Problems connecting a printer via a parallel - usb cable

I gave a friend a HP LaserJet 4L Printer to use with her Laptop - Dell Inspiron... She's running Vista (32 bit version). I didn't think it was going to a big deal, until I tried to attach it to the laptop and discovered their not putting parallel ports on laptops anymore... So I was going to have to attach it via USB... So I went out and bought a Parallel - USB cable... Attached the one end to the printer, the other to the computer. Installed the driver. It appears to have installed ok - Vista sees the cable ok in device manager... Problem is it doesn't see the printer attached via the cable... So I rebooted. Still nothing. Tried unplugging and plugging back in the printer, didn't help. I manually installed the printer, changing the port from LPT1 to USB. Still nothing. What am I missing? Why is this not working?

 

I'm not real knowledgeable on this stuff and I'm not sure if this will be of any help but I recently got a laptop and my printer (samsung laser printer) has a usb port on the back of it as well as the parallel port so I went out and got a usb cable and when I need to use it with my laptop I use the usb cable. I had to go to check my manual for the printer for things to change for using the usb port instead. On my laptop in the printers folder I need to make sure that it is selected to use online and in the properties section in ports I have "virtual printer port for usb" selected.

The advanced tab / print processor has SSGS1PC highlighted for the processor and the default data type is RAW.

I have also found that if I plug in the printer and the laptop is already on I need to go to the printers fold and make sure to right click on the printer and select use printer online. Otherwise I can't print.

Sorry I can't be of more help but maybe this will help some. Good Luck

 

Did you use a CD to install the printer, and if so, did it have USB drivers for the installation? Usually you choose the connection method during install. Did the installation CD have the option to USB connect?

 

Thanks for the responses! The Parallel - USB cable had an install cd believe it or not... I used that to install the driver for the cable (it has its own driver)... Again, device manager in Vista SEES the cable (its listed under ports)... Just not the printer attached to the cable... The printer is a HP LaserJet 4L - which is a fairly standard printer, I mean, Vista has the driver already - there is no install cd for it...

I did look for the Virtual USB Port, because I thought that was what it needed - but it's not an option (there isn't one in the list). I went around and around for it too... Everything for USB is installed (or appears to be) - there is nothing yellowed or red in device manager - but again this is running Vista and it's not my laptop... I think if this was XP it would be so much easier, Vista is sooo locked down and annoying!

Thanks again!

 

Check with HP on their website to see if they have any updated software and drivers for installation with Vista. I would have suggested that before, and silly me, I forgot to ask which OS you were using. Vista is a completely different animal, and frequently software and drivers compatible with XP will not work with Vista.

 

I don't think that's the problem - Vista HAD the drivers all built in, I just had to pick it from a list... But since you suggested it I DID go to the HP Website - and they confirmed it. There are no newer drivers, the install drivers that comes with Vista are the ones that work with the printer... The 4L is NOT a plug and play printer (meaning it would be a manual install even in XP)... But the driver its using is the one it's supposed to be using...

 

When you go in under Printers and other Hardware (or Hardware and Sound) via the Control Panel, does it show the HP as an installed printer?

 

Yes it does. Again it installs just fine (manually) using the Vista built in driver - it's a HP LaserJet 4L...

 

OK I got it working!!! First I wanted to thank everyone for contributing it's all appreciated!

As to what was wrong? Put down anything you may be eating or drinking while reading this, you will roll your eyes, shake your head, and laugh... I can't believe I didn't check this before... I feel SOOOO dumb for not checking this sooner...

I was going around and around in the same loop I was before... Vista just wasn't seeing the printer... The cable yes, the printer no... So I turned it off / back on. didn't help. I rebooted. Didn't help. It just occurred to me to open the panel ON the printer to check the cable on that end - before I hadn't been removing the panel on the printer... WELL the cable in there was just hanging - 1/2 way on... Duh! I took the cable off, put it back on. Sent a test page through and IT PRINTED!!! Yea! Man, if only I would have checked that before I wouldn't have even needed to post here But again thanks to everyone!!! I swear, some days I just get blonder... Hehehehe

 

Thanks for letting us know. Your post might inspire a few people reading this thread to check the cable at both ends if a printer isn't printing.

 

Yeah, you only mentioned device manager, so that's why I asked about the control panel options. Glad to hear you got it working, you said you connected the cable, so it didn't really occur to me to look inside the printer itself for a bad connection. Usually that's the first troubleshooting step to go through is to check all connections...