Cannot print to a Canon networked printer

[brainwave89]

I have added a networked Canon Pixma MP450 printer to my Mac (10.4.10). The printer is hooked up to a Windows XP pc via a USB cable.
In the Printer Network Utility I see the Canon no problem and am able to add that as a printer. The problem is choosing the correct driver. When I choose the Beta driver for a product other than the MP450 it prints a blank page.
I have read I need a CUPS driver. If so, what is the correct procedure so I can choose the proper driver for the networked printer?

Thank you for looking.

 

[Cave Man]

There's a new printer driver from just last month at Canon's web site. DL and install it to see if that resolves your problem. I'm printing on my in-laws' Epson printer that is connected by USB to their WinXP machine without problems (but am using 10.5.1).

 

[brainwave89]

When it came to choose the driver I choose Ohter and then choose the .dmg file I downloaded from Canon (v 4.8.3).
It errored out saying Failed to print page.

Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[Cave Man]

The .dmg file is a disk image. When it downloads, double click on it if it doesn't automount as a virtual hard drive. In this vhd should be the driver installer for the printer. You must run this installer on any Mac from which you wish to print to that printer. After you successfully run the installer and the driver is installed (which may or may not require you to reboot - the installer will let you know), then you will have to select that printer from the pull-down of the print dialog box from which you are trying to print. Depending on whether you're using 10.4 or 10.5 it's a bit different, but either way you likely will have to navigate the pull-down to select the driver for that printer.

It's not this complicated if the printer is connected to a Mac because Macs query printers for this vital info and setup is pretty much automatic. Unfortunately, Windows does not, thus the need to explicitly tell the Mac what the printer is (since Windows will not collect that info and tell your Mac what the printer is). You're close.

One more thing; the PC that the printer is connected to cannot be in 'sleep' mode, otherwise you're computer cannot see it. Windows is clunky.

 

[brainwave89]

Thank you for all your help Cave Man.

I will try your solution this week and will let you know the results.

Happy Holiday!

 

[Cave Man]

If you are running Leopard (10.5) your computer should already have the drivers for the MP450:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306684#canondrivers

No need to install drivers unless you're on 10.4.