Connecting Macbook Pro to a Windows 7 USB Printer

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Connecting Macbook Pro to a Windows 7 USB Printer

I am trying to connect a Macbook Pro running the current version of Mountain Lion - 10.8.2 - to a Canon MG8150 multifunction printer which is connected via USB port to a desktop running Windows 7. I cannot add this printer via the Windows workgroup, even though I can see it - I always get an error message: "Unable to communicate with the printer at this time."

File sharing is turned on and working - I can copy files in both directions between the Windows 7 PC and the Mac. Printer sharing is turned on and the printer share name has been set to CanonMG8150 - and I see this name in the Mac Add Printer dialogue.

I tried turning on LPD on the Windows machine and adding the printer as an LPD printer, but get the same error message.

Any clues?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Oct 24, 2012 12:08 AM

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Answer 1

PAHU

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Oct 24, 2012 12:43 AM in response to CrystalSG

One issue will be the printer driver. The Canon IJ drivers for OS X don't function that well, or at all, when connecting to a printer shared by Windows. For this type of connection, you need to look at an alternative like Gutenprint or PrintFab. Gutenprint is preferred because it is free and your MG8150 is supported from v5.2.7 onwards, so download and install this printer driver suite and select the Gutenprint MG8100 series driver and try again.

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Answer 2

CrystalSG Author

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Oct 24, 2012 3:29 PM in response to PAHU

Hi and thanks for the advice. However, the MG8150 driver is not listed in Gutenprint version 5.2.9 - do you think it likely that it was supported in an earlier release? I might try another Canon driver but I will check the Canon website to see if they offer any clues...

update: Canon do not appear to support the MG8150 on Mountain Lion - they list the MG8250 but not the MG8150. I guess I could try the MG8250 driver, but I am not sure how to obtain the driver from software update without installing the printer, which I do not have!

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Answer 3

CrystalSG Author

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Oct 24, 2012 3:49 PM in response to PAHU

update 2: I tried using a different Canon driver. The printer installed okay with a Canon ij 8200 driver and I was able to queue a document to print, but it is sitting in the Mac print queue with the message:

Hold for Authentication

... which suggests that there as a deeper issue here!

The same error occurs when i queue a test print from the print queue dialogue box...

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Answer 4

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Oct 24, 2012 6:24 PM in response to CrystalSG

CrystalSG wrote:

Hold for Authentication

... which suggests that there as a deeper issue here!

While this may read like a different error, the wrong model of driver selected can cause this same message. So remove this printer and add again, this time selecting the Canon PIXMA MG8100.

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Answer 5

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Oct 24, 2012 6:28 PM in response to CrystalSG

CrystalSG wrote:

update: Canon do not appear to support the MG8150 on Mountain Lion - they list the MG8250 but not the MG8150. I guess I could try the MG8250 driver, but I am not sure how to obtain the driver from software update without installing the printer, which I do not have!

They do support the MG8150. It is the same driver they supply to Apple for download via Software Update. But as I mentioned before, you cannot use this driver when shared by Windows.

And don't use the MG8250 to print to the MG8150. The output will be correct. So as mentioned above, use the MG8100 Gutenprint driver.

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