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Strange problem with Parallel to USB

D

darkside9923

Member
Ok a bit of history, I built a new PC about 9 months ago, and I do not have a Parallel port on my new DFI mobo....So I was using a back up computer that had the Parallel port and my Laserjet 2100 worked fine.

So I got sick of having to boot that pc up just to use my printer, so I purchased a Parallel to USB adapter, it is recognized by Windows XP SP2 as a HP2100 using USB0

When I first power the computer on I can print to the printer fine, but if I decide a few hours later I want to print to it, it just sits there as a job and doesn't go to the printer, nor can I delete or restart the job. If I power cycle the computer, after it posts and windows is loading it prints, but the page is blank, I can then print as many things as I would like, untill it sits for a while.

I am not running any power management, I have it set to always on.....

If I had the money I would just get the jetsend card and hook it to my router, but I don't have the money for that right now. Is there anyway I can get this to work? I can't recall but I thought there was something to type in the command prompt to route something to USB.
 
The Windows print spooler window doesn't by any chance say "out of paper" in its headline? I'm having a similar problem here, with two very different machines - one using a native parallel port and NT4, the other using XP and a native USB printer.
 
I've found parallel to USB to be iffy particularly when bidirectional signaling needs to occur. I'd recommend getting a legacy ports card (parallel or with RS-232 serial too) for a PCI slot. Make sure to get one that supports the parallel protocol you need (EPP or ECP or both) - most should support all protocols but just be sure. I also like them to be settable to the legacy port addresses in case the driver is hard wired to look for port addresses rather than the Windows port Id's like LPT1:, etc. Newegg has 13 parallel port cards and 6 combo cards to choose from. I recommend avoiding Koutech/Kouwell cards, and I think that Lava and SIIG are better brands. Startech used to be a good brand name too, but you can tell they are now just repack jobs at twice the price. That Sunix card looks like the one I used to buy from CompUSA under their house brand and those worked fine for me.

.bh.
 
Thanks for the replys so far...I am not out of paper 🙂

I would of went with a PCI card solution but both of my PCI slots are full (I have 2 sound cards, one for movies and games, and an EMU0404 for more serious music listening) The rest of the slots I have left are PCI express :frown:

I guess I am just going to be pretty much screwed and have to use the second computer or just wait till I can get the jetdirect card.
 
I didn't mean to say you might be out of paper. The symptom I have with this client of mine is that the Windows print spoolers on both machines /think/ the printers are out of paper while they most obviously are not - and the parallel one also isn't asserting the "Paper End" signal line either. Short of a reboot, there is nothing that brings it back once it's entered that state. One can't delete the stuck print job, and nothing will be printed.

You describe very similar symptoms, so I'm asking whether you're facing the same problem as I do.
 
Heh, I guess I read that wrong lol....when I go to printer preferences, it shows printing, no errors or anything, yet in the printer properties, it shows the printer and it shows that it is online.
 
One other thing I might suggest is to try a self-powered High-speed USB 2 hub. Some PC USB ports just don't seem to be able to push enough juice to run some USB peripherals. I always keep one on hand for troubleshooting USB problems. Besides using the juice from the USB port to power the converter chips themselves (about 12 line drivers using 5V nearly simultaneously), a parallel port needs to supply a 5V line to the printer. I'll look and see what the spec is on that line.

Other than that, you could try another parallel to USB converter cable. There are a few on Newegg with high buyer ratings and are compatible with the latest wiring standards and bidirectional operation.

.bh.
 
Yes, it shows all that here too, online and printing and blah ... when you open the "Print Jobs" window, look at its title bar. Mine says (the German equivalent of) "No Paper" when it's stuck in coma mode.
 
Zepper, parallel ports do not supply 5V to the printer. Printers could supply 5V back onto the cable - to power line drivers or other interface trickery, but hardly any do so nowadays.

USB-to-parallel interface chips are in the 100mA power draw range, well within the 500mA limit of regular USB root ports. USB port power failures have their own, distinct error messages in Windows. This here is different ... and it happens with legacy parallel ports too 🙁
 
Peter, have you tried stopping and restarting the Print Spooler service? In XP go to Start -> Run: services.msc
 
Even so, I still suggest trying a powered hub. If he's running other USB devices besides the printer converter the available current might be lagging. Besides everyone needs a powered hub in their kit anyway, so he won't be out anything for trying.

.bh.
 
I have tried it with and with out a USB hub. Right now I have it running into a Powered 4 port USB 1,1 Hub (Xircom)

I also have somewere but can't fint it, a Troy Pony Parallel to ethernet adapter (I had bought for a different computer), I was never able to get that thing to work at all, if I could find it I could try it again I guess.

Thanks all for the help so far 🙂
 
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