Epson ActionLaser 1500 - USB to Parallel (Centronics) Cable?

I have a Epson ActionLaser 1500 that is a great workhorse... still
works fine. But, with newer computers not having a parallel port, I'm
trying to see if a "USB to Parallel" cable will work. I purchased a
TrendNet cable, but it doesn't seem to be compatible. And, since this
printer is so old, Epson will not offer up any support.

Anyone know if...
1) The printer is even compatible with a USB to Parallel cable
connection?
2) If so, how to get this to work? (other brand of cable, driver(s),
etc.)

Kurt <kurt.miyatake@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have a Epson ActionLaser 1500 that is a great workhorse... still
> works fine. But, with newer computers not having a parallel port, I'm
> trying to see if a "USB to Parallel" cable will work. I purchased a
> TrendNet cable, but it doesn't seem to be compatible. And, since this
> printer is so old, Epson will not offer up any support.
>
> Anyone know if...
> 1) The printer is even compatible with a USB to Parallel cable
> connection?

It is possible.

> 2) If so, how to get this to work? (other brand of cable, driver(s),
> etc.)

I used an IBM 3116 with a macintosh récently, to connect it I used a
standard cable USB and an adaptator USB-parallel, all was fine.

But some cables USB did work and some others didn't.

Alain

Alain191 wrote:
> Kurt <kurt.miyatake@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I have a Epson ActionLaser 1500 that is a great workhorse... still
>> works fine. But, with newer computers not having a parallel port, I'm
>> trying to see if a "USB to Parallel" cable will work. I purchased a
>> TrendNet cable, but it doesn't seem to be compatible. And, since this
>> printer is so old, Epson will not offer up any support.
>>
>> Anyone know if...
>> 1) The printer is even compatible with a USB to Parallel cable
>> connection?
>
> It is possible.
>
>> 2) If so, how to get this to work? (other brand of cable, driver(s),
>> etc.)
>
> I used an IBM 3116 with a macintosh récently, to connect it I used a
> standard cable USB and an adaptator USB-parallel, all was fine.
>
> But some cables USB did work and some others didn't.
>
> Alain


I used a one of these cables and my Epson Action Laser showed up in Win
7 64-bit as "USB printing support". So, the cable was able to find the
device.

My problem is I cannot find an HP LaserJet II or III driver to download
from the web. HP site says the LaserJet II or III drivers are on the
Vista disks, but I moved from XP to Win 7. I found an HP universal
driver HPUPD41PCL5X64.exe that I was going to try but every link that
referred to it is dead. Many driver sites appear to be unsafe. This is
my workhorse printer as well and I really hate to give it up, but there
may be no choice.

D.

On Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:38:52 -0500, DMP wrote:

> Alain191 wrote:
>> Kurt <kurt.miyatake@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I have a Epson ActionLaser 1500 that is a great workhorse... still
>>> works fine. But, with newer computers not having a parallel port, I'm
>>> trying to see if a "USB to Parallel" cable will work. I purchased a
>>> TrendNet cable, but it doesn't seem to be compatible. And, since this
>>> printer is so old, Epson will not offer up any support.
>>>
>>> Anyone know if...
>>> 1) The printer is even compatible with a USB to Parallel cable
>>> connection?
>>
>> It is possible.
>>
>>> 2) If so, how to get this to work? (other brand of cable, driver(s),
>>> etc.)
>>
>> I used an IBM 3116 with a macintosh récently, to connect it I used a
>> standard cable USB and an adaptator USB-parallel, all was fine.
>>
>> But some cables USB did work and some others didn't.
>>
>> Alain
>
>
> I used a one of these cables and my Epson Action Laser showed up in Win
> 7 64-bit as "USB printing support". So, the cable was able to find the
> device.
>
> My problem is I cannot find an HP LaserJet II or III driver to download
> from the web. HP site says the LaserJet II or III drivers are on the
> Vista disks, but I moved from XP to Win 7. I found an HP universal
> driver HPUPD41PCL5X64.exe that I was going to try but every link that
> referred to it is dead. Many driver sites appear to be unsafe. This is
> my workhorse printer as well and I really hate to give it up, but there
> may be no choice.

The Vista driver is readily available on the HP site, in any case....

http://tinyurl.com/yh4d8cl

--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

On Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:20:47 +0000, Bob Eager wrote:

> The Vista driver is readily available on the HP site, in any case....
>
> http://tinyurl.com/yh4d8cl

My apologies. I didn't follow the link all the way.

Have you tried the XP driver?

--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

<snip>
> My problem is I cannot find an HP LaserJet II or III driver to download
> from the web. HP site says the LaserJet II or III drivers are on the
> Vista disks, but I moved from XP to Win 7. I found an HP universal
> driver HPUPD41PCL5X64.exe that I was going to try but every link that
> referred to it is dead. Many driver sites appear to be unsafe. This is
> my workhorse printer as well and I really hate to give it up, but there
> may be no choice.
>
> D.

According to this page:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport.../Document.jsp?
lang=en&cc=us&taskId=120&prodSeriesId=3463669&prod TypeId=18972&objectID=c01856597

http://preview.tinyurl.com/y8dxozx

The HP Laserjet III is a catorgory 3 printer and the driver is either on the
Windows 7 disk or QWindows 7 will download it.

"Category 3 - Windows 7 print driver available
LaserJet model specific printer drivers are currently available within the
Windows 7 operating system. Installation of these drivers can be performed via
Devices and Printers , formerly known as the Add Printer Wizard .
NOTE: If the model specific driver that you are looking for does not
appear in the list of available printers, clicking the Windows Update button
underneath the list of available printers may provide additional drivers to
choose from. Requires opt-in to Microsoft Windows Update and internet
connection."






s

In article <hdkjl7$nbl$1@news.eternal-september.org>, dianemp@gmail.com says...
>
> Alain191 wrote:
> > Kurt <kurt.miyatake@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I have a Epson ActionLaser 1500 that is a great workhorse... still
> >> works fine. But, with newer computers not having a parallel port, I'm
> >> trying to see if a "USB to Parallel" cable will work. I purchased a
> >> TrendNet cable, but it doesn't seem to be compatible. And, since this
> >> printer is so old, Epson will not offer up any support.
> >>
> >> Anyone know if...
> >> 1) The printer is even compatible with a USB to Parallel cable
> >> connection?
> >
> > It is possible.
> >
> >> 2) If so, how to get this to work? (other brand of cable, driver(s),
> >> etc.)
> >
> > I used an IBM 3116 with a macintosh récently, to connect it I used a
> > standard cable USB and an adaptator USB-parallel, all was fine.
> >
> > But some cables USB did work and some others didn't.
> >
> > Alain
>
>
> I used a one of these cables and my Epson Action Laser showed up in Win
> 7 64-bit as "USB printing support". So, the cable was able to find the
> device.
>
> My problem is I cannot find an HP LaserJet II or III driver to download
> from the web. HP site says the LaserJet II or III drivers are on the
> Vista disks, but I moved from XP to Win 7. I found an HP universal
> driver HPUPD41PCL5X64.exe that I was going to try but every link that
> referred to it is dead. Many driver sites appear to be unsafe. This is
> my workhorse printer as well and I really hate to give it up, but there
> may be no choice.
>
> D.

Have the OP and/or you tried adding a parallel port? Some motherboards have the
header on the motherboard and it's just a matter of installing a connector, or
perhaps installing a parallel port card?






s

Steve wrote:
> In article <hdkjl7$nbl$1@news.eternal-september.org>, dianemp@gmail.com says...
>> Alain191 wrote:
>>> Kurt <kurt.miyatake@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have a Epson ActionLaser 1500 that is a great workhorse... still
>>>> works fine. But, with newer computers not having a parallel port, I'm
>>>> trying to see if a "USB to Parallel" cable will work. I purchased a
>>>> TrendNet cable, but it doesn't seem to be compatible. And, since this
>>>> printer is so old, Epson will not offer up any support.
>>>>
>>>> Anyone know if...
>>>> 1) The printer is even compatible with a USB to Parallel cable
>>>> connection?
>>> It is possible.
>>>
>>>> 2) If so, how to get this to work? (other brand of cable, driver(s),
>>>> etc.)
>>> I used an IBM 3116 with a macintosh récently, to connect it I used a
>>> standard cable USB and an adaptator USB-parallel, all was fine.
>>>
>>> But some cables USB did work and some others didn't.
>>>
>>> Alain
>>
>> I used a one of these cables and my Epson Action Laser showed up in Win
>> 7 64-bit as "USB printing support". So, the cable was able to find the
>> device.
>>
>> My problem is I cannot find an HP LaserJet II or III driver to download
>> from the web. HP site says the LaserJet II or III drivers are on the
>> Vista disks, but I moved from XP to Win 7. I found an HP universal
>> driver HPUPD41PCL5X64.exe that I was going to try but every link that
>> referred to it is dead. Many driver sites appear to be unsafe. This is
>> my workhorse printer as well and I really hate to give it up, but there
>> may be no choice.
>>
>> D.
>
> Have the OP and/or you tried adding a parallel port? Some motherboards have the
> header on the motherboard and it's just a matter of installing a connector, or
> perhaps installing a parallel port card?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> s


Steve-Thanks for the tip about the header on the motherboard. I will
look. That would be the easy solution. I am also going to look for a
driver on the Win 7 disk. I opted out of having Windows find driver
updates for me.

I have read about the IEEE 1284 parallel cards and will consider one of
those as well.

Diane

On 14-Nov-2009, DMP <dianemp@gmail.com> wrote:

> >> My problem is I cannot find an HP LaserJet II or III driver to download
> >>
> >> from the web. HP site says the LaserJet II or III drivers are on the
> >> Vista disks,

I'm using an old Canon SX engine flatbed Apple Laserwriter II
similar to the old HP LaserJet II and III under Win7 32bit
Ultimate. Mine is a serial printer, but you choose the
port/interface at install. Bit slow at 9600 baud serial but
acceptable for letters. Supberb print quality, crisp and
black.
Found several drivers in Win7.
AFAIR I may have had to download further Win7
printer drivers from a MS site.
Settled for HP LaserJet III Postscript Cartridge v52.2
The AppleLaserwriter II is Postscript compatible.
A few quirks that can be worked around.
Found that setting, print direct to printer, instead
of spool first seemed to help, it does however
lock things up until the print has finished,. Try
both. Don't think the whole PC is locked up,
haven't tried the Win7 Show Desktop whilst
it is printing. Can print web pages with gif''s
and jpg's but being serial it takes ages, so
use the parallel port on Asus P5VD2-X board to
drive my Epson colour inkjet for that.
There were other drivers but this one seems OK.

On Nov 14, 9:11*am, "Ato_Zee" <ato_...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On 14-Nov-2009, DMP <dian...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > >> My problem is I cannot find an HP LaserJet II or III driver to download
>
> > >> from the web. HP site says the LaserJet II or III drivers are on the
> > >> Vista disks,
>
> I'm using an old Canon SX engine flatbed Apple Laserwriter II
> similar to the old HP LaserJet II and III under Win7 32bit
> Ultimate. Mine is a serial printer, but you choose the
> port/interface at install. Bit slow at 9600 baud serial but
> acceptable for letters. Supberb print quality, crisp and
> black.
> Found several drivers in Win7.
> AFAIR I may have had to download further Win7
> printer drivers from a MS site.
> Settled for HP LaserJet III Postscript Cartridge v52.2
> The AppleLaserwriter II *is Postscript compatible.
> A few quirks that can be worked around.
> Found that setting, print direct to printer, instead
> of spool first seemed to help, it does however
> lock things up until the print has finished,. Try
> both. Don't think the whole PC is locked up,
> haven't tried the Win7 Show Desktop whilst
> it is printing. Can print web pages with gif''s
> and jpg's but being serial it takes ages, so
> use the parallel port on Asus P5VD2-X board to
> drive my Epson colour inkjet for that.
> There were other drivers but this one seems OK.

I have several Apple LaserWriter IIg motherboards. Perfect
upgrade. Has up to 32 Megs of RAM, and most importantly, an Ethernet
port. Sure beats serial any day.