Thanks to Greg Marks, the answer is: root@deb4:~# /usr/sbin/cupsenable HP_LaserJet_3050
and the printer is ready. Thanks Greg! On Tue, 24 Nov 2020 19:23:43 -0500 Dan Norton <dnor...@mindspring.com> wrote: > My printer on the desktop became not ready and my attempts to make it > ready have bit the dust. I don't print much, usually just text, using > the lp command. My printer worked fine until I used gscan2pdf to scan > one page to a pdf for an email. The pdf was created but gscan2pdf did > not terminate cleanly and I had to kill it. Now, print jobs are queued > and do not print. > > root@deb4:~# lpq > HP_LaserJet_3050 is not ready > Rank Owner Job File(s) Total Size > 1st unknown 493 unknown 1024 bytes > > root@deb4:~# uname -v > #1 SMP Debian 4.19.152-1 (2020-10-18) > > The HP 3050 is a usb-connected legacy printer on my desktop. Functions > include print, fax, and scan. The display window on the printer says > it is ready. The printer prints OK when connected to another PC. Some > things I've tried, not necessarily in order: > > root@deb4:~# systemctl restart cups > root@deb4:~# apt remove hplip # this is the driver for legacy > printers root@deb4:~# apt install hplip > root@deb4:~# /usr/sbin/lpadmin -p "HP_LaserJet_3050" > root@deb4:~# /usr/sbin/lpadmin -p HP_LaserJet_3050 -E > root@deb4:~# /usr/sbin/cupsenable --release HP_LaserJet_3050 > lpadmin: The printer or class does not exist. > > The cups error log (/var/log/cups/error_log) has complaints about > blank Name, unable to encrypt, and no URI. These don't seem relevant > to me. > > I have tried many things but not the right thing. There must be a > bit turned crossways somewhere. Please help. > > root@deb4:~# /usr/sbin/lpc status > HP_LaserJet_3050: > printer is on device 'hp' speed -1 > queuing is enabled > printing is disabled > 1 entries > daemon present > HP_LaserJet_3050_fax: > printer is on device 'hpfax' speed -1 > queuing is enabled > printing is enabled > no entries > daemon present > > root@deb4:~# lpstat -p > printer HP_LaserJet_3050 disabled since Sat 21 Nov 2020 09:21:24 PM > EST > - reason unknown > printer HP_LaserJet_3050_fax is idle. enabled since Thu 04 Oct 2018 > 03:48:41 PM EDT > > Thanks, > - Dan