Resurrect an unsupported printer on Home windows utilizing a Raspberry Pi
Key Takeaways
- The Raspberry Pi can breathe new life into outdated printers, providing an answer for outdated {hardware} with software program compatibility points.
- By making a community printer with a Raspberry Pi and CUPS, outdated gadgets just like the Canon MP250 can nonetheless be used with trendy PCs and smartphones.
- The method is straightforward and simple, and could possibly be a worthwhile challenge to some.
We have seen how the Raspberry Pi can be utilized to create some superior and revolutionary tasks. However SBCs will also be highly effective instruments that can be utilized to resurrect outdated items of tech that have been left deserted by their producers. And that simply occurs to be the case for Canon’s widespread MP250 printer, which has lengthy been retired by the model.
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The newest driver replace on the web site comes from 2015, and there’s no assist for Home windows 11, which as you may think about, could possibly be an enormous drawback for somebody that is nonetheless attempting to make use of that printer in 2024. Fortunately, it seems that there’s a answer to this problem, and nothing {that a} Raspberry Pi cannot repair.
A brand new lease on life due to a Raspberry Pi
The information was picked up by Hackster and initially got here from an formidable tinkerer, Herman Õunapuu, who was attempting to save lots of a member of the family that was experiencing issues with their printer. Õunapuu shared that regardless of the system nonetheless working correctly, he couldn’t get it to work on a Home windows PC.
That is the place the challenge to make this a community printer got here alive, which solely required a spare PC and an intelligent piece of software program known as CUPS. Õunapuu determined to maintain issues compact through the use of an outdated Raspberry Pi B+ working the most recent Raspberry Pi OS.
Whereas it did take a while and persistence, ultimately, the printer was up and working as a community printer by means of the Raspberry Pi, and was in a position to print from a Home windows PC. In fact, since this printer is a community system, it might additionally print from different gadgets as effectively.
Õunapuu carried out additional testing utilizing Android and iOS smartphones with out points. In an age the place it is easy to simply throw away outdated tech and simply purchase one thing new, this can be a nice strategy to maintain issues working with out loads of effort or cash. In the event you’ve been trying to revive an outdated printer, this is perhaps an important answer, so give it a attempt.
