Help, Printer Installation on XP Via Parallel

[jxcobra]

I recently installed Windows XP on my MacBook (OS X Tiger) via Parallel Desktop in order to run Microsoft Word 2003. Everything is working fine with both operation systems; however I seem to have run into a problem with installing my printer on XP. I currently own a HP PSC All-In-One Printer 1500xi, which I have ran on XP before so I know it works.

Two days prior I installed the printer software on OS and it went smoothly; the installer was able to locate the printer instantly when I plugged in the USP cable and I am able to access it without problems. However, when I attempted the same today on Windows XP (Same MacBook, using Parallel) using the windows CD installer the XP system is unable to locate the printer (the printer however still appears on OS). I have attempted to upload the printer through “Add a Printer” function, but it simply just refuse to acknowledge that the printer is connect. If anybody could help me with this problem it will be greatly appreciated, thank you.


Note: As an added note when I enter “Add a Driver” on XP I am unable to locate this printer’s driver, yet my XP should be fully updated through its own updating service. I have been able to run this printer on other PCs with XP with no problem.

 

[Fleetwood Mac]

So its working in OS X but not Windows?

Open up System Preferences > Sharing > And check Printer Sharing.

Now add the shared printer in Winblows and you're good to go.

 

[jxcobra]

So its working in OS X but not Windows?

Open up System Preferences > Sharing > And check Printer Sharing.

Now add the shared printer in Winblows and you're good to go.

I clicked Printer Sharing in OS, now how do I add the printer in Windows? When I do the "Add a Printer" search function on windows it still does not detect any printer attached to the computer.

 

[brkirch]

There are two ways to setup printing in Parallels.

You can either:
-Setup a virtual printer
or
-Use Bonjour

Try setting up a virtual printer first and if you are unable to get that to work then try using Bonjour.

 

[Sean Dempsey]

I was having similar problems in Parallels.

I installed VMware to try it out... I was able to install the real printer drivers for my printer, and it prints flawlessly now.

I'd try VMware, its free right now for the beta. It's been alot easier to use than Paralles, in respects to some of this stuff.

 

[Fleetwood Mac]

I clicked Printer Sharing in OS, now how do I add the printer in Windows? When I do the "Add a Printer" search function on windows it still does not detect any printer attached to the computer.

It should be detected as a network printer in Windows. All you need to do open Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > and click Add Printer on the left column. Use the wizard, first selecting network or shared printer (IDK what it says exactly, but its the bottom option) and find your printer the in the list that comes up.

Setting up you printer to run directly from Windows is possible, but is a needless hassle IMO.

If you did want to do that, you could open Parallels > Start Windows > Click on devices in the menu bar (the OS X menu bar) > USB > and click on your printer. This will "attach" the printer to the virtual Windows machine where it should be recognized immediatley. I don't like this option because it makes it more difficult to print from OS X.

 

[brkirch]

I was having similar problems in Parallels.

I installed VMware to try it out... I was able to install the real printer drivers for my printer, and it prints flawlessly now.

I'd try VMware, its free right now for the beta. It's been alot easier to use than Paralles, in respects to some of this stuff.

Virtual printers in Parallels are far easier than anything I have seen for VMWare, no driver installation is required and printing can be redirected to any OS X printer driver. It just wish it was made more obvious, I first learned about that feature because I was using 3.0 and just happened to notice that there was a printer icon that wasn't there in 2.5.

 

[jxcobra]

Thanks for the helps guys, I downloaded Bonjour and it is working perfectly now. (Didn't see the post about Vitural Printer, lol, ran a search on Printer Sharing the second I saw it and found Bonjour.) So far I am loving my switch to a Macbook, if anything the boot time is amazing ^^.

 

[Sean Dempsey]

Virtual printers in Parallels are far easier than anything I have seen for VMWare, no driver installation is required and printing can be redirected to any OS X printer driver. It just wish it was made more obvious, I first learned about that feature because I was using 3.0 and just happened to notice that there was a printer icon that wasn't there in 2.5.

Well, YMMV. When I tried to print from Paralles, no matter what font I used, it all came out as irregularly-spaced courier. I got help from SWSoft tech support, and they were not able to fix it. (I need to print checks from quickbooks, so I had to have this font thing resolved).

VMware printed perfectly first try.

Also, having used the 2 just today to try and print, VMware was just as easy, or easier.