Getting Print Manager to recognize my new printer

[Riley]

Before buying my printer I made sure that it was perfectly compatible with Linux and it is (i think). There was that message about no known auto-detection method. Anyway, when I go into print manager it only lets me select printer class in Backend (my printer is hooked up to the parallel port). No printers show up there and I want to select parallel printer, but no amount of clicking will make Print Manager give me what I want :(
By the way that's print manager in K Control Center of Mandrake Linux 8.2 and my printer is an Epson Stylus Photo 820.

[Naki]

If you haven't already done so, check to make sure your parallel port is enabled in the BIOS. Also make sure that in the box "Print system currently used" that you select CUPS which is Mandrake's default printing system ( unless you installed a different one. )You also might want to try using Printerdrake which is in Mandrake Control Center >Hardware > Printer. Or you can configure CUPS directly by opening a web browser and typing :
h t t p://localhost:631/ (without the spaces)

I don't know that much about setting up printers, but here's some links that may help.



http://printing.kde.org/
http://www.cups.org
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/fdoc.php3

The Mandrake link will take you to a page where you can view the User or Reference Manual, they each have a section on configuring printers, the User manual shows you how to use Printerdrake, the Reference manual shows how to use CUPS.

[mdwatts]

Do you have the necessary services started for CUPS?

In the KDE Control Center under System/Startup/Services, I enable CUPS Line Printer Daemon and Print Server (CUPS).