"install" a printer that has no available linux drivers in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS

Well I have been happily using Ubuntu 12.04 and had installed Virtual box by using software center. Then I got a Dell C1660w LED printer and set out to simply use it. Although the steps I'll describe here are very "simple" it was in many instances frustrating, head banging might have occurred during this process; but I do not remember not sure if due to concussion or repressed memory!!! :)  Still this is a lengthy process so if you want to share any ideas, comments or better way to do it, you are encourage and welcomed to comment.

Well I was going to continue to describe my odyssey (could also be described as whining or flash back from PTSD), but you likely want to just do it and skip my artful literary description of the cephalic acceleration and deceleration against an inanimate object, therefore jump below to see an overview of how to do this.

WARNING: This is not an easy way of doing, there might be other ways of doing better than this; as in my method/approach you will have to install Virtual box then windows 7 then USB 2 support with guest additions then your printer if there is a more difficult way there probably is but this get's up there with any other method I would suspect! So buckle up for some FUN!

OK as everyone warns I am not your mommy or daddy therefore not responsible for you breaking your PC, your OS setup, your files, your head or the wall! so hope though this helps and wish you luck


1) Install virtual box via software center (the only available version for Virtualbox on my search of the software center in my PC was 4.1.12 which is an older version), and then windows 7.

2) Install the Guest additions

3) Install the Oracle Virtualbox extension pack; if you google this you'll get a lot of results with a lot of wrong answers. How I finally did it was by doing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgYA7F4PR5k

which essentially tells you to go to:
http://download.virtualbox.org/

then to the subdirectory that contains your version of virtualbox for me was:
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/4.1.12/ (direct link)
download this

Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.1.12.vbox-extpack   (also direct link)

4)  Close VBox, then you double click on the dowloaded file, it opens virtual box and will ask if you want to install, obviously go ahead.

5) Once installed add your user to the virtualbox group I did while battling with things so not totally sure is needed but almost sure, you can do it as the video tells you or with a terminal command which is how I did it using this:
 sudo usermod -aG vboxusers <your username>



6) OK then you start VBox or if you still have it running then go to the settings section of the VM for win 7 on the USB section select USB2

7) Add a USB port selecting the printer to be added for the USB port (printer was already connected for me somewhere between step 2 and 3 but you can just connect prior to selecting the USB 2 and adding the printer.

8) Start your VM when is going into boot, see on the status line the usb icon right click and uncheck everything.

9) Once logged in, install drivers with the supplied driver disc by using the setup program, then right click on the USB icon of the VM (bottom right) and check the printer mine was Dell C1660w.

10) windows will install the USB printing port and get the driver.

11) well that should be all, check if the monitor status for the printer works send a test page if it works congrats! You have a lot of patience and perseverace, or just insanely crazy like me :(