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Asked: 2024-09-25T20:29:27+05:30 In:

How can I install a scanner driver that I have downloaded on Ubuntu?

I just got my hands on a new scanner, and I’ve been trying to get it up and running on my Ubuntu system. The model is fairly common, and I found a driver online that should work with it, but I’m feeling a bit lost on how to actually install it. I’ve downloaded the driver file, and now I’m stuck.

I’ve seen some people installing drivers by just clicking on the file, but mine seems to be in a compressed format (.tar.gz). I’ve tried to extract it, but I’m not entirely sure what’s next. The instructions I found are a bit technical, and I’m not super comfortable with the command line.

I remember once when I tried to install some software that way, it involved using the terminal, and I ended up confusing myself with all the different commands. I really want to avoid making things worse. I’m worried that if I mess this up, my scanner won’t work, or worse—my system could crash!

Does anyone have a step-by-step guide to help me? Like, what’s the easiest way to install this driver once I’ve extracted it? Am I supposed to use commands like ‘make’ or ‘sudo’? And what about the permissions? Do I need to change anything before I can actually run the installation?

Also, if there are any specific commands that I’ll need to know, could you please explain them in a way that even someone with limited tech skills can follow? I’ve always loved using Linux, but sometimes things like driver installations can feel like a maze. It would be awesome if someone could help me out with a clear explanation or even just share their own experience with getting a scanner driver installed. Any tips would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

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    2 Answers



    1. Scanner Driver Installation on Ubuntu

      Installing Your Scanner Driver on Ubuntu

      Hey there! I totally understand how frustrating it can be to install a driver, especially when you’re not super comfy with the terminal. Let’s break it down step-by-step!

      Step 1: Extract the Driver

      First off, you’ll need to extract the .tar.gz file you downloaded. You can do this using the terminal:

      tar -xzf /path/to/your/driver.tar.gz

      Just replace /path/to/your/driver.tar.gz with the actual location of your downloaded file. This will create a folder with the driver files in it.

      Step 2: Navigate to the Folder

      Now that the files are extracted, you need to go into that folder. Use the cd command:

      cd /path/to/extracted/folder

      Make sure to replace /path/to/extracted/folder with the name of the folder that was created after extraction.

      Step 3: Read the Instructions

      Look for a README file in the extracted folder. This file usually has important installation instructions. You can open it with a text editor or command like:

      cat README

      or if you prefer a graphical way, you can just open it with a text editor.

      Step 4: Install the Driver

      If the instructions say to compile the driver, here’s a simplified way to do it:

      1. Run make. This compiles the driver. Use this command:
        2. make
      2. If that works without any errors, then run:
        3. sudo make install

        This installs the driver, and sudo means “run this command as an administrator”. You might have to enter your password.

      Step 5: Permissions

      If you have issues with permissions, you can change the permissions of the driver files using:

      sudo chmod +x filename

      Replace filename with the actual driver file name.

      Step 6: Reboot Your System

      Once everything is installed, reboot your computer. It helps in recognizing the newly installed drivers.

      Final Tip

      If you run into any errors, don’t panic! You can always look them up or ask for help. The Linux community is pretty great!

      Good luck with your scanner! You got this!



    2. To install the scanner driver from a .tar.gz file on your Ubuntu system, start by extracting the contents of the compressed file. You can do this using the terminal. First, navigate to the directory where you downloaded the file, which is usually the “Downloads” folder. Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T and type the following command to navigate to the Downloads folder:

      cd ~/Downloads

      Next, extract the .tar.gz file using the command:

      tar -xvzf filename.tar.gz

      Replace filename.tar.gz with the actual name of your downloaded file. After extracting, change into the directory created by the extraction (it generally bears the same name without the extension). Type:

      cd extracted_folder_name

      Please check the contents of this directory by using ls. Look for a README file or INSTALL file, as they typically contain specific installation instructions. If you see them, read through them for any detailed steps. If the installation involves compiling from source, you’ll likely need to run:

      ./configure

      Then compile the program with:

      make

      And finally, install it with:

      sudo make install

      You will need administrative privileges to install the driver, hence the sudo command, which will prompt you for your password. Ensure that your system is updated and has the necessary build tools installed, which can be done by running:

      sudo apt update && sudo apt install build-essential

      Remember, if you encounter errors along the way, double-check that all dependencies are installed and refer back to any instructions that came with the driver. Following these steps should help you install your scanner driver with relative ease.


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