[Solved] - HP F4488 not printing - /usr/lib/cups/backend/hp failed

Happen to remove my color cartridge and test out only with my black cartridge. It worked the first time but later on every time when I selected the printer with the respective application beside the deskjet F4400 - /usr/lib/cups/backend/hp failed was displayed. I tried stopping and restarting the cupsys daemon
/etc/init.d/cupsys.d stop
/etc/init.d/cupsys.d start

I couldn't get it started so following the instruction at http://chenjie66.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/usrlibcupsbackendhp-failed/ which did work.

I don't know whether the gui equivalent of such resolution is available or not.
like
system->adminstration->printing

user@dell-laptop:~$ sudo cat /etc/cups/printers.conf
# Printer configuration file for CUPS v1.3.7
# Written by cupsd on 2011-12-24 09:50
<Printer Deskjet_F4400>
Info Deskjet_F4400
DeviceURI hp:/usb/Deskjet_F4400_series?serial=CN03JC330405C5

State Stopped
StateMessage /usr/lib/cups/backend/hp failed

StateTime 1324700406
Accepting Yes
Shared Yes
JobSheets none none
QuotaPeriod 0
PageLimit 0
KLimit 0
OpPolicy default
ErrorPolicy retry-job
</Printer>
<Printer Deskjet_F4400_series>
Info HP Deskjet F4400 series
DeviceURI hp:/usb/Deskjet_F4400_series?serial=CN03JC330405C5
State Idle
StateTime 1280592353
Accepting Yes
Shared Yes
JobSheets none none
QuotaPeriod 0
PageLimit 0
KLimit 0
OpPolicy default
ErrorPolicy retry-job
</Printer>
<Printer PDF>
Info PDF
DeviceURI cups-pdf:/
State Idle
StateTime 1214886871
Accepting Yes
Shared No
JobSheets none none
QuotaPeriod 0
PageLimit 0
KLimit 0
OpPolicy default
ErrorPolicy retry-job
</Printer>
user@dell-laptop:~$

change State to Idle
 and
remove StateMessage and the printer starts to work normally

other outputs at the time of failed service

user@dell-laptop:~$ sudo cat /var/log/cups/error_log
E [31/Jul/2010:21:35:53 +0530] CUPS-Add-Modify-Printer: Unauthorized
E [31/Jul/2010:22:58:36 +0530] CUPS-Add-Modify-Printer: Unauthorized
E [01/Dec/2010:17:09:30 +0530] PID 8565 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 4!
E [01/Dec/2010:17:18:09 +0530] PID 9535 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 4!
E [02/Dec/2010:11:50:52 +0530] PID 6337 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:06:14:49 +0530] PID 14855 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:06:15:19 +0530] PID 14883 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:06:20:34 +0530] PID 7016 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:07:42:25 +0530] PID 6329 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:07:42:27 +0530] PID 6746 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:07:47:37 +0530] PID 8042 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:07:47:39 +0530] PID 8047 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:07:52:49 +0530] PID 8267 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:07:52:50 +0530] PID 8272 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:07:58:01 +0530] PID 8581 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:07:58:02 +0530] PID 8586 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:08:03:13 +0530] PID 8799 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:08:03:14 +0530] [Job 20] Canceling job since it could not be sent after 5 tries.
E [10/Mar/2011:08:03:14 +0530] PID 8804 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 1!
E [10/Mar/2011:08:03:15 +0530] [Job 22] Canceling job since it could not be sent after 5 tries.
E [24/Dec/2011:09:50:05 +0530] PID 9822 (/usr/lib/cups/backend/hp) stopped with status 4!

dmesg

usblp0: removed
[  373.784336] usb 7-1: USB disconnect, address 2
[  397.575185] usb 7-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 3
[  397.709008] usb 7-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[  397.709980] usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 3 if 1 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x7711
[  411.401418] usb 7-1: USB disconnect, address 3
[  411.401999] usblp0: removed
[  429.409997] usb 7-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[  429.543896] usb 7-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[  429.545109] usblp0: USB Bidirectional printer dev 4 if 1 alt 0 proto 2 vid 0x03F0 pid 0x7711
[  435.642008] usblp0: removed
[  452.488867] usb 7-1: USB disconnect, address 4

The result of a working printer with almost all the indicator blinking as if it won't work but IT WORKS

Resolving the Deskjet F4488 Errr

The mere display of "E" caused me quite a discomfort only to realize latter that it was my own fault/careless approach. Just a look at the manual caused the error to vanish.
RTFM is the ultimate guide.
Steps that I carried out (power button light blinks all the way to step 8)
1. Without connecting the USB connect the power .
2. press the power on button
3. Place the paper in the tray.
4. open the cartridge door (the power is on), this brings the cartridge holder in the middle automatically.
5. Place the cartridge
6. Close cartridge door, wait for alignment page to print.
7. Open scanner lid. Place alignment page face down.
8. Close lid. Press scan button. Wait until power on button light stops blinking, this means the alignment has been completed. Completing the alignment ensures better print quality.
**Everytime a new cartridge is inserted it prints the alignment page and it should be allowed to carry out the task 8 so that the alignment is carried out properly**

ref:- HP manual

Latest driver for HP Deskjet F4488

The default hplip 2.8.2 on ubuntu 8.04 was not recognizing the deskjet_F4400 printer so the latest driver (hplip-3.10.6.tar.gz) at the HP was installed from src.
Almost all the steps are specified in hplipopensource.
If the default hplip is installed, remove it.

Download the src from http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/downloads.html

extract the tar.gz file

./configure --with-hpppddir=/usr/share/ppd/HP --prefix=/usr --enable-qt4 --enable-doc-build --enable-cups-ppd-install --disable-foomatic-drv-install --disable-foomatic-ppd-install --disable-hpijs-install --disable-policykit --disable-cups-drv-install --enable-hpcups-install --enable-network-build --enable-dbus-build --enable-scan-build --enable-fax-build

make

and

sudo make install

add username to the lp group

sudo usermod -a -G lp $USER

now connect the usb printer and power on the printer... if not done this way the hplip will not detect the device

su hp-setup 

will activate qt4 based config dialog... follow the instruction as specified and by opting for test prn page the following will be printed out..

All the features of the all in one printer has not been used on my box
In my case the cups daemon was disabled... to enable it use
sudo sysv-rc-conf
and start the service using
/etc/init.d/cupsys start 

[u-21-11-2011]

I have been using the scanner of F4488 without any problem whatsoever for quite some time now on ubuntu 8.04 and the application used is Xsane Image Scanner(v-0.995). It working fine for me. Some of the screen shots of the application in action.
 

[/u-21-11-2011]