Adding printers through a switchbox

[Kevin]

I just recently bought a new Dell laptop computer with Windows XP. I
upgraded from an older Dell laptop that had a parallel printer port. The new
one only has 4 USB ports and 1 Serial port, as well as some other ports
(firewire, etc). Since a USB to male DB25 printer cable does not seem to
exist (which is what I need to connect a Belkin switchbox to the computer), I
had to us a USB to male DB9 and then add the appropriate adapter (DB9 to
DB25).

Now I have the USB hooked to the switchbox, and then from the switchbox I
have 2 printers hooked up; a HP Officejet T45 and a HP Laserjet 4+. Since
this does not appear to be plug and play, I assume I have to install them
manually. After going through the Installation Wizard, it seems to install
the driver properly, but it will not print. Is this a configuration problem?
It assigns the printer to LPT1, but how do I know if I have the correct USB
port hooked up or does it matter? Very confused....

[GTS]

What you're trying to do is a long shot. Switch boxes, in general, are not
so good with plug and play hardware and trying this way of USB to parallel
is very unlikely to work. I suggest getting a proper USB to Parallel
adaptor so both printers can be connected directly to the laptop. See this
link for one such item -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812107912
--

"Kevin" > wrote in message
...
>I just recently bought a new Dell laptop computer with Windows XP. I
> upgraded from an older Dell laptop that had a parallel printer port. The
> new
> one only has 4 USB ports and 1 Serial port, as well as some other ports
> (firewire, etc). Since a USB to male DB25 printer cable does not seem to
> exist (which is what I need to connect a Belkin switchbox to the
> computer), I
> had to us a USB to male DB9 and then add the appropriate adapter (DB9 to
> DB25).
>
> Now I have the USB hooked to the switchbox, and then from the switchbox I
> have 2 printers hooked up; a HP Officejet T45 and a HP Laserjet 4+. Since
> this does not appear to be plug and play, I assume I have to install them
> manually. After going through the Installation Wizard, it seems to
> install
> the driver properly, but it will not print. Is this a configuration
> problem?
> It assigns the printer to LPT1, but how do I know if I have the correct
> USB
> port hooked up or does it matter? Very confused....

[Hal Hostetler [MVP-P/I]]

Adding a little to the first reply, Centronics 36 pin male cable to DB25
port adapters do exist:

http://sewelldirect.com/parallelprinteradaptercen36ftodb25m.asp
Parallel Printer Adapter (CEN36 Female to DB25 Male)

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE --
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-P/I -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Still Cadillacin' - www.badnewsbluesband.com

"Kevin" > wrote in message
...
>I just recently bought a new Dell laptop computer with Windows XP. I
> upgraded from an older Dell laptop that had a parallel printer port. The
> new
> one only has 4 USB ports and 1 Serial port, as well as some other ports
> (firewire, etc). Since a USB to male DB25 printer cable does not seem to
> exist (which is what I need to connect a Belkin switchbox to the
> computer), I
> had to us a USB to male DB9 and then add the appropriate adapter (DB9 to
> DB25).
>
> Now I have the USB hooked to the switchbox, and then from the switchbox I
> have 2 printers hooked up; a HP Officejet T45 and a HP Laserjet 4+. Since
> this does not appear to be plug and play, I assume I have to install them
> manually. After going through the Installation Wizard, it seems to
> install
> the driver properly, but it will not print. Is this a configuration
> problem?
> It assigns the printer to LPT1, but how do I know if I have the correct
> USB
> port hooked up or does it matter? Very confused....