Setting up printer in Virtual PC

[BeetleB]

I am building a new system - gaming/family PC.
The question is: One of the prospective users is still very much dependable of software compatible with Windows 98.
Even though XP has a compatibility mode, which I am using right now for that software, I would like to set up a Virtual Machine to run those programs. I am stuck at how to set up a printer, since Microsoft's Virtual PC does not recognize the USB port.
My options, purchase a network printer or use a print server. Leaning towards the second option (lower cost , of course), I am looking into possibly IOGEAR GPSU21 or the likes.
Cost is an issue, but I rather have the best solution.
Suggestions more than welcome, please.
Thank you,

My future rig:

Case: LIAN LI PC-V1100BPlus II
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad
MOBO: EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
Heatsink: Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme
HDD: Western Digital Raptor 74GB + Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5000ABYS 500GB (archive)
Memory: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Video Card: EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS
DVD Burners: Pioneer DVR-112D / Pioneer DVR-212D
Printer: AIO HP Photosmart 2600 series

 

[RebateMonger]

Your only choices are to hook the USB printer up to another PC, or use some device that puts it on the network. Choose between them based on printer compatibility to networking devices and whether you want to keep a PC running all the time to ensure printer availability.

Be sure to get a printer that has drivers for Windows 98. That shouldn't be difficult.

 

[yinan]

VMware Workstation 6.0 has USB pass through if you want to try that option.

 

[JackMDS]

There are decent network printers (AIO) that start at $100 (look for Brother Model with CN after the number).

If you have a good printer for color printer leac it as is and add a Network printer.

Printer server is one of the Numrous amount of networkinh ad-ons that do not worth thier cost.

A really good printer server ad-on cost more than a printer.

http://www.ezlan.net/prtserver.html

 

[p0lar]

I'm totally windows-dumb here, so forgive the really raw suggestion in advance...
If the host is Windows XP, and the guest is Windows 98, couldn't you just share the printer via network from the host, Windows XP? Or.. does that require specialized drivers for the Windows 98 guest? :S

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: p0lar
I'm totally windows-dumb here, so forgive the really raw suggestion in advance...
If the host is Windows XP, and the guest is Windows 98, couldn't you just share the printer via network from the host, Windows XP? Or.. does that require specialized drivers for the Windows 98 guest? :S

It can be installed the same way you install and share any printer attached to another computer over the network.

 

[BeetleB]

Microsoft's Virtual PC works as a second PC (Virtual Machine) from inside XP and utilizes the some of the hosts' hardware. Among them Network and LPT1 connections.
But it does not support USB ports.
So, having a Network or a LPT1 printer allows you to print directly from the Virtual PC.
USB printers in this case are useless.

 

[JackMDS]

If your Printer is a USB printer and it is installed on a the Host or other regular PC it can be shared through the Network.

The Network or the VPC do not care that its physical connection is USB. As a shared printer it is a Network shared device.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: p0lar
I'm totally windows-dumb here, so forgive the really raw suggestion in advance...
If the host is Windows XP, and the guest is Windows 98, couldn't you just share the printer via network from the host, Windows XP? Or.. does that require specialized drivers for the Windows 98 guest? :S

In order to send the print job to the print spooler on the PC hosting the printer, you need an appropriate printer driver. That means that a driver for each printer must be installed on the computer where the print job is originating from.

When you install a networked printer onto your PC, the port is a TCP port instead of a USB port. But you still need a printer driver to format the print job so that the printer can print it. If your PC (or virtual PC) is Windows 98, then you need Windows 98 printer drivers for the printer.

All the networked host computer (or USB Print Server) does is guide the print job to the right printer. If there's a buffer or print spooler, then the host (or Print Server) also holds the job in memory until it's printed.

 

[mxnerd]

I'll second JackMDS's opinion. Buy a brother MFC networked printer. Then you don't have to worry about USB.

I own networked enabled Brother printer and also recommended several people, and all are happy users now. However, you do have to check if the driver support Windows 98.

 

[imported_cooldadd]

Either method mentioned above (a shared printer attached to the host -or- a network-attached printer) should work fine for you. I'm running a Win98se virtual system under Virtual PC 2007 on a WinXP host. I have a USB-attached Epson inkjet for color printing on the host PC and a Brother HL-5250DN network-attached laser printer for text work. Both printers are defined on the Win98 system as network printers (with their respective drivers installed), and both work as expected.

The only glitch in the process was that the Epson driver installation disk process wanted to wait forever for the printer to be plugged into the non-existent (virtual) USB port, but by that stage of the installation the drivers were installed, so after a reboot the normal Windows printer installation process found the correct drivers and all was well.