User profile for user: Blue_
Blue_ Author
User level: Level 1
6 points

MacBook Pro printing via USB to Lexmark E120 (not E120n)

Hi folks,
please help with the following:

I've recently bought Lexmark E120 printer (not E120n which is a network printer version!) and am trying to make it work with Mac OS X 10.5.8. I've searched Lexmark Drivers Download site and downloaded a driver for E120/E120n for OS X 10.5 (filename is E120n_10.5.dmg).

I've added a new printer connected via USB to my MacBook Pro using the downloaded drivers. The problem is that I am unable to print anything - when I say print from any application - the document is sent to the printer the printer starts rotating some mechanism (like it's starting to print) but nothing gets printed.

The printer itself shows no error. Paper is not jammed for sure. No error indication appears either on printer or on MAC. Printer is definitely functional because I use it successfully from WinPC - it prints without problems.

Therefore I think the problem is in the drivers for Mac - they somehow send the data to the printer but the printer cannot print the data out.

Please, anyone, do you have idea what to do? I would really like to print on Lexmark E120 using native drivers (not 3'rd party) if possible. I also hope it is not "hardwired" in E120 chipset not to support Mac. (From what I've seen online E120n does not have such problems).

Thank you all in advance.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Nov 15, 2009 1:46 AM

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6 replies
User profile for user: cosmicten
cosmicten
User level: Level 1
10 points

Dec 30, 2009 2:07 PM in response to Blue_

Not sure if you're still looking to get the Lexmark E120 working with your Mac but yes you can.

You need to install Gutenprint. It's free and I've used it on both the Mac Mini under OSX Tiger and on the Macbook under Leopard.

Simply download and install it
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gimp-print/files/
(or in case that ever gets changed, http://gutenprint.sourceforge.net/p_Download.php)

Then go to the Printers and Fax setting in System Preferences. Click the + button to add the printer. Ensure you are on the 'Default' tab (this always threw me), You should have the Lexmark E120 in the list below, click it (if it's not there then check the USB cable is plugged in, printer is powered up etc..)

You should have a drop down list at the bottom Print Using : from the list select 'Select a driver to use' in the finder box type in Optra to narrow the list a bit and select 'Lexmark Optra E+' (It'll probably be a longer name with Gutenprint and Cups in it).

This driver is fully compatible with the E120 and you will get all your DPI settings and everything you need.

Hope that helps. Like you I bought the E120 (the one thats not the E120N). It's a fantastic little printer only let down by Lexmarks poor Mac support.

You can also now 'share' this printer to other machines as well over a network or wireless router.
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MacBook Pro printing via USB to Lexmark E120 (not E120n)

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