Question 1

I have an IBM C55 computer that has a parallel printer port.  Can I use this cable with a USB printer?  Thanks.

Accepted Answer

I am not familiar with the IBM C55 computer.  But the cable works with Windows XP or Windows 7 operating system.

It takes 5 minutes to install:
1.Have both computer and printer turned off.
2.Attach cable to the computer end of the existing Centronics/IEEE1284 cable.  Have both ends of both cables connected (to the PC and to the printer).  
3.Turn on the PC.  (It goes through its USB port check). Log on (if PC is password protected). 
4.Turn on the printer.  The USB cable registers the printer as “Unknown Device, IEEE1284.”  Just X out of message. 
5.In Devices and Printers:
a.Add a Printer
b.Local Printer
c.Change existing port to USB001 (from default LPT001 or whatever)
d.Find the proper driver in the list, or go through the Windows Update for additional drivers (it has just about every HP printer).
e.Make the printer selection and print the test page.

Question 2

the USB adapter needs to connect an old HP ink jet printer that has a parallel port to a new HP tower..port  Is this an adapter that will do that??thanks

Accepted Answer

I connected an old HP LaserJet 4Plus to a Windows 7 Pro PC, using this cable.   Here was my installation = less than 5 minutes:

Make sure you have the HP printer driver for your OS, and install it on the PC.

I attached this cable to the computer-end (DB 25M) of the existing Centronics/IEEE1284 cable.  Both Win 7 PC and Printer were turned off.  I attached the Tripp Lite cable to the PC.  Turned on PC.  Logged on.  Then turned on printer.  The USB device registered itself as an “Unknown Device”, IEEE1284.

I then went to Add a printer, local printer, set port to USB001 (virtual port to printer).  It readily accepted the setting, and I already had installed the HP drivers on the PC.  I made the printer selection, and printed a test page.  All works well for over a year now.

Question 3

Rick C:

Will this adapter cable be compatible with Windows 8.1 and an old HP ScanJet 5100C?

Accepted Answer

It's not the cable you worry about the compatibility. Cable itself is only a brainless converter. What matters is if your printer has the driver for Windows 8.1. Once you installed the cable, your computer will think if your printer is connected to it through a straight USB cable. The computer doesn't know there is this USB-Parallel converter. Then if you can't find an appropriate driver for Windows 8.1 to install, it's not because of the cable, but the printer manufacture haven't developed or stopped developing a newer driver for newer operating system. Hope that helps.

Question 4

Will this product work with a computer running Windows 8?

Accepted Answer

It completely depends on the printer you are connecting to it. The cable simply provides an interface between the computer/operating system and the printer. If the printer works with Windows 8 then it should work with this cable. If the printer is not compatible then it doesn't matter which cable you use, it wont work.

Question 5

Using this cable, will the parallel port function as bi-directional? I want to use it on a PIC Programmer that has a parallel output.

Accepted Answer

I installed the adapter between my Windows 8 64-bit computer and my HP Laserjet 2100 printer, using HP's Windows 8 driver for that printer.  The printer accurately informs the computer if jobs are pending, so I assume that traffic goes both ways without difficulty, although clearly yours will be more traffic than what I have experienced.

Question 6

Well, I purchased this with hopes that it would allow me to print from a DOS program on my new Windows 7 ( in 32 bit mode) machine. Is the answer is no?

Accepted Answer

If the DOS program can be run on Windows 7, its printout should be able to go to a parallel printer that is connected via this adapter cable.

I attached this cable to the computer-end (DB 25M) of the existing Centronics/IEEE1284 cable.  Both Win 7 PC and Printer were turned off.  I attached the cable to both.  Turned on PC.  Logged on.  Then turned on printer.  This USB device registered itself as an “Unknown Device”, IEEE1284.

I then went to Add a printer, local printer, set port to USB001 (virtual port to printer).  It readily accepted the setting, and I already had installed the printer drivers on the PC.  I made the printer selection, and printed a test page.  All works well with the cable.

Good Luck!

Question 7

Does this work with a ZIP drive?

Accepted Answer

My techie in IT says:
The term Zip drive got switched over the last 5 years. Zip drives used to be something that worked with removable disks (like large floppy disks). This was back before CD reader/writer drives. Some of the Zip drives were external and would work with a cable that connected to the serial or parallel interface.

The question seems valid and I don't have a real answer. It MIGHT work with the external Zip drive.

Today I see people calling USB drives zip drives or thumb drives. I also hear USB stick or flash drives used.

I know, it's confusing. Not sure if any of this helps.

Questions & Answers