Slow Printer Problems-Need Help

[RogerDodger9371]

When I print to my printer it is very slow because my present printing process is from my computer to my scanner and then to the printer via parallel cables. Both my printer and scanner are parallel.

I am wondering if the following will correct this problem:

1. Connect my printer directly to the computers parallel port and eliminate going through my scanner.

2. Connect my scanner to my USB port via some type of cable that can be plugged into the USB port and then connected to the scanner or scanner cable.

By making these changes I think it will speed up my printing process. Does any company make a USB/Parallel cable connector? Will I need a special software to convert my scanner from parallel to USB?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[mrEvil]

There are Parallel-> USB converters that work for printers. I was using one until I networked my printer with a SMC Barricade. They work fine. Don't know if this will work on a scanner though. It still should eliminate your problem, will it not? I'm assuming that you can just take your printer cable and hook it to your scanner.
Instead of asking the first question, why don't you just do it? That will tell you if that will fix the problem. Besides that, what printer & scanner are you using?

 

[Slikkster]

I don't see how the scanner would be slowing it down. That should be just a pass-through. Have you tried unhooking the scanner and trying the printer directly off the parallel port?

How is your printer port configured? SPP? EPP? ECP? If it's SPP, it might not be transferring info as fast as it can. Some scanners require EPP, but if not I'd try ECP. (These settings are configured in the BIOS setup section of your pc at bootup).

P.S. There is a company called "Entrega" which has made Parallel-USB converters, allowing you to hook up a normal parallel device to your USB port. I've seen their products at CompUSA.

 

[Timothy]

I've seen LOTS of this with parallel port scanners. People get them because they're cheap (first clue). It's why I don't recommend them anymore. USB or SCSI (if you have the money).

A lot of parallel ports scanners so called "pass-through" port is very poor and certainly not affectless to the signals coming and going.

 

[Slikkster]

Well, I can't argue with your experience. I have a cheapo Microtek Slimscan and haven't had those issues. This is why I'm looking for the comparison for printing direct to the parallel port (without the scanner) so we can see if the problem persists or disappears.