Windows plug and play, pnp for short, is a windows service for installing
new hardware. So in your case when you plug your printer in pnp creates a
usb virtual port, assigns it a number, and makes it available for your
printer. I don't know the details, but thats the over view. The port
number that windows is assigning for your printer to use has nothing to
do with what physical usb port you plug the cable into. It has more to do
with how many usb printers you have. So lets say you have 8 usb ports and
one usb printer. No matter which of the physical usb ports you choose to
plug into, your printer will always be assigned to usb001. Now lets say
you get a second usb printer. When you plug that one it it will be
assigned usb002. This again will have nothing to do with which physical
usb port you plug the cable into. Even if you unplug the cable and plug
it into another usb port, it will get the same port number in windows. In
the background somewhere windows maps the physical and virtual ports
together. this actually makes things simpler because if you decide you
want to plug your printer into a different port you just move the cable,
no further configuration required.
In your case it looks like things are working. You should be able to
install the printer just fine. If it still doesn't work I would start
looking elsewhere for the problem. What other issues are you having with
it?
maf
Mikel wrote:
Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I have two usb ports on my computer, 1 and
2. I want to plug the printer into 2. When I "Add a Printer" and it asks
which port to connect to (LPT1, LPT2, USB001, etc.) it doesn't have
USB002. How do I connect it to that usb port that's on my machine?
Also I'm not sure what "PnP need to add one for you" means.
Thanks Mikel
:
PnP need to add one for you. There is not a way through the spooler to
add a USB port.
--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
When installing a printer my usb001 is broken so I'm trying to use
USB002 but
it doesn't come up as a port choice when installing new printer. All I
get is
USB001. I need USB002. Any help?