Updated to 10.6.8, now I can't print

Thanks Pahu, I tried printing to a HP LaserJet 1022 (USB) and an HP LaserJet 4600 (networked) and printed Ok in both cases. But even after following your suggestions (fixing permissions) I am still unable to print wireless to my Epson NX420. I also reinstalled the 10.6.8 upgrade as MacBerto suggested but still no solution in sight. I spoke with an Apple representative and they sent me a Capture Data app and asked me to send them the results to pass the issue to the engineers.

Thanks PahuL

For dnssd and lpd, I would expect the failing Mac's to show something other than

-rwx------ (that's 6 dashes after rwx)

and socket to be something other than

-r-xr-xr-x

I checked, and my permissions are the same as the ones you listed, But still I cannot print wireless ....

My permissions are as listed above, however I still can't print.

headyfrombrigantine wrote:

Thanks Apple,

Ever thought about testing your f*%@@#ing software before you push it out the factory and onto us poor saps?

I "try" to make money using your hardware - but if I can't print then I can't make money.

You don't know how ****** I am.

******' jokers.

It appears that the update has also corrupted your keyboard.

Here's what Terminal shows for permissions. iMac is running 10.6.8.

Note that I grabbed a copy of 'socket' from another Mac (G4 Sawtooth) running 10.6.7.

'socket' was copied in from 10.6.7; 'socket copy' was copy of original messed up file after the 10.6.8 update.

-r-xr-xr-x@ 1 root wheel 75200 Jan 4 00:22 socket

-r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 79328 Apr 29 17:45 socket copy

I don't get into Terminal too often, so I appreciate the patient and helpful comments by all in this thread! It's encouraging to know there are still folks out there who want to share what they know, and are willing to help others without expecting a red carpet and trophy.

Linc Davis wrote:

This is a possible fix for the printing issue.

...

Launch the Terminal application and copy or drag -- DO NOT TYPE -- the following text into the window:

sudo chmod 755 /usr/libexec/cups/backend/*

Sorry to say, I think this would be a waste of time. Did you compare the permissions that worked on 10.6.7 and what appeared after installing 10.6.8? They are the same. Some selected examples based on the backends people are having problems with here:

10.6.7

-rwx------ 1 root wheel 57344 Mar 29 12:19 dnssd

-rwx------ 1 root wheel 106096 Mar 29 12:19 ipp

-rwx------ 1 root wheel 93024 Mar 29 12:19 lpd

-r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 75200 Mar 29 12:19 socket

-r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 91792 Mar 29 12:19 usb

10.6.8

-rwx------ 1 root wheel 57344 Apr 29 17:45 dnssd

-rwx------ 1 root wheel 106096 Apr 29 17:45 ipp

-rwx------ 1 root wheel 93024 Apr 29 17:45 lpd

-r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 79328 Apr 29 17:45 socket

-r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 91792 Apr 29 17:45 usb

I don't have the answer to the problem, but I don't want to send people to the Terminal and have them use any type of sudo command unless there is some basis that the command will solve their problem.

I don't want to send people to the Terminal and have them use any type of sudo command unless there is some basis that the command will solve their problem.

The basis is that it worked for me.

Does any one know if is possible to Downgrade ??

It's easy, I used Time Machine to go back to 10.6.7. Took 2 minutes.

All printers working perfectly now.

Linc Davis wrote:

I don't want to send people to the Terminal and have them use any type of sudo command unless there is some basis that the command will solve their problem.

The basis is that it worked for me.

I can't argue with that even if I can't explain the reason it worked.

Thanks, your solution worked like a charm. Also thanks for also sharing the 10.6.7 socket file, very necessary.

Disconnect the printer from your computer either by switching it off or remove the ethernet cable. Postpone all waiting printing jobs form the printer menu, enable printing, repeat printing. After this the printer driver starts to connect to the printer. Now you switch on or connect the printer again, and it should start printing - hopefully. My Xanté CL30 printer did so.

You have to do this every time you want to print, so it is not a permanent solution only a work around until Apple release a patch for 10.6.8

I could not print either til I unplugged the network printer as described above, and then plug back in and the print job worked. all my networked printed this way, I have 4 of them, hopefully Apple comes out with a fix.

The solution posted by velocius does work but your specific situation may require a file other than the socket file. The error that velocius had was: "/usr/libexec/cups/backend/socket failed". If that is the exact message you have then replace the socket file. I had "usr/libexec/cups/backend/lpd failed". I replaced the lpd file and my printing now works.

Thank you for your suggestion. I replaced the file /usr/libexec/cups/backend/lpd with the one from another laptop that has not been upgraded and now the printing works.

Problem fixed for me.

After looking at the print error logs and seeing that the failure was with the lpd file, I replaced the lpd file in /usr/libexec/cups/backend/ with a backed up copy from Thursday and now I can print.

The new lpd file that doesn't work is dated 30/04/2011 whereas the previous one, that does work, is dated 11/02/2011.

I'd like to know what's different with this new lpd file that is causing the failure and if I'm missing out on anything by not having the latest version of that file.