Possible to Use the Parallel Connection for a USB Printer?

D

dangfx

Gawd
Joined
May 2, 2001
Messages
707
Hello,

I have a Canon IP90, connected to my XP box via a USB connection (large USB on the computer side, small square USB on the printer side). It is very finnicky, and often doesnt respond, etc. I have to restart the machine just to print a page. Is it possible to get an adapter/converter or something, so that I can use my Parrallel port that's on my computer?

tia!
:)
 
PWMK2 said:
Like these?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1219598&CatId=471

Also, in case you haven't done so already, make sure you don't have a parallel port on the back of your printer, as well. My USB printer has both parallel and USB ports.
Click to expand...

I think that's the opposite of what he needs.... He needs the Male B plug to parrelel, not the Male A plug....

But uh, I have a feeling that this adaptor won't do anything for you.... It sounds like the port on the printer or the cable itself is faulty.... Have you tried using a different cable?

Edit: Aslo, I should ask, do you have actual drivers for it installed, or just the Windows drivers? Do you have any power saving settings set in the control panel, such as auto off after x minutes?
 
There's no way to go from a parallel port -> usb printer(at least without a bunch of custom(IOW expensive) electronics and code).
 
thanks for your replies :)

PWMK2- no, like Silent Assasin says, its the opposite. I'd need a small USB on the end of that.

Silent Assasin- I have switched out the cable 2 or 3 times with other cables i know are good. The printer is brand new... I have also used both the generic Windows drivers (hardly worked at all) and now I'm using the Canon drivers (they work better, but not perfectly, of course). As for power settings, where would I find this for a USB port in WinXP?

dirtydr- nah, print server = too expensive for me. also, dunno if it would actually fix my problem.

jpmkm- so are you saying there is no way to fix my problem?



:eek:
 
Eh, sorry, I kinda lost this thread when the User CP was down..... But uh, you should be able to change the power settings under the printer properties in the control panel or under power management... I can't remember exactly where it's at but I know I've done it before.... I don't have any printer hooked up right now, just a shared one, I'll get back to you in about an hour when I have time to get on the computer with the printer.....
 
hmm... I couldnt find anything pertaining to the USB printing under Power Mangmt in the Control Panel.... but I checked out the Device Manager, and went to the "Power Management" tab under my 2 listings for "USB Root Hub" properties. I unchecked the boxes there... could this be it? or were you talking about something else?
 
It's been a long time since I have owned a Canon, but look for your power off time in the properties of the pinter such as tools or something. It's there...somewhere.

As far as hooking it up differently, I would go with what a previous poster above suggested with using a USB print server.
 
Met-AL said:
It's been a long time since I have owned a Canon, but look for your power off time in the properties of the pinter such as tools or something. It's there...somewhere.

As far as hooking it up differently, I would go with what a previous poster above suggested with using a USB print server.
Click to expand...

Yes, the printer off settings is somewhere in the prperties. At least it was for my Canon S300..... I was unable to find it on my parents HP which is the only printer I have atm..... But if you know the printer doesn't turn off ever, then nothing has been changed in your power settings. But if it does never turn off, you could try setting the power off to about 10 mins or so, so that whenever you want to use it, your computer will wake it up.... This might help as well....

But if nothing int he power settings work, then I think your only choice is a USB print server.... I've been looking around for cheap ones myself and so far I haven't found one for any lower then $25/30 shipped off ebay.... Haven't seen any in the FS/T forum lately either.
 
well, I did find 1 thing in the printer's options called "Auto power." It WAS set to "disabled" so I dont get it. I changed it to "60 minutes" anyway just to see if I get any different results.

I'd rather not spend money on a print server. :(
 
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