Samsung ML-4500 - "Offline"

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Level 1

15 points

Samsung ML-4500 - "Offline"

I'm trying to get my Samsung ML-4500 to print.
I've installed the assorted drivers from http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/MacOSX/samsung-gdi (all 3 parts) - and have once printed something.
Since then, it's constantly telling me the printer is "offline". Clicking Hold/pause/resume etc don't seem to make a difference.

I've tried powering down Mac & Printer & restarting them. The power light for the printer is on. When I start to print, it offers a range of things. I've no idea what I did the time that it printed!

(I've also tried resetting the printers & reinstalling them)

I've found the help pages about problems after the update to 10.5.5 & the instructions to go to http://localhost:631/printers/ - but that didn't work either.

Any other suggestions??
Clearly, something's nearly there - as it did print - once (today, so not as if there was a system update ... the first thing printed, the next one didn't)

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 9, 2009 2:19 PM

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Answer 1

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Jun 9, 2009 3:37 PM in response to Emmadw

I don't have that printer - you need to tell us more details about how the printer is connected to the network (print server, built-in ethernet, wireless, etc.). Your symptoms sound like you have added the printer using LPD or IPP and haven't entered a required, device-specific queue name in the setup.

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Answer 2

Emmadw Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 10, 2009 6:03 AM in response to greg sahli

It's a parallel port printer & it's currently connected with a USB2 - Printer converting cable.

I don't know how I added it ... I installed the 3 files that it said to & then found it in the drop down list ... didn't change anything else.
I certainly didn't enter a device specific queue anywhere!

Where should I do that? I'm at work now & it's at home, so will have a dig round later.

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Answer 3

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Jun 10, 2009 9:18 AM in response to Emmadw

Oh, OK, you don't have it connected through the network. USB-parallel cables often don't work well, because they don't communicate everything that a parallel port would.
The alternate USB driver "usbtb" often helps:
http://buymelunch.org/printing/usbtb/

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Answer 4

Emmadw Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 10, 2009 11:29 AM in response to greg sahli

That didn't seem to help ... i'll keep trying. (Not that I ever want to print that much ... it's just useful at times!)

Mind you, it was a v. cheap USB/parallel cable; perhaps I'll test the cable via a laptop as well!

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Answer 5

Emmadw Author

Level 1

15 points

Aug 27, 2009 10:15 AM in response to Emmadw

I've tried various options - and have decided that maybe getting a "proper" Network printer server is the best way to go & also that will let me share it easily with assorted laptops (inc. some wireless)

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Answer 6

Sisis

Level 1

0 points

Sep 25, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Emmadw

I have the same printer and I was considering purchasing a usb-parallel cable adapter but now I see that this model of Samsung printers isn't supported for use with the Leopard operating system.
What did you decide to do in the end? Were you able to get the Samsung to work?
If not, it's a shame because it's still such a good printer!

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Answer 7

Oct 13, 2009 12:48 PM in response to Emmadw

Problem with Parallel-USB adapter cable and Samsung ML-4500 "printer offline" error can be solved by:

1. Download all 3 packages from http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/MacOSX/samsung-gdi and install.

2. Download usbtb driver from http://buymelunch.org/printing/usbtb/
and install it. It should pick up your list of foomatic drivers as part of the install and so you just select Samsung ML-4500. It creates a new printer in your queue list (Unknown USB2.0... (usbtb)). Just rename this to Samsung ML-4500.

This worked for me straight away and I'm printing from my ML-4500.

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Answer 8

Emmadw Author

Level 1

15 points

Oct 26, 2009 11:54 AM in response to JeffBidwell

I'm sure I've tried all of that ...

I've just removed the lot & will try again ... though I'm tempted still to blame the cheap USB to Printer cable I bought!

Where did you get your from?

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Answer 9

Emmadw Author

Level 1

15 points

Oct 26, 2009 1:02 PM in response to Emmadw

Oohh... that seems to be working!

I wonder if it was Snow Leopard, or the fact I uninstalled everything, then reinstalled the lot BEFORE I started to experiment. (Before, I'd tried with just the first 3 things & then added the usbtb one after a bit of fiddling.)

As far as I could tell, it was the same versions of each that I downloaded, but deleted the old ones just in case it was an updated version.

It's also still working after the Mac's been re-started. (Before, I occasionally got it to print one page randomly, but it never seemed to do more than one.)

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Answer 10

Emmadw Author

Level 1

15 points

Oct 26, 2009 2:13 PM in response to Emmadw

Spoke too soon ... the next thing that I tried to print & it had an offline message. 😟

OK. So it was off line at the time, I'd turned it off, but now even though it's on & I've restarted the computer (with the printer on) - it's still showing as offline. 😟

The lights are on & there's no-one home.

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Answer 11

Emmadw Author

Level 1

15 points

Oct 27, 2009 10:53 AM in response to Emmadw

I seem to be in the situation that if I want to print, I have to run usbtb, create a queue & then it's fine. However, once I've turned off & then on again, it's not so happy & I have to re-do it.

As, however, I don't print that often, I guess it's worth the hassle, as a new (USB) printer won't be cheap ... it's not worth it for the few pages that I want to print at home!

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Answer 12

Emmadw Author

Level 1

15 points

Nov 3, 2009 12:00 PM in response to Emmadw

Not quite answered as such, but work around found (i.e. reinstalling the usbtb each time I want to print, which, as it's once a fortnight, if that, isn't a problem)

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