Software Update says I have a Canon printer . . .

[Mugwumper]

but I don't! :^(

I have had an HP LaserJet 1200 for many years, and Software Update was
able to quickly update the HP drivers in my new Snow Leopard system.

However, I just did a manual check on Software Update - and it came back
with info saying I had Canon printer drivers to update! I ain't got no Canon
printer! ;^)

In Library -> Printers, there is an "InstalledPrinter.plist" file - I looked at it,
and there is some weird stuff in it. Under the "InstalledPrinters" section,
the HP LaserJet 1200 is there - but so is a bunch of other stuff: my Canon
LiDE 200 scanner, HK Soundsticks, the Matsushita optical drive, WinTV (?),
and what looks like the Apple Airport Express, plus 6 other manufacturers
that are just numbers (1193, 1293, 1532, 2643, 2652, and 8256).

What in the world is all this stuff doing in the printer section?

And can I / should I edit this file and get rid of anything that isn't a
printer?

Thanks . . .

 

[electroshock]

What in the world is all this stuff doing in the printer section?

And can I / should I edit this file and get rid of anything that isn't a printer?

Only if you KNOW what EXACTLY you're doing and that includes understanding the full extent of any impact. No offense, but it sounds like you don't, so I would not recommend doing that. I'm not sure, either, so I couldn't be confident in giving you advice other than to think carefully. The numbers sounds like PCI vendor IDs for device recognition, which is one reason I would be hesitant to arbitrarily edit that file without a full understanding of why these entries are present already.

It's possible scanner functionality was combined with the printer drivers. For instance, with various HP printers that formerly required HP's scan utility in Leopard now no longer needs that utility in Snow Leopard as it's handled 'natively' and can be used by SL's own regular tools.

 

[Mugwumper]

I agree . . . ;^)

Only if you KNOW what EXACTLY you're doing and that includes understanding the full extent of any impact. No offense, but it sounds like you don't, so I would not recommend doing that. I'm not sure, either, so I couldn't be confident in giving you advice other than to think carefully. The numbers sounds like PCI vendor IDs for device recognition, which is one reason I would be hesitant to arbitrarily edit that file without a full understanding of why these entries are present already.

It's possible scanner functionality was combined with the printer drivers. For instance, with various HP printers that formerly required HP's scan utility in Leopard now no longer needs that utility in Snow Leopard as it's handled 'natively' and can be used by SL's own regular tools.

No offense taken - that's why I'm asking . . . ;^) It just seems wrong to
have non-printer stuff in an "InstalledPrinters.plist". Maybe I'll just delete
the file . . . ;^)

I think I may put in a call to Apple next week. The only nuisance this causes
me is that I'll see the nagging item every time I use Software Update.

I'm a little hesitant to just let Software Update do its thing for the Canon
drivers. I'm quite happy with the driver as it is, and I use Hamrick's
VueScan for all the scanning I do.

Thanks!

 

[Freyqq]

it is possible that it detected that you have plugged in that cannon printer in the past and wants to install the drivers for it in case you plug it in again?

 

[Mugwumper]

Nope . . . ;^)

it is possible that it detected that you have plugged in that cannon printer in the past and wants to install the drivers for it in case you plug it in again?

I thought about that, and indeed my daughter had a Canon printer briefly
attached a few years ago. But I don't have the G5 that this printer was
attached to, and I did a "clean" install after I had some Airport problems
fixed on this Intel iMac. So I don't think that's the case . . .

The entry in the .plist says "CanoScan" so like electroshock says, SU may be
assuming printer driver includes scanner.

Thanks anyway . . . ;^)