Printer doesn't work when use usb parallel converter.

Hi craig931, First try downloading the latest driver of your printer and your usb converter compatible for windows 7. Second Checked your device manager if your printer and usb to parallel driver properly installed, it should be there. If not yet installed try using different usb port one at a time until the cable have been detected. Third if you see already the printer port force to change it to USB001 or Com1, then try to print. regards,

You need to make sure you have selected the correct COM port whin you try to print. Depending on the type of USB to serial converter, the COM port it assigns can change just by moving it to another USB port. Right-click on My Computer and select MANAGE. Select Device Manager from the list. Click on the (+) next to PORTS and double-click on your USB-SERIAL device COM port. Somewhere in the Properties window you should be able to see the assigned COM port (COM1, COM2, etc.). If possible, set the COM port to COM1 or COM2 for greatest compatibility with older software. Then when you print, make sure your printer driver is also set to the same COM port.

tvs printer parallel port not working

If you connecting it through USB cable try COM1, COM2 and COM3...If you connecting it through Serial/Parallel cable use LPT ports.

For more help stay connected with us.

Thank you.

Good Luck

I find that a lot of serial to usb or parallel to usb converters do not work due to the fact you can't get bidirectional communication. In every case I have dealt with, the resolution was a dedicated port card to physically install a parallel or serial port in the system.

Try to make the self-test first:
Power OFF
Press "FEED" and keep it pressed and turn the power ON again.
Did it print?! if Yes... There must be a cable problem or port.
Is it USB? Serial? Parallel ?
Let's say it's Parallel, go to the command line and type:
"dir >lpt1"
without the quotes and assuming it's connected to 1st parallel port
did it print?!
on serial would be "dir >com1"
or, if it shows up in "Printers", pre-define it and just type: "dir >prn"
Still doesn't work!?
Try with a different cable, or other computer.
You can use it even without installing the drivers...

You need to manually setup the serial printer, as it probably isn't getting detected via plug n play:

• Go to Start Menu\Printers & Faxes
• Click on the 'File' menu and choose 'Add Printer'
• Click next at the wizard, then select 'Local printer attached to this computer' and leave the 'Detect Plug n Play...' box unchecked, click 'Next'
• Choose the correct serial port (either COM1, COM2, etc), click 'Next'.
  
• Choose the correct printer manufacturer & model to install the correct driver, click 'Next'.
  
• Print a test page, just to make sure it's working
  

Cables are available from a number of sources which will convert from a USB plug for your computer to a serial or parallel connector for your printer. (I don't remember for sure whether that Panasonic is serial or parallel. I think it's a parallel printer and uses a Centronics connector.) Do a search for "centronics to USB" or "serial to USB" and you will find links to a number of sources.

Ok,

This machine has a parallel port. Try to print via parallel cable. If it works, consider staying with it. Serial ports are a pain to manage.
If you absolutely have to do it via rs232 though....
Question 1. Has it ever printed?
If yes, Go into Windows Printers and Faxes control and select the Zebra or whatever printer that you are using. Right click on it and you should get a menu that at the bottom say "Properties", select that, then you should get a new window with tabs at the top. You want the tab for "Ports". Select it and you will see all of the different output ports that you can direct your printing. RS232 is a COM port. So start at COM1, check it and try to print. If that doesn't work, go to COM2, etc.

Last resort, If you can't get control via the printer driver program, you will have to try redirecting the print manually (now you will understand why I said to stay with parallel output).
What you have to do is redirect your printing via the dos "mode" command.
Under "Start Menu" goto "Run" and put in "CMD" and click "OK".

This opens a black square window with a cursor blinking. Type in this:
mode com1:9600,n,8,1 (enter)

mode lpt2=com1 (enter)

Tell your program to use LPT2 if you can and see if it works.
By now a parallel cable instead of RS232 should be looking really good.
Good luck!

if the printer is built with a usb port, the it should work, is there another USB device in the PC that is working ?