Printer problem

Apreciar

I am considering the purchase of a new desktop but one thing that concerns me is that the printer I use the most, a HP Laserjet 4p has a parallel port connector and is only supported up to Windows XP.
Is there any way I could use the HP on a new desktop, perhaps by fitting a parallel port card to the new computer and just using generic HP drivers.

HappyMJ

Apreciar wrote: »

I am considering the purchase of a new desktop but one thing that concerns me is that the printer I use the most, a HP Laserjet 4p has a parallel port connector and is only supported up to Windows XP.
Is there any way I could use the HP on a new desktop, perhaps by fitting a parallel port card to the new computer and just using generic HP drivers.

And it's still working...These printers came out in 1993. Well done. I'd give up myself and buy a new printer but that's me. Your old computer can act as a print server for when you want to print if you don't wish to spend any money on a network card for the printer.

Apreciar

Yes I know it is old, had it from new and it is the best printer I have ever had, it has seen off a Brother Laser and HP Inkjet and is still going strong with no problems. I was hoping that a parallel card could be fitted to a new PC and just use the generic driver.

Figment

Would this help?

HappyMJ

Apreciar wrote: »

Yes I know it is old, had it from new and it is the best printer I have ever had, it has seen of a Brother Laser and HP Inkjet and is still going strong with no problems. I was hoping that a parallel card could be fitted to a new PC and just use the generic driver.

You could do it that way. I'd look for a network card for the printer such as a jetdirect myself on Ebay so you can print from anywhere and from any new computer that is introduced into the house. Laptops cannot usually have parallel ports added and it's much easier printing wirelessly through the router and to the printer.

HappyMJ

Figment wrote: »

Would this help?

It says only supported up to XP and then the port appears as a USB port. I doubt the legacy printer would work...but hey it's only a £3 gamble to find out so why not try.

Figment

HappyMJ wrote: »

You could do it that way. I'd look for a network card for the printer such as a jetdirect myself on Ebay so you can print from anywhere and from any new computer that is introduced into the house. Laptops cannot usually have parallel ports added and it's much easier printing wirelessly through the router and to the printer.

IIRC the 4P does not have a slot for an internal Jet Direct card. This external one is compatible with the 4P

timbim_2

You might find that you can't get a Windows 7 driver for the printer, I couldn't find one in a brief look. If you want to try it, I'd use a USB to parallel cable.

santer_2

There is this if you can connect it

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Details.aspx?type=Hardware&p=HP%20LaserJet%204p%20Laser%20Printer&v=HP&uid=C2005A&l=en-US&pf=0&pi=0&s=HP%20Laserjet%204p&os=32-bit

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?&objectID=c02536257

LincolnshireYokel

A Laserjet 4p? Holy Moly, i can remember installing those in schools and then taking them aout and repl;acing them a few years later with Laserjet 2000's. Can you still get toner for it ?

The ones I installed had an external Jetdirect card, definitely worth scourging computer fairs and ebay for one. Saved no end of problems when we got to sharing on Win2k

closed

Are you replacing because your old pc is still slow?