Another computer support request in the world order. This time a customer needed some help with Linux. I do NOT often receive that many support requests for Linux.
Here is their request:
Hi and I can’t seem to get the drivers downloaded for the WF-3720 Epson to Linux.
There can be a steep learning curve with Linux. However, I have used Linux for around fifteen years now. Actually, I am almost more comfortable using Linux compared to Apple Macintosh or Microsoft Windows operating systems. I was able to find a suitable Epson WF 3720 printer driver for Linux Mint version 18.1.
Linux can be a pain in the ass to find hardware drivers for. Here is my response to this Linux support request. You can try to download this Epson WF 3720 generic printer driver. You will need click on “I agree” to view a list of drivers.
NOTE: This direct link was removed NOT too long after I originally wrote this blog post. You will need to click on the link above. Type in “3720” into a search box. To the right of the search box their is a drop down menu.
Choose “Linux” from that list and click on the search icon. You will now be able to see the Linux printer driver. Click on “Download”.
You will need to login with your root account or root credentials. Also, you will need to install LSB version 3.2 or newer first.
apt-get install lsb
Since your using Linux Mint you want to select the correct .deb package. epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2_1.0.15-1lsb3.2_i386.deb for Intel processor or epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2_1.0.15-1lsb3.2_amd64.deb for AMD. This individual was using a Dell Inspiron computer with an Intel chip set. Also, this individual requested that I remotely connect and install the driver.
I ran into a few road blocks but was able to finally get the driver installed. First of all Linux can be a bitch when it comes to driver dependencies. Initially, I installed lsb successfully but had to remove it.
I received this error after installing LSB and while trying to install the “epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2_1.0.15-1lsb3.2_i386.deb” driver both via the graphical user interface and command line. Many times I prefer installing hardware drivers and software on Linux via command line, because at least for me the errors are displayed right away. When trying to install via the graphical user interface, Linux errors are NOT necessarily in your face so to speak.
The Package System is broken
epson-inkjet-printer-201303w:i386: Depends: lsb(>=3.2) but 4.1+Debian11ubuntu is installed
I fixed this dependency issue by submitting the following command. This command removed a partially installed Epson WF 3720 driver. I have no fucking idea why, but this driver would partially get installed even though there was a dependency problem.
apt-get -f install
Then the partial driver was successfully removed and I was able to successfully install this Epson WF 3720 driver on Linux Mint 18.1 with this command.
apt-get install printer-driver-escpr
I no longer received that dependency error and was able to submit printing a test page. The only remaining task was the individual had to make sure this printer was set to default. Also, this printer was connected via the network.
I configured this printer as a network connected printer.