reset Printing System (new in Tiger) - In Printer Setup, click this menu item found just above Quit Printer Setup.
Download the Combination Updater from Apple, use it to re-Update OS X.
Try Printer Setup Repair from www.fixamac.net.
Use a Disk Utility like Disk Warrior to repair the HD -- or, put in your install DVD and restart while holding the c key. DO NOT start the installer - instead, find Disk Utility in the top (Finder) menus and use it to repair the hard drive.

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Answer 6

Tom_McRae Author

Level 1

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Sep 6, 2007 5:36 PM in response to greg sahli

I have done the following, to no avail:

√ Delete and re-ADD the printer(s) in Printer Setup.
√ Repair permissions (Disk Utility).
√ Reset Printing System (new in Tiger) - In Printer Setup, click this menu item found just above Quit Printer Setup.
√ Download the Combination Updater from Apple, use it to re-Update OS X.
√ Try Printer Setup Repair from www.fixamac.net.
Use a Disk Utility like Disk Warrior to repair the HD -- or,
√ put in your install DVD and restart while holding the c key. DO NOT start the installer - instead,
√ find Disk Utility in the top (Finder) menus and use it to repair the hard drive.

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Answer 7

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Sep 6, 2007 5:48 PM in response to Tom_McRae

Time to reinstall OS X using the Archive & Install option in the installer. There are 100,000+ files in OS X - we don't have tools to identify which ones are corrupted/missing.

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Answer 8

Tom_McRae Author

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Sep 6, 2007 9:08 PM in response to greg sahli

Okay; it looks like we have lift off! Thanks VERY much.

Now, a few residual questions:
1) How do I get back the hard drive space now occupied by the archive?
2) Does this whole experience mean I shouldn't have upgraded from OS 10.4.9 (the version on the install disks) to 10.4.10? You know how we get the little reminders to update the op sys from time to time; that's how I ended up with 10.4.10.
3) Should I hang on to gutenprint 1.1.3.U? It specifically lists my HP Photosmart 1215, while in OS 10.4.9 (and 10) and on the HP website, the closest named printer is just the Photosmart 1100. (I do have the gutenprint uninstaller.)

I do plan to reinstall the driver for my Brother 2040 laser, which has worked fine through all this hassle.

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Answer 9

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Sep 7, 2007 5:38 AM in response to Tom_McRae

I'd keep/reinstall Gutenprint and try it to see if it's useful.

The only reason to keep the Archive is if you know you have some software in there you can't get back by using an installer - basically, you don't need it.

The Update mechanism/installer is the weakest link in OS X - it isn't robust enough to recognize faulty downloads. Turn off auto checking, and use your computer for a few weeks to be certain there isn't some other problem.

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Answer 10

Sep 18, 2007 9:46 AM in response to Tom_McRae

<<Okay; it looks like we have lift off! Thanks VERY much.>>

I am in the same boat and ready to reinstall since it seems to have fixed your problem. Did you still need Gimp or did the HP software actually install a driver?

Thanks in advance.

Rich

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