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# Installation - Step 3 - Download and install HPLIP software

If you already have the latest HP printing software installed, then proceed to Step 4: Add the Printer.

If the HP printing software is not included with your Linux distribution, or you want to ensure that you have the latest version of the software, follow these steps to download and install the HP printing software.

Warning: If you are upgrading HPLIP and HPLIP is already preinstalled with your distribution, or you if you installed HPLIP using an RPM, DEB, or other package, please uninstall the previous version using the method specific for your distribution. If you do not do this, you may have package conflict issues or functionality problems.

1. Download the HPLIP tar file that contains the current HP printing software from the HPLIP sourceforge download page.
2. Make note the folder in which you save the HPLIP tar.gz file.
3. Open a console/terminal window.
4. Enter this command to navigate to the folder that contains the HPLIP tar file that you downloaded in step 1:

    cd [file path]

(for example: cd /home/user/documents)

5. Enter this command to extract the driver files from the HPLIP tar file:

    tar xvfz [HPLIP filename.tar.gz]

(for example: $ tar xvfz hplip-0.9.tar.gz)

The files are extracted to a directory named for the HPLIP version (for example, "hplip-0.9").

6. Enter this command to navigate to the directory containing the HPLIP files:

    cd [folder name]

(Example: # cd hplip-0.8)

7. Enter this command (for 32-bit operating systems only - for 64-bit operating systems, skip this step and do step 8):

    ./configure --prefix=/usr

Important

Special step required for 64-bit operating systems.

8. For 64-bit Operating Systems enter this command:

    ./configure --prefix=/usr --libdir=/usr/lib64

9. Enter this command:

    make

10. Follow these steps to log in as the super user:

If you are using Ubuntu go to Step 14.

Enter this command:

    su

11. Press Enter.
12. Enter the root password.

Warning

The root password gives you administrative privileges on the system.

13. Press Enter.
14. Enter this command:

    make install

For Ubuntu, Enter this command:

    sudo make install

15. Enter this command:

    /etc/init.d/hplip restart

For Ubuntu, enter this command:

    sudo /etc/init.d/hplip restart

16. Enter this command:

    /etc/init.d/cups restart

For Ubuntu, enter this command:

    sudo /etc/init.d/cupsys restart

Proceed to step 4.

Page last updated: Tue Oct 3 13:32:35 2006; HPLIP Version: 1.7.4a