[null, {"document_url": "https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/operate-parallel-port-printers-usb-ports-1673.html", "unformatted_src": "images/left_arrow.png", "src": "https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/images/left_arrow.png", "formatted_filename": "left arrow"}, null, {"document_url": "https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/operate-parallel-port-printers-usb-ports-1673.html", "unformatted_src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/100x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/146/119/82821222_XS.jpg", "src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/100x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/146/119/82821222_XS.jpg", "formatted_filename": "XS"}, {"document_url": "https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/operate-parallel-port-printers-usb-ports-1673.html", "unformatted_src": "images/right_arrow.png", "src": "https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/images/right_arrow.png", "formatted_filename": "right arrow"}, null, {"document_url": "https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/operate-parallel-port-printers-usb-ports-1673.html", "unformatted_src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/100x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/181/125/BES_038_XS.jpg", "src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/100x100/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/181/125/BES_038_XS.jpg", "formatted_filename": "BES XS"}, null, {"document_url": "https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/operate-parallel-port-printers-usb-ports-1673.html", "unformatted_src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/560x560/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/81/132/87630961.jpg", "src": "https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/560x560/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/81/132/87630961.jpg", "alt_text": "New computers often lack a parallel port to connect to older printers."}, null]
How to Use a Router to Make a Printer a Wireless Printer How to Operate Parallel Port Printers from USB Ports

by Shala Munroe 
Many modern printers have USB connections, but older printers used parallel ports to communicate with computers. There's no reason to discard a working printer because it has a parallel port instead of a USB port. Instead, buy a converter cable that has a parallel connection on one end and a USB connection on the other. This allows your laptop or a computer that lacks a parallel port to connect to the printer in a few simple steps.


Turn off your printer, but leave your computer turned on.


Plug the USB end of the converter cable into your computer. Do not attach the parallel cable from the printer yet.


Insert the CD that came with the adapter cable into the CD drive on your computer. Click "Next" and "Finish" when prompted to install the adapter driver.


Plug the parallel port end of the adapter into the printer cable. Turn on the printer.


Click the Start button and select "Devices and Printers." Choose "Add a Printer," then "Add a Local Printer."


Click "Use an Existing Port" and "Next." This should take you to a page that allows you to select your printer's make and model to install the driver. If your printer isn't listed, insert the printer's driver CD into your computer and click "Have Disk" and "Next."


Select "Finish" to complete the installation.


Open a document to be printed and choose "File" and "Print." Select the parallel printer from the drop-down list and press "Print" to use the printer from your computer's USB port.




