Mac OS X: About printing with a USB-to-parallel cable

Products Affected

Mac OS Printing/Fax (any version), Mac OS X 10.2, Mac OS X 10.3, Mac OS X 10.4, Mac OS X 10.5, Mac OS X 10.6

Symptoms

The printer drivers included with Mac OS X are designed to work with many printers via a USB or network connection. However, Apple has not tested the drivers with USB-to-parallel cables, converters, or adapters.

If you use a USB-to-parallel cable, these issues may occur: the print queue may stop, pages may not print completely, a "communications" alert may appear, or when adding a printer no printer driver may be found, even though the printer's software is installed. In Mac OS X v10.2.x, using such a cable could cause Print Center to unexpectedly quit.

Resolution

Although you may be able to print successfully when using a USB-to-parallel cable or adapter, you should use a USB cable or network connection whenever possible.  Otherwise, contact the manufacturer of your printer, cable, or adapter for compatibility information and assistance.

Additional Information

A USB-to-parallel cable can be identified by the 25-pin or 36-pin connector on the end of the cable that connects to the printer. A USB cable will have a USB type B connector (4 pins) on the end that connects to the printer.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.
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