printer usb hassels

[Guest]

I have a hp deskjet540 b/w inkjet printer. Although this printer only has a
parallel port, I have purchased a parallel to usb cable so that I can
connect it to my new computer which doesn't have a parallel port.

The trouble is that every time I plug the printer usb cable in and send
documents to the printer it fails to print. Sometimes the printer queue is
in offline mode and switching it off offline mode causes error in printing
to be displayed in the queue monitor.

I have been throught the help troubleshooter and thought I had cured the
problem by plugging and unplugging the usb cable until it properly detects
the hardware. However now when I unplug and replug the system treats it like
its new hardware and wants to install it again. Grrrr.

When I do manage to get it working after much hassle it works fine, until
the next time I plug it in.

 

[Rich Barry]

Give this a Try
Disconnect all the USB devices. Then rt click MyComputer select
Properties>Hardware>Device Mananger>USB Controllers. Rt click each one and
choose Uninstall. Remove the Printer Software from Add/Remove Programs in
Control Panel. Restart and reinstall the Software and wait until it asks you
if the Printer is connected

 

[smlunatick]

I have a hp deskjet540 b/w inkjet printer. Although this printer only has a
parallel port, I have purchased a parallel to usb cable so that I can
connect it to my new computer which doesn't have a parallel port.

The trouble is that every time I plug the printer usb cable in and send
documents to the printer it fails to print. Sometimes the printer queue is
in offline mode and switching it off offline mode causes error in printing
to be displayed in the queue monitor.

I have been throught the help troubleshooter and thought I had cured the
problem by plugging and unplugging the usb cable until it properly detects
the hardware. However now when I unplug and replug the system treats it like
its new hardware and wants to install it again. Grrrr.

When I do manage to get it working after much hassle it works fine, until
the next time I plug it in.

You seem to be describing an issue with poorly developed USB drivers.
You need to know that whenever a USB device is connected, the USB port
will "assign" it an unique USB ID number. Every USB port maintains it
own ID list and will remember the device ids for the devices that were
installed previously. However, the USB device drviers need to be
written in a way that the drivers can see the previous installs, which
are not always the "case."

To avoid this, there are only two "possible" ways:

1) Select a USB port and "dedicate" this port for your printer.
Always reconnect the USB-parallel adapter to this port. If you do not
have enough USB ports so as to dedicate one, look at adding a powered
USB hub. USB hubs give you more ports.

2) Replace the printer with a newer printer. Usually, newer printers
offer better print quality and print speeds. Several printers also
offier additional feature such as "removable media slots" (picture
quality printers) or "scanner/fax" options (multi-functions.)