Printer Connection

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeannine
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Jeannine

I don't know where else to ask, so please excuse if I'm intruding in the
wrong newsgroup.
This is just a simple question and I figure anybody over 40 probably knows
the answer. I have a HP parallel printer (Series IIIp). It still work
great and I refuse to throw it in the dump. I just bought a new computer
and discovered (to my considerable consternation) that it came without a
parallel port. My question is: If I hook up a Series IIIp parallel printer
using a special "USB to Parallel cable", can I it to work? I have Windows
XP Pro on a new Dell desktop with all the whistles and bells EXCEPT a bloody
parallel port. If anybody can answer my questions or give me some guidance,
I'd really appreciate it. Thanks, Jeannine
 
Jeannine said:
I don't know where else to ask, so please excuse if I'm intruding in
the wrong newsgroup.
This is just a simple question and I figure anybody over 40 probably
knows
the answer. I have a HP parallel printer (Series IIIp). It still
work
great and I refuse to throw it in the dump. I just bought a new
computer and discovered (to my considerable consternation) that it
came without a
parallel port. My question is: If I hook up a Series IIIp parallel
printer
using a special "USB to Parallel cable", can I it to work? I have
Windows XP Pro on a new Dell desktop with all the whistles and bells
EXCEPT a bloody
parallel port. If anybody can answer my questions or give me some
guidance,
I'd really appreciate it. Thanks, Jeannine
Click to expand...

I don't have any experience with usb-parallel adapters, but since you
have a desktop computer I think I'd just get a parallel port add-in
card. For instance, here's one at NewEgg that is only $11.99:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815166005

Malke
 
I did exactly that (I just didn't want to complicate my message). I
installed a PCI card (parallel port) last night and I can't get my printer
to print through it. So far, Dell has not been able to solve my problem and
they keep telling me it's HP's problem. Well, it isn't; I've installed that
printer on every system I've had since 1992 and it's ALWAYS worked great.
So I think I must not have installed the port correctly (although my device
manager says everything is working fine). So I have three options: 1) keep
tearing my hair out to get the new PCI card to work; 2) buy a parallel port
to usb cable; or 3) send the Dell computer back and start over again. Now
you know way more than you wanted to. If anybody has any more light to shed
on this matter, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jeannine
 
So if you go to the control panel/printers and faxes and find your printer
and check the properties and then ports....is LPT1 shown as checked. ?
(assumming the install did lpt1)
 
Yes, LPT1 is checked when I look at the printer properties - ports tab.

When I got through the installation of the printer and have to chose a LPT
port, the "users manual" of the new card shows that I should "select PCI
ECP/EPP Port". I don't have that option. That's why I think I did not
install things correctly.

BTW, I just talked with Dell again. They told me that even though they sold
me the PCI card and told me at the time that someone would be able to help
me install it, now I am told they do not support it and cannot help me. So,
if I can't fix this thing myself (with somebody's help) in the next few
days, I will have to return the machine. I am MOST disappointed in Dell.

Thanks, Jeannine
 
Jeannine said:
Yes, LPT1 is checked when I look at the printer properties - ports tab.

When I got through the installation of the printer and have to chose a LPT
port, the "users manual" of the new card shows that I should "select PCI
ECP/EPP Port". I don't have that option. That's why I think I did not
install things correctly.

BTW, I just talked with Dell again. They told me that even though they sold
me the PCI card and told me at the time that someone would be able to help
me install it, now I am told they do not support it and cannot help me. So,
if I can't fix this thing myself (with somebody's help) in the next few
days, I will have to return the machine. I am MOST disappointed in Dell.

Thanks, Jeannine
Click to expand...

Two things. First, please check and post back whether or not
the parallel port is using IRQ 7 or if there is a conflict
involving this particular IRQ. This can be looked up in Device
Manager.

Second, also post in alt.sys.pc-clone.dell in USENET. There
are plenty of Dell users who might be able to tell you more
about setting up the card.
 
Just for the heck of it, I went to HP.com and looked up your printer and
then looked for a Windows XP driver for it. None listed, they have WinXP 64
bit version, and almost everything else back as far as
DOS.......interesting. I did see the XP should have its own driver as part
of the OS.
 
While not absolutely sure that your IIIp laser will work with a USB-Parallel
cable, I use one for my Canon BJC80 inkjet. Some times the printer will
take a long time to start the print job (as much as 5 minutes for the first
job since booting) but it does work well.

You need to follow the directions of the cable manufacturer exactly in
setting up the ports for the USB cable. You also need to plug in the cable
to the same USB port each time and not through a USB hub. Printer on the
hub, for me creates problems.
 
Mike said:
Just for the heck of it, I went to HP.com and looked up your printer and
then looked for a Windows XP driver for it. None listed, they have WinXP 64
bit version, and almost everything else back as far as
DOS.......interesting. I did see the XP should have its own driver as part
of the OS.
Click to expand...

There probably hasn't been a new driver for the HP IIIP since the
mid-1990's. It is essentially correct that the IIIP printer drivers
are on the Windows XP cdrom.
 
Thanks, everybody for the help. I eventually found some information on the
manufacturer's website, which I was VERY lucky to find because the box that
Dell sent me didn't have any information where it came from. Anyway, their
website (startech.com) had a Manual (PCI1PECP.pdf) on my product with way
more information than the "manual" that came in the box. There was a
section on installation problems and lo and behold that fixed the problem.
The fix was during the Add Printer Wizard to "Create a new port" and name
the new port LPTx (where x is the number assigned in Device Manager).
Thanks again. I just love newsgroups! Jeannine
 
It was LPT3. Is that significant? I ask because I have a software program
that requires a "dongle" or HASP to be attached to a parallel port. So
after I got the port/printer working and installed the dongle, I installed
the software. When I try to open the software, however, it says I don't
have the dongle/HASP. I am guessing that the program expects to find it at
LPT1. Any ideas? I plan to call the company that has the software and hope
they can get me squared away, but oftentimes they can't handle anything out
of the ordinary. Thanks, Jeannine
 
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