HP Deskjet has stopped printing .pdf/ .ps

[engine]

I've been using this printer for years, even on my current Xubuntu, and all of a sudden it's having problems printing .pdf and .ps files. All the information I can find is "status: filter failure" … so no idea where to look farther. Any hints/tips on what "filter" needs to be udpated (or even downgraded!) and how to do it ‒ will be welcome.

[tgalati4]

Apply any outstanding updates first. Delete the old printer and then reinstall and reboot.

[engine]

Thanks. Tried that. Test page printed OK (as 'job 46', don't know why); .pdf failed just as before :-{