Connecting USB to parallel device (in Windows 7?)

[DManzaluni]

I have a computer with both Windows 7 and XP installed on it and am
trying to use a Laserjet 6L on an infowave USB to parallel converter.

The converter shows up correctly as an Agere printer in the systray
when it is connected but not on the printers page, whatever that
means? I have installed the Laserjet 6L but I cant see how to port it
to the USB to parallel connector?

I tried going to Ports in Printer properties but only normal ports are
shown such as LPT1-3, various COMs etc show up in Printers. I did try
adding a port but it didnt seem to let me configure it as a USB port.
Nothing shows the Agere printer once I receive the message that it has
successfully been installed, - neither as a printer nor as anything
in device manager.

I tried adding a port and calling it LPT1USB but I think it only added
the name, The OS now doesn't let me configure the device to be or to
use a USB port.

(same problem with XP so I assume the solution should be the same)

 

[ng_reader]

I have a computer with both Windows 7 and XP installed on it and am
trying to use a Laserjet 6L on an infowave USB to parallel converter.

The converter shows up correctly as an Agere printer in the systray
when it is connected but not on the printers page, whatever that
means? I have installed the Laserjet 6L but I cant see how to port it
to the USB to parallel connector?

I tried going to Ports in Printer properties but only normal ports are
shown such as LPT1-3, various COMs etc show up in Printers. I did try
adding a port but it didnt seem to let me configure it as a USB port.
Nothing shows the Agere printer once I receive the message that it has
successfully been installed, - neither as a printer nor as anything
in device manager.

I tried adding a port and calling it LPT1USB but I think it only added
the name, The OS now doesn't let me configure the device to be or to
use a USB port.

(same problem with XP so I assume the solution should be the same)

I don't know the answer to your question, but, just like your USB to
Parallel device wasn't probably too expensive, finding an internal card
that will offer a parallel interface should not be too expensive either.

Of course, you know, it's time to retire that printer....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...arallel_interface_card-_-15-124-018-_-Product

15 bucks at newegg

 

[DManzaluni]

I don't know the answer to your question, but, just like your USB to
Parallel device wasn't probably too expensive, finding an internal card
that will offer a parallel interface should not be too expensive either.

I had a look at the device you mentioned and it looks perfectly
serviceable but I cant really connect it to a MacBook Pro.

Of course, you know, it's time to retire that printer....

Yes, I accept that (I took it out of retirement!) but I also have a
Laserjet 1300 which is a bit newer and a few spare cartridges for it
and the 1300 has started only lighting up it's front lights after any
first page instead of printing the whole document and I cant figure
out what is wrong with it. So as I cant see any difference in
functionality between these old printers and new laserjets, I thought
I might try this USB-Parallel device which should do at least
something?

 

[DManzaluni]

If the Laserjet 1300 prints one page and then some lights come on then there is
a problem with the printer. If you want to post what the condition of each
light is (on, of, flashing etc), I will see if I can interpret the problem.
Tony

Thanks for that Tony, I would quite like to dump such an elderly
printer as this 6L where I should be able to use spare carts from the
6L in the 1300! Especially as the USB-Parallel cable seem to be a
major problem.

The symptoms on the 1300 are that all lights stay on and the printer
stops working: I can delete all jobs and unplug the printer and start
it again and let it re-cycle and then it returns to normal state but
as soon as I try to print one job, it just prints the first page and
then all three lights come on again.

 

[ng_reader]

Thanks for that Tony, I would quite like to dump such an elderly
printer as this 6L where I should be able to use spare carts from the
6L in the 1300! Especially as the USB-Parallel cable seem to be a
major problem.

The symptoms on the 1300 are that all lights stay on and the printer
stops working: I can delete all jobs and unplug the printer and start
it again and let it re-cycle and then it returns to normal state but
as soon as I try to print one job, it just prints the first page and
then all three lights come on again.

That sounds like a general error in communication. Information makes it
way to the printer, the printer sends acknowledgment back, but never
hears back again.

But from what I read, the 1300 should take standard USB "printer" cable.
I couldn't tell which com ports the 6L came with, but, besides the
parallel their might be a serial that might work. Of course, that's
another special cable itself. And slower.

 

[DManzaluni]

This is the procedure to follow -
1. Turn the printer off and back on.
2. Unplug the printer for 5 minutes, plug it
back in, and turn it on.
3. If the printer still has an error, press
and hold down the GO button. Record what lights are on and let me know what the
condition of the lights is, some may be flashing. There are many possibilities
but be warned the all 3 lights on steady is a "fatal error" and repair may be
very expensive, can't be sure until I get the second set of lights.
Tony

No, the whole point is that when I unplug and leave, the printer
cycles and reports that all is OK

Only after the first page do all the lights go on and the print job
stops.Nothing I can do then will have any effect on the lights besides
unplugging it. Does this sound fatal? If so, even more need to
figure out how on earth to get the Infowave/ Agere Systems cable to
work with the 6L!!

 

[Jeff Jonas]

I tried going to Ports in Printer properties but only normal ports are
*sigh* old drivers only showed parallel & serial ports,
had no clue new things might evolve.

I was looking for some info for a client and found this suggestion:

* Plug in the USB adapter but leave it disconnected from the printer ...
* Connect the USB adapter to the printer and switch on the printer and
wait until the printer shows Ready. Now start the PC ...

I'm inclined to try the 2nd (connect USB to printer, turn on printer)
but I see no need to restart the PC.
Hot-plugging the USB ought to auto-detect the USB adapter
and perhaps the printer attached to it.

 

[DManzaluni]

*sigh* old drivers only showed parallel & serial ports,
had no clue new things might evolve.


I'm inclined to try the 2nd (connect USB to printer, turn on printer)
but I see no need to restart the PC.
Hot-plugging the USB ought to auto-detect the USB adapter
and perhaps the printer attached to it.

That was why I posted here, - because not only does it not do so
automatically, searching for newly connected printers doesnt find
anything at the end of that Agere cable either!

 

[DManzaluni]

With all lights on, if you press the GO buttone, what do the lights do then?
Tony

OK Guys sorry to bother you all

This is what I should probably have done before posting

It appears that the problem is with the printer. It isnt seen by
ANYTHING! I plugged it into a Dell XP computer and it isnt seen at
all. I tried installing the drivers and nothing is seen

I scanned for all newly connected printers and nothing is seen. I
went into printer properties and enabled/disabled bidirectional
printing and it didnt make any difference

The cable is a high quality HP one so:

I suppose it is time for the scrapheap. Now however I am becoming
desperate to know what is wrong with the 1300. Is there no way of
reseting this printer by unpluggng it and doing some diagnostics
BEFORE it tries to print a second page and lights up all its lights?
No amount of pressing any buttons when all three lights are lit up has
any effect: Unless I am incorrectly identifying the GO button, do I
have TWO printers ready for the scrap heap!!

 

[DManzaluni]

The GO button is the large one.
When the first page prints and all three lights are on steady, press the GO
button and hold it down, if all three lights are still on and steady (not
flashing) then there is a problem with the formatter. That is a printed circuit
board in the printer which interfaces the printer engine with your computer. If
one or more of the lights goes out or flashes (with the GO button presseddown)
then the eror is something different. Be careful to ensure you can see whether
the light in the GO button is on or not, you can hide the light in the button
with your finger.
If all three lights are on steady you will need to check whether there is
optional memory installed. To do this unplug the power cable, remove the print
server (pulls out) this is at the left rear (the PC cable plugs into it).
Remove the left cover- there is a small tab at the left rear on the left cover,
push it and swing the left cover open. This will expose a metal plate andsome
cables. In the middle of the plate is a vertical slot, if there is a memory
module protruding from that slot remove it by rotating the little cams that
latch it into place top and bottom. This is easier than it sounds. Now
reassemble and try printing again.If all is well then the optional memoryhas
failed (or it was making a bad connection in which case reinstalling the memory
may fix the issue). You should be able to print without the optional memory. If
there is no optional memory or it fails with the optional memory removed then
the formatter is faulty. Formatters cost between US$40 and US$80 so it would be
better to buy an entry level laser printer, one of the Brother units would be
fine.

Tony

Yes, I figured that was the GO button and know all about the memory
problems from my days with a 5MP to which I had added memory which
failed and needed re-seating regularly!

Infuriatingly, the whole printer now refuses to fail and while
resetting it, I noticed that the cartridge is different from the 6L
cartridge. So I dont need to keep the 6L for any purpose if it has
indeed failed. In fact where I live, people chuck out newish printers
regularly so there is no real need to keep this dinosaur save that I
do have a spare cartridge for it (a new sealed NT-C3906, admittedly
dated USE BY 2007, which I am pretty sure goes in the 6L, not the
1300)

Can I assume that even where the 6L lights up all its lights properly
and cycles properly, and prints a test page, if there is no
communication between it and any computer, the problem is not easily
fixable and no amount of diagnosis is likely to achieve anything?

 

[DManzaluni]

Yes I think you can assume that. However, when you tried the 6L in the Dell
computer was it using the standard cable or were you using a converter? Some of
these converters are fraught with difficulty to set up.
Yes the C3906A is a 6L cartridge. The LJ1300 uses a Q2613A or Q2613X cartridge,
the X version is a higher capacity cartridge.
Tony

Oh, - I hadn't thought of trying the 6L in the Dell with the Infowave
cable: You dont think it could make a difference do you? Surely if
there is no communication between the printer and the computer, it
wont make a difference which cable I use so long as it isnt one of
those el-cheapo cables we all used to have before bidirectional
printing came in?

The only slightly disquieting bit is where I cant understand how a
printer which worked when I mothballed it suddenly doesn't work when I
tried to put it back in service.