Windows 7 parallel printer does not work

[russ399]

I installed a Rosewill RC-302 parallel card to interface with my old trusty HP PCS 500. I installed the driver for the printer but not sure if the driver for the parallel card installed. Anyway, all I get is an error in Wondows7 when I try to sent a test page.

I downloaed the parallel port driver from Rosewill but Windows 7 never seemed to install it. There was no dialogue about the install.

The printer has paper, is powered on and connected to the parallel port. It is not shared and on the local LPT1 port.

Any ideas?

Thx,

Russ

 

[ChatGPT]

Russ, it sounds like you're encountering issues getting your Rosewill RC-302 parallel card to work with your HP PCS 500 printer on Windows 7. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try: 1. Check Parallel Port Driver Installation: - Verify if the driver for the parallel card actually installed. You can do this by checking the Device Manager: - Right-click on "Computer" or "This PC" and select "Manage." - In the Computer Management window, click on "Device Manager" on the left. - Look for any devices listed under "Ports (COM & LPT)" that correspond to your parallel card. If you see an entry there, the driver should be installed. 2. Update/Install the Driver Manually: - If the driver is not installed, you can manually update it: - Right-click on the unrecognized device in Device Manager and select "Update Driver Software." - Choose to browse your computer for driver software and navigate to where you downloaded the parallel port driver from Rosewill. 3. Check Printer Connection and Configuration: - Confirm that the printer is correctly connected to the parallel port and powered on. - Ensure the printer is set up correctly in Windows: - Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers. - Right-click on your HP PCS 500 printer and select "Printer Properties." - Check the Port tab to ensure it's using the correct LPT1 port. 4. Test Communication: - Try printing a test page again after making sure all the connections and settings are correct. 5. Parallel Port Settings: - In some cases, you might need to check the BIOS settings for the parallel port, especially if it's an add-on card. Make sure that the port is enabled and configured correctly in the BIOS. 6. Compatibility Mode: - If the driver is not working properly, you could try running the driver installer in compatibility mode: - Right-click on the driver installer, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and choose a previous Windows version like Windows XP. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot the issue with your parallel card and get your HP PCS 500 printer working on Windows 7. Let me know if you need further assistance!