Re: [PCWorks] Converter/adapter from parallel printer port to USB port
- From: "Clint Hamilton-PCWorks Admin" <PCWorks@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "PCWorks@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <pcworks@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 06:42:47 -0600
(Careful about putting "triple X" in emails, most people are
going to have that filtered and won't receive the post. I
changed it in your email).
That info is good and many will find it useful, as Hugh pointed
out it would have been easier to install a parallel port (PP)
card. But sometimes one doesn't have a PCI or PCI-express slot
available and these adapter cables are their only option.
What you said about USB ports can be confusing to some. Not
how you said it, but the fact it exists. You have to look in
the mobo manual to find out which USB ports have the +5Vsb
(this can also sometimes be changed in the BIOS or via jumper).
I hate USB devices. I was "forced" to get a USB printer when I
needed to get a new PP printer and it's SEVERAL times slower.
Not the actual printing, but getting a "command" to it. My
printers would always INSTANTLY start to print. It's like with
USB, they get "confused" on what to do, have to "think about
it", and stick the data in the Spooler for 30+ seconds before
they start to print.
USB takes GOBS of resources to use. They take anywhere from
12-25 (that's TWELVE to TWENTY-FIVE) times more CPU resources
than FireWire. I was recently testing USB and FW enclosures
and FW would be in the area of 1-3% CPU usage, where USB would
be 25% or more. And as I've always found out, FW was always
about 30% faster than USB. (And FW800, 1394b, is even much
faster than that).
Contrary to the specs ON PAPER, USB is also a good bit slower
than FW. USB erroneously claims 480Mb/sec (60MB/sec) and FW
(FW400, 1394a) states only 400Mb/sec (50MB/sec). But because
of the massive USB overhead, FW is faster once you start using
it! Intel and M$ would lead you believe otherwise. They are
in a conspiracy to kill FW (*which they proved as per a recent
post of mine*). I don't believe Intel even makes a FW chip,
but they make loads of USB chips (embedded and for add-on
cards).
Our USB-connected digicams, video cameras, stick devices, flash
drives, etc., etc., would all be much faster if they were being
made in the FW interface. But because of Intel and M$, and
Intel's (and others') refusal to put FW chips on their platform
mobo's, we're stuck with antiquated obsolete USB. (USB 3.0 is
a big disappointment so far).
*M$ purposely killed FW800/1394b after a Service Pack for XP, I
think it was SP2. After upgrading, your FW800 devices instead
of running S800, they ran S100!!!!!!!!! That's right, much
slower than even FW400/1934a! (Vista also has this problem).
I found this out when I tried to use a FW800 external HD
enclosure. But with the correct Registry tweaks AND the RIGHT
3rd-party DRIVERS, this can be fixed, or at least FW800 devices
can made to be a good bit faster than FW400. Because of this
M$ stunt, and Intel's refusal or at the least unwillingness to
put FW chips on their mobo's, FW is unfortunately dying out.
But there are FW800 PCI-* cards available anywhere from ~$25 on
up. So let's not let FW800 die out! (FMI, the post is
//www.freelists.org/post/pcworks/Fix-Whats-the-fix-for-getting-1394b-firewire-800-to-work-on-XP-SP3
and 4 other associated posts on the page
//www.freelists.org/archive/pcworks/02-2010 ).
-Clint
God Bless,
Clint Hamilton, Owner
http://www.OrpheusComputing.com
http://www.ComputersCustomBuilt.com
http://www.OrpheusComputing.com/cheap_reliable_web_hosting.html
http://www.OrpheusComputing.com/PCworks-computer-help-email-list.html
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Grossman"
I'd like to share a recent experience.
I didn't want to get rid of my ancient HP LaserJet 6L when I
bought my new
computer, but the new motherboard does not have a parallel
port.
I think I can picture the story behind eliminating the parallel
ports in the
new motherboards. The big boss at Intel probably said, "I
bought a new USB
printer, so now everybody else has to buy one too." At the same
time, the VP
of Intel's Scratch My Back and I'll Scratch Yours Department
made a deal
with HP and Epson: "For every new board we sell, we'll make
them buy another
printer from you."
I searched for and bought a Centronix bidirectional to USB 1284
adapter
cable for about $9.
My new adapter cable may also be useful for those who want to
use their
parallel port for a different printer, or for those who want to
reserve the
parallel port for one of the older Zip drives, without using a
switch box or
print server.
Setting up this cable is NOT for the faint of heart. There is
no
documentation for the cable - not even in the the
manufacturer's pathetic
website.
If any of you would like to use a similar converter cable, let
me offer you
some tips.
Your computer has different kinds of USB ports (depending on
whether it is
connected directly to the motherboard or with an extra internal
cable or
connection). Your new USB/Parallel cable works better with the
stronger
connections. In a desktop computer, those strong connections
are in the
back.
Before installing your printer, plug in the cable, and let it
install.
That's right, the cable itself has to install before you can
install the
printer. You can watch the installation progress on the bottom
of your
Windows screen.
Next, set your wizard for a virtual USB printer port. (Aha.
It's a VIRTUAL
port. That explains how a parallel printer can work on a serial
port!).
Let the computer check Windows Update for a recent version of
your printer
driver.
Windows Update may make a mistake (it did for me) and suggest
that I update
other Windows components instead of my printer. Deal with it.
Your printer may not work the first time you set it up. Or the
second time.
Or the third time. Or the XXth time. Keep trying. Cancel your
appointments.
Tell your guests to go away. You'll be able to set it up
eventually.
Save the tips in this email. They are the only documentation
you will ever
find for this kind of cable.
David Grossman
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