Printer question

**Cyclonepride** · 03-13-2011, 01:44 PM

My wife's old computer just died of old age, but she has a dinosaur printer that works like clockwork. Since my printer is new but inconsistent, and she is moving to my computer, she wants me to connect the old printer to my computer.

The printer has one of those multiple pin cords on it, and my computer doesn't have a matching input. The printer literature says that you can use USB so long as you have Windows 98. Since I have a newer version of Windows than that (Windows 7), will I be able to connect it via USB? Thanks for any help. I don't really want to go through the process of finding a USB and setting it all up if it's not going to work.

**TykeClone** · 03-13-2011, 01:47 PM

Windows 7 has "issues" with some older printers.

Best bet is to search the manufacturer's website for win7 compatibility for that model printer.

**Cy4Patriots** · 03-13-2011, 02:14 PM

Well, if you had Windows 7 Ultimate, you could run a virtual XP machine and run it from there.

**khehr** · 03-13-2011, 02:42 PM

Or, you could save yourself the headache and buy a new printer. Always need to weight, the "how much is my time worth" option.

**3TrueFans** · 03-13-2011, 02:43 PM

Printers are the spawn of Satan himself.

**CyCrazy** · 03-13-2011, 02:46 PM

Office Space that thing....

**Cyclonepride** · 03-13-2011, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by khehr

Or, you could save yourself the headache and buy a new printer. Always need to weight, the "how much is my time worth" option.

How much is my time worth to my wife?

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

Printers are the spawn of Satan himself.

I agree

Originally Posted by CyCrazy

Office Space that thing....

I've actually done that. I couldn't beat it hard enough to make up for my frustration.

I went through the add a printer thing, and found a driver. Works fine. First time for everything.

**IcSyU** · 03-13-2011, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

I couldn't beat it hard enough to make up for my frustration.

Can't say I've ever had this problem.

**Wesley** · 03-13-2011, 02:57 PM

Did she have a dot matrix printer?

Hugs4ISU · 03-13-2011, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

My wife's old computer just died of old age, but she has a dinosaur printer that works like clockwork. Since my printer is new but inconsistent, and she is moving to my computer, she wants me to connect the old printer to my computer.

The printer has one of those multiple pin cords on it, and my computer doesn't have a matching input. The printer literature says that you can use USB so long as you have Windows 98. Since I have a newer version of Windows than that (Windows 7), will I be able to connect it via USB? Thanks for any help. I don't really want to go through the process of finding a USB and setting it all up if it's not going to work.

The "multiple pin cord" is called a parallel connector. If the printer also has a USB connector, just plug it into your computer and see if it works. It likely will not be "plug and play" (which means that Windows 7 won't see it and automagically work with it). But, after some manual software configuring, it should work fine.

**TykeClone** · 03-14-2011, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Hugs4ISU

The "multiple pin cord" is called a parallel connector.

If the printer is bragging about being "windows 98 compatible," it's possible that the cable is actually a serial cable

In all seriousness - they actually did make printers that used serial communications.

**Agkistrodon** · 03-14-2011, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by Cy4Patriots

Well, if you had Windows 7 Ultimate, you could run a virtual XP machine and run it from there.

You can do this with Professional and Enterprise as well. Actually, Home Premium is the only version that does not allow this.

**cloneluke80** · 03-14-2011, 09:31 PM

it probably can be done, I have fudged stuff like this in the past. however it is spotty and not a guarantee.. if you want to get crazy hook it up to the old computer as a print server running linux with cups... or yeah, back to the whole "how much is my time worth" question...