Installer encountered an error .. Epson printer driver

[Bernard Smith]

I am trying to open an Epson Stylus Pro 7880 printer driver ( v 10.85 ) on a 2016 iMac ( Monterey OS )

It was working but has stopped and the computer no longer controls the printer. It doesn't have the printer in it's list anymore. I have tried to add it again but the drop down list of printers doesn't include my 7880 and the driver fails to install. So at the moment I am snookered.

When I try to install the driver from Epson ( 10.85 ) it goes through the installation steps but at the last step I get the message
"The installation failed. The installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance."

The same driver ( v 10.85 ) was used previously and all was well. This was installed when using Mojave and continued to work when I upgraded to Monterey.

Does anyone have any suggestions / thoughts on this frustrating matter.. Is it something that has got corrupted with the installer?

Any and all suggestions will be most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. It isn't the printer ( which is connected by USB ) as it works fine on a Windows machine using a driver from Epson.


Regards

Bernard

 

[bogdanw]

I think it fails because it tries to install EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext into /System/Library/Extensions/, that is now read-only.
Check if you still have /Library/Extensions/EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext If it’s there, try to load it from Terminal with

sudo kmutil load -p /Library/Extensions/EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext

If it’s no longer there, you can extract it from the EPSON Printer.pkg with Suspicious Package or a similar app, copy it to /Library/Extensions/ and load it from Terminal.
https://www.mothersruin.com/software/SuspiciousPackage/get.html

 

[Bernard Smith]

I think it fails because it tries to install EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext into /System/Library/Extensions/, that is now read-only.
Check if you still have /Library/Extensions/EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext If it’s there, try to load it from Terminal with

sudo kmutil load -p /Library/Extensions/EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext

If it’s no longer there, you can extract it from the EPSON Printer.pkg with Suspicious Package or a similar app, copy it to /Library/Extensions/ and load it from Terminal.
https://www.mothersruin.com/software/SuspiciousPackage/get.html

Thanks for your comments and suggestions... I am afraid that that's way beyond me...

Cheers

Bernard

 

[bogdanw]

In System Information – Software – Kexts see if you have EPSONUSBPrintClass, if it appears as loaded and if there is an error message.
https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/get-system-information-syspr35536/11.0/mac/12.0

 

[Bernard Smith]

Hi
I have found the EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext in Library ( see screenshot )

I can see that it is there in Extensions but it looks like it's not loaded on the second screenshot.

The 3rd screenshot is what I see when I open the terminal app.

I wont press anything as I am unsure of things and don't want to cause any more damage.


I am wondering if I did a restore to a time when I know that the printer worked if it would reset it.

I would, of course do back ups of everything including the internal HDD (Macintosh) before doing anything.


Cheers

Bernard

 

[bogdanw]

I wont press anything as I am unsure of things and don't want to cause any more damage.
I am wondering if I did a restore to a time when I know that the printer worked if it would reset it.
I would, of course do back ups of everything including the internal HDD (Macintosh) before doing anything.

In my opinion, loading an extension is unlikely to cause any harm that can’t be solved with a restart.

I don’t know anything about restore and other back-up options Apple or others provide.

From the second image: the kext is from an “Identified Developer”, signed, but it’s not Notarised (was not sent to Apple for review) and maybe that caused it not to be loaded. But it appears “Loadable”, so you can try to disconnect the USB printer and load the extension with this command from Terminal

sudo kmutil load -p /Library/Extensions/EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext

You will be asked to enter your password.
Connect the printer and try to add it.
About kmutil https://developer.apple.com/documentation/apple-silicon/installing-a-custom-kernel-extension

 

[Bernard Smith]

I saved everything then did a clean install which included deleting the whole os. I then used migration assistant to restore all my files and everything works fine... Looks like it was a problem with a standard update on top of previous os versions getting it's knickers in a twist...