Using hardware devices Problem description: I have an HP Officejet Pro L7680 printer connected via USB to my MAC using the MAC driver successfully in my host OS. I have attached my printer to the virtual machine 2 ways... by enabling & connecting the Parallel Port & using the built in HP Color Laserjet virtual driver & by enabling my virtual USB port & installing the HP Driver for my printer into windows XP. I am having two problems: In my virtual machine application, such as Quicken 2008, if I choose the Parallel Port Printer Driver, printing works most of the time but occasionally comes out garbled because of the printer emulation. When I choose the HP USB Driver I installed in windows XP, the printing is always correct, but often the printer, while recognized, fails to print UNLESS I unplug my printer cable from the USB port & then replug. If I do this, invariably my printer works in windows once again. I have two questions: First, Am I able to enable BOTH the Parallel Port & the USB Port Printer in the Virtual Machine & then choose one or the other or must I disable one for the other to work? Is there any reason, perhaps a setting, that causes me to have to unplug & then replug my USB Printer cable in the virtual machine to get it to work?
2 both questions I suppose the better solution is to use shared Mac printer as described in Parallels Desktop for Mac user guide from http://www.parallels.com/en/download/file/doc/Parallels_Desktop_for_Mac_User_Guide.pdf on page 135
Thanks John, In a sense, I have already done this & that is the source of my first question of the two. I was finding that, while the parallel port solution was working, at times the print came out garbled when I used Quicken 2008 in Windows. I assumed the reason was the HP Color Laser Print Driver was not emulating my HP Inkjet All in One printer very well (HP Officejet Pro L7680). Because I occasionally had poor results with the Parallel solution, I opted to ALSO install my printer using the USB option. As per my query above, I now find that BOTH options (drivers) are available to me in my Windows Guest OS. However, when I choose the Parallel Port HP Color Laserjet Driver option, my print sometimes (not always) comes out garbled and when I choose my correct HP printer driver through USB the print comes out correct ALL the time, but I usually have to unplug & replug my printer USB cable for the printer to be recognized in windows (the same printer is ALWAYS recognized in my Host MAC OS without having to unplug my cable). BYW, in setting up my USB connection I have turned ON the "Connect to Guest OS" option so that is not an issue above. John, Given the above, my same two questions remain open... Can I have BOTH the Parallel Port & USB Printer options enabled in my Guest OS at the same time with both Drivers (HP Color Laserjet & HP Officejet Pro L7680) available? And, if so, is there any reason why I must unplug & replug my USB cable to get my printer to work in my Guest OS or why the Parallel Port option sometimes does not emulate my native MAC printer Driver very well? Thanks!
Ok, got it, As far as I can understand this is network printer, Perhaps you can try network printer installation, and configure both in Mac OS and in Windows as Network printer
John, You are right... my printer is a network printer but I have not set it up that way on either the MAC or Windows side. However, since my printer is working fine on the MAC side using my USB drivers, it would still be helpful to know if I can use either or both the Parallel or USB options in my Guest OS. I would rather not use the network option, except as a last resort, because my MAC USB setup is working well. Is there any way to know if BOTH the Parallel & USB options can coexist in Windows? If one must be disabled, which do you recommend? And, if it is possible to use the Parallel or USB options or both, is there any workaround for having to plug & unplug for the USB option or to get a more perfect emulation for the Parallel option. Thanks!
They can coexist, but when you need printer in Parallels you need to connect it to VM, using Devices menu - USB and when you need it in Mac yo need to disconnect it
Still having printer concerns John, Although this issue has been addressed earlier, I continue to have concerns. I have submitted a "help request" but am also addressing in this forum. As of now I have setup my printer (HP Officejet Pro L7680) in my Guest OS two ways... I have activated the virtual Parallel Port using the HP Color Laserjet Driver & I have activated the virtual USB Port & loaded my native HP Officejet Windows Driver into my Guest OS. BOTH Printer Driver options are displayed in my Guest OS and both options are currently activated. BTW, I am using the same printer in the MAC Host OS using the built in MAC driver & I have no problems on the MAC side. I have been able to get BOTH options to work in my Guest OS. However, I have some problems with either option. When I attempt to use the USB Driver (HP Officejet) option in Windows, once connected the print is OK, However, each time I use the USB option in Windows I must first unplug my printer cable from the MAC USB port & then replug. Once I do that, the printer works fine for the rest of my Windows session. On the other hand, I can use the virtual Parallel Port option with the HP Color Laserjet Driver in windows WITHOUT having to first unplug my cable each time. However, the print emulation is sometimes garbled (not always) with this option with the print coming out too small to read. Again, I have been able to get my printer to work in my Windows Guest OS... but is there any work around to fix my issues with either option? Please note I have not resorted to the network option because I am using wireless networking on the MAC side & the Officejet is not a wireless printer... i would rather not go through the complexities of also activating a network option if I can avoid this. I also did not try the Bonjour option because that option, too, uses an emulated printer driver & I am concerned I would have the same emulation issues I have with the virtual Parallel Port. Thanks.
You described the correct behavior in Parallels Desktop version 3, Unfortunately for now there is no other options
Thanks again John. I suggest you consider a fix for the next release of Parallels as this behavior is counter to what you would expect when following the instructions for the four printer options described in the Parallels Desktop 3 user guide. The Parallel Port option should provide a consistent emulation of your MAC Printer Driver when using the virtual HP Color Laserjet Driver & the USB Printer Option should work without having to unplug & replug your printer cable provided you turn on the "Connect to Guest OS" option in USB Configuration. Thanks!
