Gutenprint - was this legitime software?

[Iklatenk]

I'd like to ask about another thing to be on safe side.

I tried to get old printer from Windows to work with Mac, but it lacked drivers. I downloaded Gutenprint, tested it, got it print one page, then printer got weird - the on/off button refused to be shut off and to get unresponsive printer to shut down, I had to unplug power cable.
After putting cable back, printer was fine again, but trying to print again, caused the same issue - power button burns, pushing it has no effect and only way to shut printer down was to remove the cable.

I removed Gutenprint and good riddance, I have another (though black and white) printer for Mac anyways.

But due to printer acting so weird, I am tiny bit of worry if it was legitimate software. I have habit of making screenshots and I have these left from that time - can someone please take a look and tell me if this looks like legitimate software.


Site I used:

Then printer said something about wrong or mistake made during installation and wanted to do changes.

I then downloaded uninstaller

As I installed it twice, I also removed it twice.

I just want to know if this looks like legitimate software and it did not leave behind anything bad or cause damage? I hope it was just my printer not accepting what is wide known software, but it worries me. At this point, I regret at all trying to get the old printer working and downloading this software.
Malwarebytes hasn't found anything so that's some consolation.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I'd like to ask about another thing to be on safe side.

I tried to get old printer from Windows to work with Mac, but it lacked drivers. I downloaded Gutenprint...can someone please take a look and tell me if this looks like legitimate software.

Assuming that you got it directly from it's Web site:

GutenPrint
http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php

GutenPrint (formerly Gimp Print) is a completely legitimate open source project to make Unix printer drivers available for the Macintosh for free. It's been around for many years and they provide a wonderful free service to the Macintosh community.

If you still need a driver for your older printer, you can also check out these sources for drivers:

Printer drivers available for free from Apple:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201465

SpliX (Samsung printer language drivers)
http://guigo.us/mac/splix/

OpenPrinting
http://linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting/macosx

Printfab ($56)
http://www.printfab.net/

 

[Iklatenk]

Assuming that you got it directly from it's Web site:

GutenPrint
http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php

GutenPrint (formerly Gimp Print) is a completely legitimate open source project to make Unix printer drivers available for the Macintosh for free. It's been around for many years and they provide a wonderful free service to the Macintosh community.

If you still need a driver for your older printer, you can also check out these sources for drivers:

Printer drivers available for free from Apple:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201465

SpliX (Samsung printer language drivers)
http://guigo.us/mac/splix/

OpenPrinting
http://linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting/macosx

Printfab ($56)
http://www.printfab.net/

Thank you for Your reply!

The url on my first screenshot seems to be gimp-print.sourceforge.net
So I guess that's fine. The chances of anyone dropping bad soruceforge download links to that site or adding malicious dmg files is impossible then? And the stuff I downloaded was really legitimate good, just not functional for me?

Thank you for the links, maybe I'll find help from there.

 

[toMACsh]

I think you've reached the correct conclusion, minus the "?". I tried it also, and it almost worked. I ended up buying a new printer.

 

[Iklatenk]

I think you've reached the correct conclusion, minus the "?". I tried it also, and it almost worked. I ended up buying a new printer.

By minus ? you mean:
So I guess that's fine. The chances of anyone dropping bad soruceforge download links to that site or adding malicious dmg files is impossible then. And the stuff I downloaded was really legitimate good, just not functional for me.




Almost? Did you also get one page printed and then it went pear shaped?

 

[Randy B. Singer]

So I guess that's fine. The chances of anyone dropping bad soruceforge download links to that site or adding malicious dmg files is impossible then?

Nothing is impossible. But the stuff on SourceForge is curated, so it's about as safe as you are going to get short of a project leader going rogue.

The GutenPrint drivers aren't usually up to the standards of commercial drivers. They usually give you basic functionality and not much more. But they are better than having a printer that is a brick.

 

[Iklatenk]

Nothing is impossible. But the stuff on SourceForge is curated, so it's about as safe as you are going to get short of a project leader going rogue.

The GutenPrint drivers aren't usually up to the standards of commercial drivers. They usually give you basic functionality and not much more. But they are better than having a printer that is a brick.

And Gutenprint's project leader has likely better things to do than go to the dark side.

Brick printer won't even fulfill the role of an actual brick.

Well, if Gutenprint as safe as it can get and those snapshots look to You like I got actual real Gutenprint, then I have no more questions! Thank you for Your assistance!

 

[toMACsh]

By minus ? you mean:
So I guess that's fine. The chances of anyone dropping bad soruceforge download links to that site or adding malicious dmg files is impossible then. And the stuff I downloaded was really legitimate good, just not functional for me.




Almost? Did you also get one page printed and then it went pear shaped?

Yes, and No. I only got as far as a print dialog box. It looked promising, but no output.

 

[Iklatenk]

Yes, and No. I only got as far as a print dialog box. It looked promising, but no output.

Okay, thanks, I'll stop worrying if this looked like legitimate software and not malicious gabrage.


Ah, didn't connect at all with computer. Never knows at all with technology. Tech sure moves fast, leaving old models behind and unsupported.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Ah, didn't connect at all with computer.

Before trying a new printer driver, you may need to reset your printing system.

Reset Printing System:

El Capitan
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21727?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Sierra
https://support.apple.com/kb/PH25565?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

It often helps to reset your printing system after upgrading to a major new version of the MacOS.