problem with lpt1 port

I've been trying to install an hp laserjet 4L. The device manager lists lpt1
but the add printer wizard doesn't.

The automatic printer installation fails with the error message that there
was a problem
with the port.

I created the lpt1 port using the add printer wizard and the printer is
installed
to it and functions, but each time I boot the plug and play detection finds
the printer
and keeps trying to install it and fails.

Help appreciated.

zirath wrote:
> I've been trying to install an hp laserjet 4L. The device manager lists
> lpt1
> but the add printer wizard doesn't.
>
> The automatic printer installation fails with the error message that there
> was a problem
> with the port.
>
> I created the lpt1 port using the add printer wizard and the printer is
> installed
> to it and functions, but each time I boot the plug and play detection
> finds
> the printer and keeps trying to install it and fails.
>
> Help appreciated.

The HP LaserJet 4L is a parallel port printer, and you don't have a parallel
port, do you? Most newer computers don't have them anymore.

<Bill in Co.>wrote:
> zirath wrote:
>> I've been trying to install an hp laserjet 4L. The device manager
>> lists lpt1
>> but the add printer wizard doesn't.
>>
>> The automatic printer installation fails with the error message that
>> there was a problem
>> with the port.
>>
>> I created the lpt1 port using the add printer wizard and the printer
>> is installed
>> to it and functions, but each time I boot the plug and play detection
>> finds
>> the printer and keeps trying to install it and fails.
>>
>> Help appreciated.
>
> The HP LaserJet 4L is a parallel port printer, and you don't have a
> parallel port, do you? Most newer computers don't have them
> anymore.

A USB to parallel adapter cable is available:
http://www.softchoice.com/catalog/pr...R=U94785_US_EN

--
Regards, Yokenny
Change is inevitable except from a vending machine.

YoKenny wrote:
> <Bill in Co.>wrote:
>> zirath wrote:
>>> I've been trying to install an hp laserjet 4L. The device manager
>>> lists lpt1 but the add printer wizard doesn't.
>>>
>>> The automatic printer installation fails with the error message that
>>> there was a problem with the port.
>>>
>>> I created the lpt1 port using the add printer wizard and the printer
>>> is installed
>>> to it and functions, but each time I boot the plug and play detection
>>> finds the printer and keeps trying to install it and fails.
>>>
>>> Help appreciated.
>>
>> The HP LaserJet 4L is a parallel port printer, and you don't have a
>> parallel port, do you? Most newer computers don't have them anymore.
>
> A USB to parallel adapter cable is available:
> http://www.softchoice.com/catalog/pr...R=U94785_US_EN

But I don't think he can use the "lpt1" port anymore by using that. He's
got to have a USB driver that works with that printer, I think And I
don't think there is such a driver available for that old model.

That's an old printer. Do you have the latest software and drivers. The
model was updated to the 5L before XP was released.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


zirath wrote:
> I've been trying to install an hp laserjet 4L. The device manager
> lists lpt1 but the add printer wizard doesn't.
>
> The automatic printer installation fails with the error message that
> there was a problem
> with the port.
>
> I created the lpt1 port using the add printer wizard and the printer
> is installed
> to it and functions, but each time I boot the plug and play detection
> finds the printer
> and keeps trying to install it and fails.
>
> Help appreciated.

Bill

I had a HP Laserjet 4L and it was a good printer. As I recall the paper
feed was from a flat tray rather than a vertical feed adopted by the 5L
and 6L successors. A flat feed is far less prone to paper jams. The
print rate would be slow by today's standards (up to 4ppm) but if speed
was not an issue it's a good workhorse. However, buying a modern
eqivalent is now a lot cheaper than when I bought my 4L.

As you said it requires a Bio-Tronics parallel interface. The model
became obsolete in 1995 and support ceased in 2000. Cartridges may be
still available but I would be surprised if parts to repair are still
obtainable.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...ectID=bpl02078

I am currently awaiting delivery of an HP Laserjet P2014 Printer, which
including cartridge is costing £120 (US$240). A cartridge costs about
£50 (US$100) if bought from the right source i.e. not a big store like
Staples. The print rate is 23 ppm and the monthly duty cycle is 10,000
pages. An HP Laserjet P1005 can be bought for £58 (US$116) including
cartridge which gives 14 ppm and a monthly duty cycle of 5,000 page.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bill in Co. wrote:
> YoKenny wrote:
>> <Bill in Co.>wrote:
>>> zirath wrote:
>>>> I've been trying to install an hp laserjet 4L. The device manager
>>>> lists lpt1 but the add printer wizard doesn't.
>>>>
>>>> The automatic printer installation fails with the error message
>>>> that there was a problem with the port.
>>>>
>>>> I created the lpt1 port using the add printer wizard and the
>>>> printer is installed
>>>> to it and functions, but each time I boot the plug and play
>>>> detection finds the printer and keeps trying to install it and
>>>> fails. Help appreciated.
>>>
>>> The HP LaserJet 4L is a parallel port printer, and you don't have a
>>> parallel port, do you? Most newer computers don't have them
>>> anymore.
>>
>> A USB to parallel adapter cable is available:
>> http://www.softchoice.com/catalog/pr...R=U94785_US_EN
>
> But I don't think he can use the "lpt1" port anymore by using that.
> He's got to have a USB driver that works with that printer, I think
> And I don't think there is such a driver available for that old model.

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:OjUEePb2IHA.5512@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> zirath wrote:
>> I've been trying to install an hp laserjet 4L. The device manager lists
>> lpt1
>> but the add printer wizard doesn't.
>>
>> The automatic printer installation fails with the error message that
>> there
>> was a problem
>> with the port.
>>
>> I created the lpt1 port using the add printer wizard and the printer is
>> installed
>> to it and functions, but each time I boot the plug and play detection
>> finds
>> the printer and keeps trying to install it and fails.
>>
>> Help appreciated.
>
> The HP LaserJet 4L is a parallel port printer, and you don't have a
> parallel port, do you? Most newer computers don't have them anymore.

We have a parallel port on the computer. We had no trouble with it until
upgrading to windows xp.

This post may help

I had a similar problem with my HP LJ 4L after upgrading to XP. Turns
out the problem was corrected by changing the BIOS setting for the
parrell port on my Dell. The setting was ECP. The problem with the
printer was corrected by changing the value to EPP.
Source: Hockley http://www.forum.miraplacid.com/topic.pl?topic_id=146


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

zirath wrote:
> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:OjUEePb2IHA.5512@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> zirath wrote:
>>> I've been trying to install an hp laserjet 4L. The device manager
>>> lists lpt1
>>> but the add printer wizard doesn't.
>>>
>>> The automatic printer installation fails with the error message that
>>> there
>>> was a problem
>>> with the port.
>>>
>>> I created the lpt1 port using the add printer wizard and the
>>> printer is installed
>>> to it and functions, but each time I boot the plug and play
>>> detection finds
>>> the printer and keeps trying to install it and fails.
>>>
>>> Help appreciated.
>>
>> The HP LaserJet 4L is a parallel port printer, and you don't have a
>> parallel port, do you? Most newer computers don't have them
>> anymore.
>
> We have a parallel port on the computer. We had no trouble with it
> until upgrading to windows xp.

Gerry wrote:
> Bill
>
> I had a HP Laserjet 4L and it was a good printer.

Yup. I did too. Got rid of it some time ago since I bought a newer
printer.

> As I recall the paper
> feed was from a flat tray rather than a vertical feed adopted by the 5L
> and 6L successors. A flat feed is far less prone to paper jams. The
> print rate would be slow by today's standards (up to 4ppm) but if speed
> was not an issue it's a good workhorse. However, buying a modern
> eqivalent is now a lot cheaper than when I bought my 4L.

Exactly! And that 4 ppm was SLOW! Plus it was designed for a parallel
port.

> As you said it requires a Bio-Tronics parallel interface. The model
> became obsolete in 1995 and support ceased in 2000. Cartridges may be
> still available

And they are a bit expensive (I think their cartridges are going up in
price)

> but I would be surprised if parts to repair are still
> obtainable.
> http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...ectID=bpl02078
>
> I am currently awaiting delivery of an HP Laserjet P2014 Printer, which
> including cartridge is costing £120 (US$240). A cartridge costs about
> £50 (US$100) if bought from the right source i.e. not a big store like
> Staples. The print rate is 23 ppm and the monthly duty cycle is 10,000
> pages.

10,000 pages on one cartridge? That is impressive!

> An HP Laserjet P1005 can be bought for £58 (US$116) including
> cartridge which gives 14 ppm and a monthly duty cycle of 5,000 page.

Gerry, I recently bought a HP Laserjet 1018 to replace my old HP4L critter.
It cost me a bit over $100 US dollars (guess that would be a bit over £50),
and seems to work out fine here. Nothing really fancy. Not sure how it
compares to the P1005. Mine is probably more comparable to the HP 1020.

I purchased that (slightly) older HP model (1018 instead of 1020) since it
still had W98SE drivers that would allow it to work as a USB port printer
with my other (Win98SE) computer AND my new WinXP computer. The newer
model 1020 apparently doesn't have Win98SE compatible USB print drivers (so
even if you did get that special USB to parallel cable adapter, it would
still be a "no go", as I recall).

Well, I must be misrembering something if you were able to get that HP4L to
actually work with a newer WinXP computer without a parallel port
(regardless of any so called USB to parallel port (or vice versa) adapter
cables)

Gerry wrote:
> This post may help
>
> I had a similar problem with my HP LJ 4L after upgrading to XP. Turns
> out the problem was corrected by changing the BIOS setting for the
> parrell port on my Dell. The setting was ECP. The problem with the
> printer was corrected by changing the value to EPP.
> Source: Hockley http://www.forum.miraplacid.com/topic.pl?topic_id=146
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> zirath wrote:
>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>> news:OjUEePb2IHA.5512@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> zirath wrote:
>>>> I've been trying to install an hp laserjet 4L. The device manager
>>>> lists lpt1
>>>> but the add printer wizard doesn't.
>>>>
>>>> The automatic printer installation fails with the error message that
>>>> there
>>>> was a problem
>>>> with the port.
>>>>
>>>> I created the lpt1 port using the add printer wizard and the
>>>> printer is installed
>>>> to it and functions, but each time I boot the plug and play
>>>> detection finds
>>>> the printer and keeps trying to install it and fails.
>>>>
>>>> Help appreciated.
>>>
>>> The HP LaserJet 4L is a parallel port printer, and you don't have a
>>> parallel port, do you? Most newer computers don't have them
>>> anymore.
>>
>> We have a parallel port on the computer. We had no trouble with it
>> until upgrading to windows xp.