Member Avatar for houseape

Hey,

Can anyone tell me what is the correct PC Card for transferring my parallel printer to an USB Printer, so I do not have to have two printers to print documents with?

Thanks...

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Quick clarification first — as asked, the important question is which end is USB and which is parallel. That determines the right hardware. ’s original wording is ambiguous, and ’s suggestion (an adapter cable) is one of the common fixes — but it only applies to one specific direction.

USB uses a host/device model. If your printer is a parallel (IEEE‑1284 / DB‑25) printer and your computer has USB, an active USB‑to‑parallel adapter cable can work: it contains electronics that present the old printer as a USB device to the PC. Those cables are inexpensive but not universally compatible (multifunction printers, scanners, and some manufacturer‑specific printers often fail). If instead your printer is USB‑only and your PC/laptop only has a parallel port, you cannot convert the printer by a simple cable — you must add a USB host to the computer (desktop PCI USB card, or for older laptops a PC Card/ExpressCard USB adapter) or use a network print server.

Practical checklist before buying:

  • Identify which device is USB and which is parallel (look at connectors: USB Type A/B vs DB‑25).
  • Note the OS and printer model; check adapter/vendor compatibility and drivers.
  • Prefer an “active” converter (chipset inside) — avoid passive cables that just rewire pins.
  • If you want many PCs to use one printer, consider a small network print server or share the printer from a host PC instead of per‑machine adapters.
  • Troubleshooting: try the manufacturer driver first, check the assigned printer port in OS, test with a generic driver, and confirm the adapter is powered/recognized in Device Manager.

Short recommendation: if you only need one old parallel printer on a USB PC, try an active USB‑to‑parallel adapter (verify compatibility). If your PC lacks USB, add a USB host via a PC Card/PCI card or use a network print server — those options are more reliable than hoping a single cable will solve a port‑type mismatch.

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Member Avatar for Catweazle

Could you clarify please?

Are you trying to connect a parallel printer port on your PC to a USB printer? If not what exactly are you trying to connect.

Also, could you describe your current setup there? You've mentioned two printers. Do you have more than one PC? If so, are they netorked together, and if so, by what means?

Member Avatar for Lurch

Would an adaptor cable such as this work for you?

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