diff -up hplip-2.8.12/base/g.py.no-root-config hplip-2.8.12/base/g.py
--- hplip-2.8.12/base/g.py.no-root-config	2008-12-17 20:41:12.000000000 +0000
+++ hplip-2.8.12/base/g.py	2009-01-12 12:22:31.000000000 +0000
@@ -91,6 +91,15 @@ class ConfigSection(dict):
 
         self.config_obj.set(self.section_name, option, val)
 
+        filename = self.filename
+        if filename.startswith ("/root/") or filename.startswith ("/var/"):
+            # Don't try writing a file in root's home directory.
+            return
+        elif filename.startswith ("/etc/"):
+            # Certainly don't try writing the system-wide config file!
+            # See bug #479178.
+            return
+
         try:
             f = file(self.filename, 'w')
             self.config_obj.write(f)
@@ -107,6 +116,10 @@ class Config(dict):
 
         log.debug("Reading config file %s" % filename)
 
+        if filename.startswith ("/root/") or filename.startswith ("/var/"):
+            # Don't try opening a file in root's home directory.
+            return
+
         try:
             f = file(filename, 'r')
             self.config_obj.readfp(f)