parallel usb adapter sanity check

[dave_the_nerd]

Never used one of these with Windows before, so don't know what to expect.

I got a parallel to USB adapter. I plugged it into my Win7x64 PC, and device manager shows me either an "Unknown Device" or an error (Code 29 - which supposedly means a BIOS problem.)

I was expecting to just get an LPT1 port added in device manager. Was I expecting too much? Do I need to hunt down the manufacturer for drivers? (It's an off brand.)

Or is the cheap $4 adapter cable I bought likely just DOA?

Edit: I did a little more reading - the expected "USB0001" port isn't showing up either.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Oh, and can I pass this through to a VM? (Old CD printer, 32-bit-only printer driver.)

 

[mikeymikec]

Maybe your board doesn't like the adapter? Do you have another PC to try it in?

I would have thought that if the adapter was recognised (ie. had a chance of working), Windows would have done a better job than "unknown device", but I'd try to find drivers first just in case. I suppose the ASUS ATK110 adapter comes up as "unknown device" before drivers are installed...

The only times I have required a parallel port, I used a PCI(or e) card. I think they required drivers too, but I can't remember the detection process.

Is the device listed as being compatible with Win764?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

No drivers, everything I read indicated Win7 shouldn't need them anyway.

I couldn't find the alleged manufacturer, so I ordered another one from Cables2Go. (Which I have at least heard of, and some of the Amazon reviews mentioned it working with Vista x64 and Win7x64.)

 

[dave_the_nerd]

It was definitely the adapter - the new one works like a charm, passed it through to a Win2k VM without complain and the 32-bit printer driver is working fine!