Mac Genius Printer Question - help needed

thatguy · Jan 8, 2009

Mac Genius Printing Question

I need some help with an older model HP LaserJet 4mPlus printer. It originally connected via parallel cable and I purchased a 叢arallel to USB cable because I wanted to be able to print on our Mac laptops.

A Mac PowerBook G4 (running 10.4.11 and 10.3.x) found the printer and automatically configured it for printing and has worked for over 2 yrs now. It also runs 疎lright on a windows machine, you just have to go to control panels 叢rinters and settings and figure out which of the 4 icons it wants to print with today.

My iBook G3 running 10.3.x and 10.4.11 (just recently installed) has never been able to recognize the printer as being connected. I can not even get it to show as an available printer or even recognize that there is a USB device connected.

I have downloaded and installed the OS X drivers directly from the HP website and they did not solver the problem. I have 2 USB ports on the G3 and both work with other devices and neither work with the printer. Neither of the Macs have a parallel port.

Reading online I found some generic drivers at 賎utenprint that others have said were useful but I have not tried that yet. I also found that some ppl said the parallel to USB cable may be the problem.

Questions..

1) Would a bad cable cause one computer to not connect, while two other print OK?
2) Has anyone ever used the Gutenprint drivers?
3) Do I need to delete the currently installed drivers before I install the Gutenprint drivers?
4) IF I need to delete the drivers where are they located on OS 10.4.11?
5) Does anyone know if a G3 computer is not capable of printing this way?

Any and all advice or suggestions are welcome

Thanks

Brian

SnowRidge · Jan 8, 2009

Not sure if any of this applies to your situation, so take it for what it's worth.

USB to parallel cables are at best compromises, especially the el cheapos. I gave up on one that worked some of the time, but not all of the time with my Linux and Winders machines.

My wife's Mac worked just fine with an older HP photosmart printer using a regular USB cable. When she upgraded to the latest verion of OSX, it would no longer work. The HP support web site drivers for that model do not list the latest point version of OSX as being supported. It appears that HP considers the printer to be obsolete, and is no longer providing updated drivers for that model.

I know she tried the Gutenprint drivers without success. She ended up buying a new printer.

thatguy · Jan 8, 2009

Thanks for the info.. The cable i purchased was much less expensive online that what I have seen in stores. I dont know if that makes it a cheap cable or just the company has less overhead.. I may try the Gutenprint drivers and see what happens, and if that doesnt work maybe pick up another cable just to verify that isnt the problem.. I can always return the cable if it doesnt work.

What got me was my wifes G4 instantly recognized it and I never even had to install the drivers to use it - it just worked by plugging it in.. But my G3 doesnt even know something is there..

thanks

Brian

LMTC · Jan 8, 2009

Indirectly related, I have a Laserjet 4 that I have used for....well, years. When my last PC with a parallel port was retired years ago, I did the USB to parallel thing. After a cheap cable didn't work properly, I shelled out several times as much (and I couldn't begin to tell you if it was $25 or $75, just that it was the much pricier option I had initially passed). That cable has been allowing proper operation of the Laserjet 4 for 4 or 5 years now, so the cable clearly was the problem in my situation.

thatguy · Jan 8, 2009

LMTC - I was thinking 'cheap' cable could be my problem, but I dont understand why it works with my wifes machine.. Strange.. I think Ill buy another cable

brian

Lurch · Jan 9, 2009

Is appletalk active on the G3? Make sure settings match the wifes puter that works.

If both are on the network you can also "share" the printer and just leave it connected to hers. Look under Help menu for printer sharing.

MossRoad · Jan 9, 2009

For the price of those cables, you may be able to find a MIO card that can make that printer work on your network. Just a thought, if you are interested.