Another computer support request in the world order. This time a customer needed some help with Linux operating system Mint. I do not often receive that many support requests for Linux operating systems.
Here is their request quoted verbatim:
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 operating systems. However, I have used Linux operating systems for around fifteen years now. Actually, I am almost more comfortable using Linux operating systems compared to Apple Macintosh or Microsoft Windows operating systems. I was able to find a suitable Epson WF 3720 printer driver for Linux Mint operating system version 18.1.
Linux can be more difficult in order to find suitibale drivers for hardware devices. Here is my response to this Linux support request. You can try to download this Epson WF 3720 generic printer driver. You will need to click on I agree in order to view a list of drivers.
NOTE: This direct uniform resource locator web page link was removed not too long after I originally wrote this blog post. You will need to click on the link above. Then you will want to type in 3720 into a search box. To the right of the search box their is a drop down menu.
You will want to choose Linux from that drop down list and then click on the search icon. You will now be able to view the Linux printer driver. Then you can click on Download.
You will need to login with your root account or root credentials. Also, you will need to install Linux standard base version 3.2 or newer first.
apt-get install lsb
Since your using Linux Mint operating system you will want to select the correct .deb package. epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2_1.0.15-1lsb3.2_i386.deb for Intel microprocessors or epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2_1.0.15-1lsb3.2_amd64.deb for Advanced Micro Devices. This individual was using a Dell Inspiron computer with an Intel Microprocessor and chip set. Also, this individual requested that I remotely connect and install the driver for them.
I ran into a few road blocks but was able to finally get the driver installed. First of all Linux can be a cumborsome when it comes to driver dependencies. Initially, I installed Linux standard base successfully but had to remove it.
I received this error message after installing Linux standard base and while trying to install the epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2_1.0.15-1lsb3.2_i386.deb driver both through the graphical user interface and command line. Many times I prefer installing hardware drivers and software on Linux with a command line interface, because at least for me the error messages are displayed right away. When trying to install using the graphical user interface, Linux error messages 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 printer driver. I have no logical idea why, but this printer 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 printer driver on Linux Mint operating system version 18.1 with this command.
apt-get install printer-driver-escpr
I no longer received that dependency error and was able to submit successfully a printing test page. The only remaining task was the individual had to make sure this printer was set to default. Also, this printer was connected over the network. I configured this printer as a network connected printer for them.