11-10-2014, 04:22 PM
Since first posting this I had to reformat drive (not related to this issue!) and did a fresh install at which point I consulted the manual more carefully and, to my surprise, there is a section on installing HP Printers. Basically once you have installed hplip either the system will auto-install when you plug out then plug in on reboot the printer, or you do hp-setup run in Terminal and it will take it from there. 5 minutes tops. I have spent 2 hours with a professional sys-admin who runs Linux trying to get a printer set up one time and we had hplip and everything. Sometimes it's just one little step you don't know...
As to the Indicators going away: I had clicked to remove an indicator plugin so they all went away. At first I couldn't understand even when I stumbled on the solution (after installing a second time and again making the same mistake but this time being determined to fix it!): the indicator plug in allows indicators to display in the panel. Very simple once you know. To quit the indicator you use left mouse button and there will be drop-down prompt. To close the plug-in it's a Remove prompt with right click of mouse.
IN short: both problems solved.
As to the Indicators going away: I had clicked to remove an indicator plugin so they all went away. At first I couldn't understand even when I stumbled on the solution (after installing a second time and again making the same mistake but this time being determined to fix it!): the indicator plug in allows indicators to display in the panel. Very simple once you know. To quit the indicator you use left mouse button and there will be drop-down prompt. To close the plug-in it's a Remove prompt with right click of mouse.
IN short: both problems solved.