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Bi-Directional Parallel to USB Cord to use with Windows 7 

8/15/2013

3 Comments

 
Picture
I'm often asked what type of cable does one buy to connect their old HP Plotter to a computer that doesn't have a parallel port. For those of you who remember, the parallel port is the 32 pin connection that was used (in the olden days) on all printers and a big fat gray cable connected the printer to the computer. 

Today you need to use the USB to Parallel Cable like the one pictured at the left. When searching for this cable look for "Bidirectional USB to Parallel Printer Cable."  The best idea is to buy a new one, unless you already have one that is proven to work.  USBs are tricky little things and there is nothing more frustrating than trying to get a driver loaded and thinking that you've done something wrong when it won't work and doing it over and over...only to later realize it is the USB cable that is bad! If the cable you are using doesn't specify "BI-DIRECTIONAL" it is probably not going to work right and yet it will appear that it is working. 

So, don't be cheap...go and buy a new one! You can buy it online for about $19. But remember, if it doesn't say Bi-Directional in the details on the packaging or product info, it is NOT the cord or cable that you want!

3 Comments
Harley
7/10/2014 04:43:26 am

I had to buy a new laptop and it came with Windows 8. Do these same cables work with Windows 8 or do I have to buy special ones? Do such cables exist?

thanks for your help.

Reply
The Proncess link
4/27/2015 04:54:11 am

Use the same cable - what operating system you are using doesn't matter.

Reply
Leo
8/7/2015 06:41:04 pm

I am looking for a cable for a DesignJet 650c that was offered to me from a friend who was moving. What does it actually has for its parallel port? I skimmed thru the manual but couldn't be sure of these "legacy" standard that a non-professional like me has barely heard of. I am finding some that is described as (Centronic ?) CN36 2 inch wide versus HPCN36 1 inch wide (Micro Centronic ?) connector and can't really tell what this plotter has. I am also having little luck finding a direct cable that's USB to the Micro Centronic that is bidirectional. Can you suggest me a provider for which ever cable I need here?

Also, do these cable work on 64-bit O/S?

Thanks.

Reply



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