Comment 41 for bug 348834

re
sudo modprobe parport_pc

didn't work :-(

If you still cannot print, try to replace the HP backend by the standard
parallel backend creating a new print queue with system-config-printer,
selecting your printer under the detected ones, and then clicking the
little triangle at "Connection" (in the right part at the bottom).
Choose "Parallel Port", not "HP Linux Imaging and Printing".

didn't work :-(

thanks for trying to help though, much appreicated :-)