parallel ports in XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeff Malka
  • Start date Start date
J

Jeff Malka

I have been told there is a problem with XP support for parallel ports. I
have a printer attached to a parallel port, This printer does not have a
USB connection. What problems can I expect?

Thanks.
 
Jeff said:
I have been told there is a problem with XP support for parallel ports. I
have a printer attached to a parallel port, This printer does not have a
USB connection. What problems can I expect?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

What do the people who tell you about these problems have to say about this?
 
I haven't experienced any problems with printing over the parallel port. If
you prefer a USB connection you can purchase a parallel-to-USB cable.

Mike Mulligan
 
Hi Jeff, you shouldn't expect any problems as long as you have the most
current driver for your printer. I've had a printer and zip drive connected
via parallel in the past on my XP machine and never had any issues with
either.
 
Greetings --

You'll have to ask those who've told you of these "alleged"
problems. I've certainly never encountered any.

Bruce Chambers

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Jeff said:
I have been told there is a problem with XP support for parallel ports. I
have a printer attached to a parallel port, This printer does not have a
USB connection. What problems can I expect?
Click to expand...

A printer should be fine - that is an expected use of a printer port.

The troubles arise with things like scanners and zip drives that were
connected through such ports. The drivers for them were usually written
using techniques that XP will flatly not permit; often indeed in 16 bit
code. And with the advent of USB the makers of the devices are not
providing drivers for what they see as obsolete hardware. If there is a
driver for Win2000 it is worth trying, but ones for Win98 will probably
not be accepted
 
Something called the "spooler" is what makes it possible to go back to using
your computer while a print job is in progress. Basically, the spooler sets
up the print job 'in the background' and sends it off to the printer.

Mike Mulligan
 
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