Lexmark Z43 printer and Kubuntu 9.10

Hi. This post will present in detail the steps I took with the intent to fix a Kubuntu installation to use a USB Lexmark Z43 color printer.

The problem

Although this printer works fine under Windows (at least in the tests I did), this printer has been a source of trouble with Linux. In the current, updated Kubuntu installation, you can reproduce the following problem:

1. In System Settings > Printer configuration > Lexmark (the latter is the name of the printer), click "Print test page."
2. The Ubuntu test page is printed, up to a fraction of the Cyan color strip.
3. The printer stops and the power light blinks at 0.5-1.5bps, in an irregular fashion. The computer does not report any problem with either communication or printing. The Form feed button of the printer does nothing.
4. You press the power button, the printer takes a moment until the sheet comes out of the printer and it remains on.
5. You cannot print anymore, and CUPS does not report anything. Frequently CUPS reports that the print job was finished. The syslog reports no problem.
   

 This problem does not depend on the following:

1. The printer driver being either CUPS+Gutenprint or Gutenprint.
2. The configuration of app-armor.
3. Whether /proc/bus/usb is mounted.
4. The debug level of the kernel: It still does not report anything useful.

I am so stuck with this printer, I hope somebody comes out with a solution. The problem persists with CUPS-1.3.11 in my Gentoo box.