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How to make 2 printers work.... [Archive] - PCMech Forums
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tempus
11-01-2006, 05:45 AM
I have two printers that share a virtual USB printer port and I want to have it set up so I can switch printers when necessary. As it is now both are connected to by their own usb cable to my computer but I still need to switch a cable if i want to switch printer.:)
ktkendall
11-01-2006, 08:11 AM
Can you not have 2 usb printer ports in XP?
tempus
11-01-2006, 12:41 PM
Can you not have 2 usb printer ports in XP?
Well that is what I thought but after looking at the port there is only 1 virtual USB printer port.
EzyStvy
11-01-2006, 01:15 PM
I'm note sure what a virtual USB printer port does, but why are you using it if both printers are connected to the pc?
Ob1
11-01-2006, 01:50 PM
Virtual Printer Port
The connection to a printer over the network. Creating a virtual printer port really means assigning the computer a printer protocol with the port physically being the network connection

can be located by right clicking a printer, choosing properties, then the ports tab.

i believe if you plug both printers in via USB, and install the drivers for both that windows will assign the second printer a USB002 virtual printer port for USB.
tempus
11-02-2006, 08:06 AM
Virtual Printer Port
i believe if you plug both printers in via USB, and install the drivers for both that windows will assign the second printer a USB002 virtual printer port for USB.
Yes both printers are plugged in via USB yet when I got to install the driver software for my second printer it does not create a second virtual printer port. Both are on USB connections to the motherboard.
ktkendall
11-02-2006, 08:14 AM
So you are saying you have to plug the printer you actually want to use into the 1 usb port, and either printer will work as long as it's plugged into that one usb port????
glc
11-02-2006, 08:28 AM
If both printers are connected, and they are both in the printers folder and show as ready, you should be able to print to either one simply by selecting it in the print dialog in the program you are printing from. Is this not the case?
tempus
11-02-2006, 09:22 AM
If both printers are connected, and they are both in the printers folder and show as ready, you should be able to print to either one simply by selecting it in the print dialog in the program you are printing from. Is this not the case?
no that is not the case. for some reason only 1 virtual printer port exists.
glc
11-02-2006, 09:24 AM
What are the exact models of the 2 printers?
tempus
11-02-2006, 10:26 AM
What are the exact models of the 2 printers?

Brother HL-2040
HP Deskjet 842

Both on USB.
glc
11-03-2006, 02:55 AM
Put one of them on the parallel port. They both have parallel ports. Just because a printer has USB doesn't mean you HAVE to use it. There's no speed difference.