Assinging new USB laser printer to LPT1 port?

[Timo Price]

I setup a new laser printer.
During the installation of the driver I am asked where WinXP should find the USB connected port.

By default "LPT1" was selected.

Is that correct?

How can I find out (without printing a test page) if the USB connected laser printer can successfully be
seen by WinXP?

Is the driver active immediately after installation or is re-boot necessary?

Timo

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I setup a new laser printer.
During the installation of the driver I am asked where WinXP should find
the USB connected port.

How are you installing the driver?

By default "LPT1" was selected.

And the printer is USB?

Then you're probably installing it incorrectly.

Is that correct?

How can I find out (without printing a test page) if the USB connected
laser printer can successfully be
seen by WinXP?

Is the driver active immediately after installation or is re-boot
necessary?

Timo

USB-connected printers often come with driver software that must be
installed *first*, before the printer is connected. This creates any port
redirectors required. If you've already attached the printer, disconnect
it and install the software first. Connect the printer when the software
tells you to.

Often rebooting is not required.

HTH
-pk

 

[Leonard Grey]

Any more questions? ;-)

First: It would help if you stated your printer make and model, so we
could reference the manufacturer's technical support. But in general:

LPT1 is the parallel port, not a USB port. If you are connecting your
printer with a parallel cable, you use the parallel port. If you are
connecting your printer with a USB cable, you use a USB port.

USB is plug and play - just plug a USB device into a USB port, and
Windows takes care of the rest. You don't even need to install your
printer driver - Windows will use its own driver - but you'll probably
have more features if you install the printer manufacturer's driver.

To see if Windows has installed your printer, go to Control Panel >
Printers. Do you see an icon for your printer?

 

[smlunatick]

Any more questions? ;-)

First: It would help if you stated your printer make and model, so we
could reference the manufacturer's technical support. But in general:

LPT1 is the parallel port, not a USB port. If you are connecting your
printer with a parallel cable, you use the parallel port. If you are
connecting your printer with a USB cable, you use a USB port.

USB is plug and play - just plug a USB device into a USB port, and
Windows takes care of the rest. You don't even need to install your
printer driver - Windows will use its own driver - but you'll probably
have more features if you install the printer manufacturer's driver.

To see if Windows has installed your printer, go to Control Panel >
Printers. Do you see an icon for your printer?

Several USB printers will not install correctly if you just connect it
without installing the included drivers before.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Any more questions? ;-)

First: It would help if you stated your printer make and model, so we
could reference the manufacturer's technical support. But in general:

LPT1 is the parallel port, not a USB port. If you are connecting your
printer with a parallel cable, you use the parallel port. If you are
connecting your printer with a USB cable, you use a USB port.

USB is plug and play - just plug a USB device into a USB port, and Windows
takes care of the rest. You don't even need to install your printer
driver - Windows will use its own driver - but you'll probably have more
features if you install the printer manufacturer's driver.

Sorry, but some USB printers will *not* install properly this way. You
must consult the setup directions for the specific model.

 

[Bill Sharpe]

I setup a new laser printer.
During the installation of the driver I am asked where WinXP should find the USB connected port.

By default "LPT1" was selected.

Is that correct?

How can I find out (without printing a test page) if the USB connected laser printer can successfully be
seen by WinXP?

Is the driver active immediately after installation or is re-boot necessary?

Timo

Suggest you contact the printer manufacturer or at least tell us who it is.
Why not try printing a test page? That doesn't use much ink and you can
always reuse the blank side of the paper <grin>
Generally speaking, installing the printer driver shouldn't require a
reboot. YMMV.

Bill

 

[Jim]

I setup a new laser printer.
During the installation of the driver I am asked where WinXP should find the USB connected port.

By default "LPT1" was selected.

Is that correct?

How can I find out (without printing a test page) if the USB connected laser printer can successfully be
seen by WinXP?

Is the driver active immediately after installation or is re-boot necessary?

Timo

Control panel / printers .

 

[Magnate]

I setup a new laser printer.
During the installation of the driver I am asked where WinXP should find
the USB connected port.

By default "LPT1" was selected.

Is that correct?

No. LPT1 is a parallel port, not a USB port.

How can I find out (without printing a test page) if the USB connected
laser printer can successfully be
seen by WinXP?

The usual method is:

1. Boot PC
2. Turn on printer
3. Connect printer to PC via USB

At this point Windows should pop up a little box asking for the driver,
saying something like "if this device came with an installation CD, insert
it now". If this happens, you know that Windows can "see" the printer, and
it's just a matter of sorting out the driver. If this doesn't happen then
something is wrong, either with the USB setup or with the printer.

Is the driver active immediately after installation or is re-boot
necessary?

Unless the driver is written a whole lot better than most Windows drivers,
you will be asked to reboot.

CC