C2G 16899 USB To DB25 Parallel Printer Adapter Cable, Beige (6 Feet, 1.82 Meters)

One of my computers was destroyed in an electrical mishap. After rebuilding a new system, I realized the my new motherboard had no parallel port. None of my computers except for the laptops had parallel ports, so I was stuck -- my rock-solid high-quality workhorse printer for the past 10+ years, an HP LaserJet 6MP, had no computer to connect to. Argh!I found this product - "Cables To Go 16899 6 Feet Usb To Db25 Ieee Parallel Printer Adapter". It mentioned "Windows drivers" so I wasn't too hopeful about it working under Linux (Kubuntu). But it was so cheap, I figured I'd give it a whirl. If it worked, I won the lottery. If not, I was only out (...).Well, it worked like a charm. I connected the USB connection to the back of the computer, and the Parallel connection to the printer. Loaded up the CUPS admin page and to my shock and amazement, CUPS listed an "HP LaserJet 6MP" as a local printer connected via a USB interface. Wow!!! I was able to print a test page immediately. No tinkering. No configuring. It just worked. Period. Linux rocks! I marked the printer as the "default" printer, and restarted Samba.My Windows XP laptops found the new printer share immediately, and were all able to print to the LaserJet share from the Linux box. My smb.conf still mentions "lp" (the old name of the printer; the new name is something like HP_LaserJet_6MP) in the printer commands:# Printlpq command = /usr/bin/lpq -Plp %slprm command = /usr/bin/lprm -Plp %jqueuepause command = /usr/sbin/lpc -Plp startprintcap name = cupsprinting = cupsso I don't quite understand how it works -- maybe KDE/CUPS override printing commands? Or maybe the "lpq command," "lprm command," etc are only for BSD lpd and are ignored for CUPS printing. I dunno. But everything works.I am quite pleased (and relieved that I don't have to buy a new printer).

I just got a new computer with Windows 7. For my business I use an ANCIENT dot matrix printer to print out checks. The new computer has no 24-pin plug, of course, so I needed a USB adapter. This one had good reviews...ordered it. It arrived in just a couple of days and I got to work hooking it up (needed to print checks!). At first I was worried because while the adapter was in transit I tried downloading the driver for my early 1980s Epson. Got an error message from Windows 7 saying it couldn't install the downloaded driver. Uh-oh.Cable arrived and I plugged it in. Windows immediately recognized my printer as a generic USB device. In the Devices and Drivers window, I clicked on add a printer. My model was not in the available Epson driver list that came up, so I chose the oldest, most basic generic dot-matrix driver listed for Epson. It installed and I tried to print. Didn't work. Uh-oh again. Fumbled around trying a few different things that didn't solve the problem. Finally, I right clicked on the Epson icon in the Devices and Printers window. Chose Printer Properties, went to the Ports tab, LPT1 was highlighted. Scrolled down and changed it to USB001 Virtual Printer Port. Saved and VOILA - was able to print my checks with no problems whatsoever. Works like a dream. Cable also looks sturdy and well put together. I'm extremely satisfied and grateful to have found a solution.Note: The directions that come with the cable direct you to change the printer port as I did above, but it took me a while to figure it out because the directions are written for earlier versions of Windows so the steps are a bit different to get to the right place. BTW, LOVE Windows 7, but keep in mind that while most older programs will run on it, you may have to buy newer versions of an occasional one - I had to buy a new version of Quickbooks Pro (a program I use, but only grudgingly because Intuit is truly a horrible company to deal with).

I purchased this cable because I just recently upgraded to a new PC without a standard parallel port connection and running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. The instructions do not say this cable is compatible with any version of Windows 7, but I got to work with little difficulty (Windows 7 users see below for some tips).Note: to confirm your older printer is compatible with Windows 7, goto this page at the Microsoft website and make sure you have the correct version of Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit) selected before you begin your search: [...]After unfolding the one page instrutions with miniscule print that came with the cable, I used the "Add a Printer" function from the control panel. I then clicked "Add a Local Printer" and from the drop down list chose "USB001 (Virtual Printer port for USB)" and clicked "Next". NOTE: THE PRINTER CABLE INSTRUCTIONS SAY TO SELECT LPT1 AS THE PORT TO USE AND THEN TO LATER MANUALLY SWITCH THE PRINTER TO USE PORT USB001, BUT WHEN I TRIED THIS THE FIRST TIME I ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL THE PRINTER, THE PRINTER DID NOT INSTALL CORRECTLY. ALSO NOTE: IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER DEVICE ALREADY USING USB001 YOU WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE USB002 OR HIGHER FROM THE DROP DOWN MENU.On the next window I chose to share the printer with others on my network and clicked "Next". A window should appear asking if you want to print a test page. AT THIS POINT, PLUG IN YOUR PRINTER. After a few seconds a message should appear stating, "Installing Device Driver Software" followed by "Device Installed". You can now print a test page to confirm everything is working.Note: On the instructions it says to right click the printer icon in the Control Panel and select "Properties" and click the "Ports" tab, but IN WINDOWS 7 YOU NEED TO RIGHT CLICK THE PRINTER AND SELECT "PRINTER PROPERTIES," to get to the ports tab.When I wnt to Printer Properties and clicked on the "Ports" tab as instructed I saw the failed printer installation associated with port "LPT 1" and the correctly installed printer associated with port "USB001". To remove the failed printer I simply RIGHT clicked the printer icon in the Control Panel and selected "Remove Device." The printer did not diappear from the list of installed printers however until I pressed the F5 key on the keyboard to refresh the window contents and then it had disappeared.