Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: RodM on April 06, 2010, 09:36:39 AM
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I have a Dell XPS system running Win. XP Media Center. I have an old HP LaserJet 4 printer running from the parallel port. After a lightening storm my parallel printer port stopped working. The printer runs normally with another computer so I know its not the printer. I need to know if I can connect the printer through the serial port. My computer has a nine pin male serial port and the LaserJet has a 25 pin female serial port. Do I just switch the printer port setting from LPT1 to COM1, and where can I get the correct serial cable? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Another option would be a USB to parallel adapter. Several companies sell them.
Several years ago I used a HP LJ 4's serial port to print out results from mostly HP test equipment and that worked fine. But I seem to remember some quirks to using the serial port with non HP devices.
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Look for an HP JetDirect internal card for the printer or a JetDirect Converter box which converts the printer to ethernet. Then you just plug it into the router and install the JetDirect driver software. I've got a 300x and it works great. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetdirect