"The specified port is unknown"

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Guest

When I plug in my printer, this message appears "Port is unknown".
I tried getting it to work in Add Printer by specifying a port, but the list
is blank! Even the "Create port" is unavailable... WHAT DO I DO!? I need this
printer to work - and don't tell me to use another computer or USB cable --
oh, my printer uses a USB port, not LPT1, just so you know. I have contacted
my printer's manufacturer, and they say its something to do with my laptop.
How do I get this thing to use a USB port!?
 
Craig said:
When I plug in my printer, this message appears "Port is unknown".
I tried getting it to work in Add Printer by specifying a port, but
the list is blank! Even the "Create port" is unavailable... WHAT DO I
DO!? I need this printer to work - and don't tell me to use another
computer or USB cable -- oh, my printer uses a USB port, not LPT1,
just so you know. I have contacted my printer's manufacturer, and they
say its something to do with my laptop. How do I get this thing to use
a USB port!?
Click to expand...

Do your laptop's USB ports work with a different device?

Malke
 
Craig said:
Yes, they work with my modem, mouse, camera, everthing else but the
printer
Click to expand...

Then you know your laptop's hardware is good. Did you follow
installation instructions for the printer? Most USB printers require
you to install the software before attaching the printer. If you have
one of these printers and you did not follow installation instructions
exactly, that could be the cause of the problem. If this is the case,
uninstall everything connected with the printer and start over.

If you are attaching the printer to a USB hub (since you have so many
other USB devices perhaps you have a hub), then try attaching the
printer directly to the laptop (no hub). The printer (which will have
its own power cord) may not get enough power if connected to the hub.
If the hub itself is not a powered one, your laptop probably doesn't
have enough power to manage all the devices.

Otherwise, I'm afraid the only way to troubleshoot the problem is by
doing exactly what you said you didn't want to hear:

1. Swap out the USB cable for a known-working one.
2. If that doesn't work, try the printer on another computer.
3. If the printer doesn't work on another computer with a known-working
USB cable, the printer is faulty and should be returned to where you
bought it.

Malke
 
Malke said:
Then you know your laptop's hardware is good. Did you follow
installation instructions for the printer? Most USB printers require
you to install the software before attaching the printer. If you have
one of these printers and you did not follow installation instructions
exactly, that could be the cause of the problem. If this is the case,
uninstall everything connected with the printer and start over.

If you are attaching the printer to a USB hub (since you have so many
other USB devices perhaps you have a hub), then try attaching the
printer directly to the laptop (no hub). The printer (which will have
its own power cord) may not get enough power if connected to the hub.
If the hub itself is not a powered one, your laptop probably doesn't
have enough power to manage all the devices.

Otherwise, I'm afraid the only way to troubleshoot the problem is by
doing exactly what you said you didn't want to hear:

1. Swap out the USB cable for a known-working one.
2. If that doesn't work, try the printer on another computer.
3. If the printer doesn't work on another computer with a known-working
USB cable, the printer is faulty and should be returned to where you
bought it.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Click to expand...

It is definatly not something to do with the printer - i have installed the
printer correctly (software first, then printer). The cable is fit to working
condition. There is no USB hub, the printer is connected directly to the
laptop. Whenever I plug in the printer it comes up with that error message. I
have contacted the printer manufacturer and the printer is fine. Green lights
everywhere -- nothing is wrong BUT the laptop itself. Thats why I have
specifically said: "Don't say try on another computer or new cable". Its the
laptop itself i tell you!! I went to set it up manually in Add Printer but
there are NO PORTS AVAILABLE! I have took a screen shot of it but i don't
know how to post it here...
 
Craig said:
It is definatly not something to do with the printer - i have
installed the printer correctly (software first, then printer). The
cable is fit to working condition. There is no USB hub, the printer is
connected directly to the laptop. Whenever I plug in the printer it
comes up with that error message. I have contacted the printer
manufacturer and the printer is fine. Green lights everywhere --
nothing is wrong BUT the laptop itself. Thats why I have specifically
said: "Don't say try on another computer or new cable". Its the laptop
itself i tell you!! I went to set it up manually in Add Printer but
there are NO PORTS AVAILABLE! I have took a screen shot of it but i
don't know how to post it here...
Click to expand...

I do not have a crystal ball; there was no way for me to know why you
didn't want to try the printer on another computer. There is no point
yelling at me, either. I have Googled using various search terms and do
not find anything that appears to be germane to your issue. You might
try posting in a newsgroup focused on printing or perhaps your unnamed
printer mftr. has user groups/forums. You don't mention whether this is
a home user's laptop or if it is normally joined to a domain at your
workplace. If the latter, there may be a Group Policy in force
preventing you from installing devices. If this is the case, contact
your IT Dept.

Otherwise, consider having someone on-site take a look. Very often a
professional working hands-on will quickly diagnose and fix a problem
that someone only reading about the issue in a newsgroup will miss. I
am sorry that I did not have an answer for you.

Malke
 
The original poster is not trying to connect a serial printer. They just can
not connect a new USB printer, either with the supplied install CD or manual
install.
 
Yeah, I tried the app today and it didn't work with USB ports, my mistake..
I assume the OP has downloaded (if available) updated drivers for the
printer from it's OEM's site..?
Also, I assume the computer's USB 2.0 drivers as well as chipset drivers
have been updated from it's OEM's site, is this known..?
For that matter, is anything known about the OP's Laptop or Printer's make,
model # or any other pertinent information that might help narrow things down
a bit..
Reinstalling a fresh OS will most likely solve the problem and may be the
only solution left, if all else has previously failed..
j;-/
 
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