printer drivers

tim helped me out recently with a spyware/malware problem so, i'm back with additional problems...

i have a gateway mx6445, amd turion 64 mobile laptop with windows xp media center edition version 2002 service pack 2.

i also have two older printers... an hp deskjet 500 and an hp deskjet 310.

my laptop only has usb ports and of course the printers only have parrallel ports. i bought a usb to parrallel and hooked everything up. well, windows will not detect either printer so i tried looking for drivers. well, i later read that you must install the drivers first or windows will read an error and will remember devices as an error without allowing you to use them. any ideas???

thanks,
jack