Change Trays in HP M3035

Hewlett Packard's LaserJet M3035 printer is a multi-function device combining black and white laser printing capability. It has two built-in paper trays, both of which can hold most major paper sizes, including letter, legal and A4 size. The only change that is possible with the M3035's trays is to add an additional 500-sheet accessory tray.

1). Switch off your HP LaserJet M3035 printer by flipping its power switch to the "O" position.

2). Place the additional paper tray on a surface, facing up.

3). Lift the printer and lower it down onto the tray. The tray is the same size as the printer, so it should sit directly under the printer taking up the same footprint as the printer. Ensure that the two pieces in the front of the tray's top panel and the piece in the back of its top panel fit into the corresponding slots on the printer.

4). Pull the paper drawer out of the paper tray by simply sliding it forward and, if necessary, lifting slightly upwards.

5). Remove the packing materials and packing tape from the inside of the accessory paper tray. Expect to find a number of pieces of tape, some of which will be securing Styrofoam blocks.

6). Adjust the blue paper alignment guides by squeezing the tabs and pushing outwards. Put paper in the tray, and then adjust the guides so that they are flush with it. Ensure that you do not fill the tray above its top line, denoted by a label with a dashed horizontal line below three downward-pointing triangles.

7). Reinsert the paper tray in the printer by pushing it in, first with a downward motion, and then by pushing it straight back.

8). Turn the printer on by flipping its power switch to the "On" position denoted by a single vertical line.

9). Print to the new tray by selecting "Tray 3" as the paper source in your software program's printer driver.

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Connect Inspiron 1525 Notebook to Lexmark Z2490 WiFi Printer

Lexmark's Z2490 WiFi printer can be connected to a wireless network and the computers connected to that network can print from it without needing to connect via a wired Ethernet connection. This allows you to print from a laptop with wireless capabilities, such as the Dell Inspiron 1525 Notebook. The Lexmark software has to be installed first.

1). Click on the Network icon (it looks like a computer or group of bars) in the lower-right corner of your desktop. Click on the network with the Lexmark printer on it, then click "Connect."

2). Insert the Lexmark Z2490 WiFi printer installation CD into the Inspiron's CD drive. Wait for the Welcome screen to appear on your computer.

3). Click the "Install" button on the welcome screen.

4). Click through the prompts that appear on the screen. Do not change anything.

5). Click "Finish" at the end to connect to the Lexmark printer.

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Reset Ink Settings in Canon iP1800

If your Canon Pixma iP1800 printer is low on ink, you can refill the ink cartridge yourself to avoid having to purchase new cartridges. If you choose to do this, you will also need to manually reset the ink setting of your printer. This is a simple procedure that should take you no more than 15 minutes to complete. This procedure works for both the color and black ink cartridges.

1). Place a strip of tape over the contact pads on the top row of the cartridge.

2). Place the ink cartridge into the printer and then remove it once you receive the "Cartridge Not Inserted" message.

3). Place a strip of tape over the contact pads on the second top row. Do not remove the first strip of tape.

4). Place the ink cartridge into the printer and then remove it once you receive the "Cartridge Not Inserted" message.

5). Remove the tape from both rows and insert the cartridges into the printer. This will reset the ink level of your Canon Pixma iP1800 printer.

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Reset the Waste Ink on a Canon Printer

The Canon ink counter tool estimates your remaining ink usage, and should be reset each time you replace your ink cartridge. This tells your Canon software that the ink cartridges are full, so it can properly estimate the remaining ink levels. Since the ink counter is an estimate, you may have some ink remaining even when the ink counter says your cartridge is full. By resetting the ink cartridge, you can avoid wasted ink, and squeeze every last drop out of the expensive ink cartridge.

1). Click the Windows 7 "Start" button, and type "devices and printers."

2). Click "Devices and Printers" in the search results to open the "Devices and Printers" window.

3). Right-click your Canon printer in the section labeled "Printers and Faxes," and select "Printer preferences."

4). Click the "Maintenance" tab of the "Printing Preferences" window.

5). Click "Ink Counter Reset."

6). Check the ink cartridges you wish to reset, such as "Black" or "Color." You may have multiple color tanks corresponding to different colors.

7). Click "Execute" to reset the checked ink cartridges.

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Dispose of Printer Toner

 If you own a laser printer or copier, you will have to change the toner cartridge. But you cannot simply throw the old toner cartridge away with the trash. Those toner cartridges contain materials that are potentially hazardous, so keeping them out of landfills is important. Fortunately there are recycling programs in place to help you get rid of old toner cartridges without threatening the environment.

1). Remove the new toner cartridge from the box and look for a return shipping label. Many toner cartridges come with prepaid shipping labels customers can use to recycle their old toners.

2). Log onto the website of the printer manufacturer if there is no return label in the box. Search for the word "Recycling" on the website to find information about any toner recycling programs the printer manufacturer has in place.

3). Enter your return address, contact information and other requested information into the form on the website to create the return shipping label. Place that label aside while you pack the old toner into the box.

4). Place the used toner cartridge in the plastic bag that contained the new cartridge. Secure the ends of the plastic bag with packing tape to prevent leaks in transit.

5). Put the used toner cartridge into the box and tape the box shut with packing tape. Contact the shipping carrier to schedule a pickup of the box for recycling.

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Comparison of Cartridge Toners

Though toner costs more in the short term than an ink cartridge, in the long run money is saved. Compared to ink, toner is cheaper. But how do you determine the best toner for you? There are a few different things to keep in mind when comparing toners that will help you make the best decision when it comes time to open your wallet and buy.

1). Find out if your printer uses liquid, powdered or laser toner. Only compare toners from the kind that your computer uses. Comparing liquid and laser toner will get you nowhere, because they are for completely different uses and different printers.

2). Identify the cartridge yield, sometimes called the cartridge life. This number is sometimes printed on the toner packaging, but if not you can find it on the manufacturer's website. This will tell you how many pages you can expect to print from one toner cartridge. Compare this number across all the toners that you are thinking of buying.

3). Divide the number of pages in the cartridge yield by the cost of the toner itself. This will give you a cost per page. This number should be compared across all toners before buying because that will determine the true cost of the toner.

4). Compare shelf life of the toners. Some toners are only good for 12 to 18 months before their printing power is compromised. If you generally order toner in bulk, this may mean that you won't be able to use all of the toner before it expires.

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Ways to Save Printer Ink

When you purchase a printer for your computer, the price you pay for the device itself is only a fraction of the cost you incur over the life of the device. From time to time, you must replace your printer's ink cartridges. Lessen your ink consumption by developing wise printing habits.

Print Quality

Most printers have the option of printing documents and pictures at various quality levels -- and the lower the print quality, the less ink the printer uses. Except for "final draft" items you need to turn in to a supervisor or instructor at work or school, get into the habit of printing documents at low quality to save on ink.

Page Count

When you print a document, your computer will prompt you to enter the pages of the document you want to print. Look through your document before printing to verify that you need all its pages -- and if you don't, adjust the page range to reflect what you do need. If you print a receipt from a website, for example, the entire document may take up four pages, even though your receipt itself appears entirely within the second page.

Color vs. Black and White

On the whole, color cartridges are more expensive than black and white ones -- and, since color documents print using a combination of ink hues -- these cartridges run out faster with regular use. Even if a document appears in color on your screen, your computer gives you the option to print it in black and white. Unless printing in color is essential to the purpose for which you use your document.

Mobile Documents

With the advent of "smartphone" devices such as the Android, BlackBerry and iPhone, the necessity to print out certain documents at all has lessened. From receipts to emails to -- in some instances -- airline boarding passes, it's possible to pull up full-length documents using the email or Internet feature on your handheld device. This saves not only on ink, but also on paper.

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Print Black & White on Canon MX850

 Multi-function and all-in-one printers such as the Canon Pixma MX850 have a lot of settings and capabilities. Printing in black and white, or grayscale, is easy to switch to depending on each print. Printing in grayscale can be useful if you want to print out draft copies of a document or photograph, or alternatively if you want to have black and white prints for aesthetic reasons.

1). Click "Start" then your username.

2). Browse through your computer until you reach the file you want to print.

3). Double-click it and then click "File" followed by "Print."

4). Make sure the Canon Pixma MX850 is selected in the print dialog box. Click "Preferences." Click "Grayscale Printing" and then "OK."

5). Click "Print" to print in black and white with your Canon Pixma MX850 printer.

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Replace Ink in Canon MP970

The Canon PIXMA MP970 Photo-All-in-One printer uses seven liquid ink tanks to produce photos and paper printouts. The printer will display a message on its LCD screen when an ink tank runs out of ink. Low ink levels in one or more ink tanks will cause diminished print quality, such as streaks or lines in the printouts. Replacing depleted ink tanks will correct these problems.

1). Push lightly on the center of the printer's output tray to fold it down. Press the printer's "Power" button to turn on the printer before continuing.

2). Lift up on the printer's top cover until the hinges prevent you from raising it further. Wait for the ink tanks to stop moving inside the printer before proceeding.

3). Press on the tab in front of the ink tank you wish to replace, and lift the ink tank up and out of the printer. Dispose of the old ink tank, making sure to not touch the bottom of the tank to avoid getting ink on you.

4). Open the new ink tank's packaging and remove the tank. Peel off the orange tape and protective film covering the ink tank. Twist the orange cap on the bottom of the ink tank counterclockwise to remove it from the ink tank.

5). Slide the front edge of the ink tank into the empty slot in the printer. Press on the ink tank's sticker where it reads "Push" so that the tab on the front of the ink tank snaps in place, indicating that you have the ink tank secured properly in the printer.

6). Fold the top cover down and raise the output tray back into place.

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Clean the Rollers on a Phaser 6120

The Xerox Phaser 6120 uses laser printing technology to transfer digital images and text to paper, creating hard copies. In order to create the printouts, the Phaser 6120 uses a series of rollers to move the paper through the inside of the machine. The toner powder, or the ink used in the Phaser 6120, as well as paper dust can eventually build up on the rollers with continued use of the printer. You may notice more paper jams or even black or grey streaks on the paper as a result. Cleaning the rollers takes a few moments of your time.

1). Unplug the printer's power cord from the back of the printer, remove any paper left in the printer's output tray and fold the tray's extension. Pull up on the handle located at the front of the Phaser 6120's top cover, swinging the cover open and toward the rear of the machine.

2). Grab the handle on the top of the toner cartridge and pull up until the cartridge comes free from the printer. Place the toner cartridge on a scrap piece of paper in an area without direct sunlight.

3). Wipe the feed rollers clean using a dry and clean microfiber cloth, making sure to turn the wheels so you clean the entire surface. Reinsert the toner cartridge in the same direction it sat inside the printer before, then lower the top cover so that it snaps closed.

4). Fold down the duplexer's cover on the backside of the printer, exposing the duplexer's rollers. Clean the rollers with a dry microfiber cloth, turning them as you did the feed rollers, then push the duplexer's cover back into place so that it clicks.

5). Grasp the notches located on the sides of the printer at the bottom of paper tray 1, then lift the printer up to separate it from paper tray 2. Place the printer on a sturdy and level table, far away from the edge.

6). Wipe down the rollers located inside paper tray 2 using a dry microfiber cloth, making sure to turn the wheels so you clean the entire wheel surface. Lower the printer back onto paper tray 2 carefully , lining up the edges of the printer with the edges of the tray. Plug the printer's power cord back into the back of the printer.

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How to Reset Getting Low Ink Messages for Refilling Dell Ink Cartridges

Dell computer printers use a variety of types and sizes of ink cartridges. These cartridges are designed to be used once and then replaced. Refilling the cartridges is a more cost-effective alternative to buying new cartridges. Most Dell printers track usage of each cartridge to determine when the ink is getting low. Resetting the low ink warning prevents the printer from displaying low ink messages.

1). Click the Windows "Start" button. Select the "Programs" menu.

2). Click "Dell Printers." Click your Dell printer model within the Printers menu.

3). Click the "Maintain/Troubleshoot" tab. Select the "Ink Level" option. Click the "Advanced" button. Select the "More Options" option.

4). Click the radio button next to "Never display the printing status." If not present, click the radio button next to "Never display low ink messages."

5). Click the "OK" button to confirm the changes.

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Designjet 1050C Printhead Path Troubleshooting

 

The Design jet 1050C is a commercial printer used by advertising agencies and design firms to print banners, signage and logos. The path from the computer to the print head can be a tricky one if you don't have the proper drivers or cables installed. Without the right software and hardware installed on your computer and printer, the unit will not be able to print. You can solve this problem by installing the proper drivers and using the right cables with your printer.

1). Locate the two power switches. The printer uses an "On/Off" power button on the front of the printer and a power isolator switch on the back of the printer. Set the rear power isolator to the "On" position and then turn on the power to the printer from the power switch on the front.

2). Connect the USB printer cable into the USB port on the back of the printer. Install the other end of the USB cable into the USB port on your computer.

3). Go to the "HP Design jet" websites (see References) and click on the setup files from the menu that are applicable to the operating system your computer uses. These are the most up-to-date software packages for the 1050C.

4). Follow the prompts on the software packages to install them on your computer. Restart your system to have the updates take effect. Open the document you would like to print.

5). Click on the "Print" icon at the top of your software window. Choose the 1050C from the list of printers in the menu. Wait for the 1050C to print your document.

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The Process for Cleaning a Printer

When a printer's components are dirty, they can cause smudges and white lines to appear on prints. In addition, dirtiness can contribute to the development of paper jams. Cleaning a printer periodically can help prevent these problems and will also help prolong a printer's lifespan. For best results, follow a specific process when cleaning a printer.

Following Manufacturer Instructions

If you do not have an instruction manual or other form of documentation for your specific model of printer, you will likely be able to find one online if you visit the manufacturer's website. Alternatively, you may need to contact a customer service representative, or printer/computer expert, if you have a particularly old or rare printer. Applying cleaning agents and removing printer components during the cleaning process could potentially cause damage. However, there are some general guidelines that printer-owners can follow, which vary depending on printer type.

Laser Printer Cleaning

Laser printers utilize highly focused beams of light to electro statically charge rotating drums. These drums in turn cause the surfaces of paper to attract dried ink powder. Before cleaning the interior of a laser printer, unplug the printer, allow it to cool down and then remove its internal paper trays and its toner cartridge. Gently rub the inside of the printer's toner receptacle as well as the printer's drums using a line-free cloth. Just make sure to avoid the printer's primary sponge drum or transfer drum. You should only clean the laser printer's mirror with a specialized, highly-delicate printer brush.

Inkjet Printer Cleaning

Unlike a laser printer, an inkjet printer transfers liquid ink to paper; and does so using a series of tiny jets. Most inkjet models come with self-cleaning features, which you can initiate using the printer's control panel, or in some instances a computer's operating system. Alternatively, you can clean inkjet printers by installing cleaning cartridges, which flush debris out of jet nozzles using cleaning fluid. For best results, choose a cleaning fluid that is compatible with your specific inkjet printer model.

Exterior Cleaning

In addition to promoting a healthy appearance for a printer, cleaning the casing or exterior of a printer will help increase sanitation by eliminating microorganisms. For best results, power-down your printer before cleaning and then rub its exterior surfaces with a lint-free cloth. Moisten the cloth with a cleaning solution of one part vinegar to one part water.

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Print a Color Image Onto Thermal Paper

Thermal printers are favored by businesses because they are fast, cheap, quiet, and can print in color using wax based "solid ink" or individual colored thermal ribbon cartridges, with a wide spectrum of colors.

1). Choose the right type of thermal paper, preferably one recommended by the manufacturer of your thermal printer, to ensure that the color prints coming out of your thermal printer meet a high specification, and purchase a printer designed for thermal printing. Feed the thermal paper correctly into the thermal printer, and store paper properly, away from sources of heat and moisture, ideally in a manila envelope.

2). Switch on the printer, so the print head heats up. Connect your input device to printer. Insert the color thermal paper, making sure it's the correct type and size, with the print side facing the print head. Input data to the printer. As the heated printer head passes the surface of color thermal paper, it is heated and activates the chemicals in the thermal paper, producing hues of black, blue or red, based on the pigmentation (color) of the thermal paper and the amount of heat applied.

3). Place appropriate thermal paper, print side facing print head, into a thermal printer containing ribbon printer cartridges. Available at most office electronics stores or thermal paper suppliers, the ribbon cartridges introduce ink, in the form of wax, resins or a mixture of both, to the thermal printer. This "solid ink" is melted by the heat from the thermal printer, and as it comes into contact with the thermal paper, it sticks to form the image.

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HP 3380 Scanner Errors

 The HP 3380 is an all-in-one printer with many features to meet your needs. It can print, copy, fax and scan. You can scan using the flatbed or with an automatic document feeder. The HP 3380 scans two pages per minute for color documents and about 3.1 pages per minute for grayscale documents. Occasionally, you may run into scanner errors when using the device. You can solve most of the errors at home.

Poor Image Quality

When you scan something, it may not come out looking exactly like the original. This is frustrating, but you can sometimes easily solve the problem. Not using the original picture or document can cause image quality problems. Some possible solutions include reducing the size of the image after scanning, printing the scanned image to see if it's any clearer, and checking the resolution and color settings. If the image looks better on screen than when it prints, adjust your computer monitor settings or the resolution and color settings in the scanner software.

Partial Scan

If the entire image doesn't scan, consider adjusting the resolution and color settings on the scanner if the image has a color background. You can also enhance the image after you scan it using the scanner software. If the document you scan has two sides, the back side can sometimes bleed through into the scanned image if the media is too thin. Verify that the original meets the minimum and maximum size requirements.

Slow Scan

A scan that takes too long is also frustrating. If your resolution and color levels are set high, the scan will take longer. You can speed up the scan by setting it to scan in grayscale or black and white. A print or copy job that's in progress will also slow down a scan because they all processes share the same memory.

Scanner Error Messages

Four error messages are most common with the HP 3380: "Unable to activate TWAIN source," "An error occurred while acquiring the image," "Scanner initialization failed" and "Error communicating with scanner." Most of these errors have to do with a connection problem. Check that the USB or IEEE 1284-B parallel cable is correctly connected to the port on your computer. If you have more than one port, connect to another port. If you have another device connected to the port, disconnect it because it might interfere with the scanner. Ensure the correct TWAIN source, which allows the scanner to communicate with the image processing software, is selected. Click the "File" menu while in the scanner software and select "Select Scanner."

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How Does a Phaser Printer Work

The Xerox phaser printer is a novel computer peripheral that uses Xerox solid ink technology. Originally, solid ink was developed by Tektronix in 1986. With Xerox's acquisition of Tektronix in 2000, solid ink became a signature innovation for the company. The way this works is that the printer will melt the solid ink slightly until it is liquid. If you have observed how offset printing works, you will see some basic similarities between this method of printing and offset printing, since phaser printers use an indirect method of printing images on a sheet of paper.

Printing Specifics

Like a skilled graffiti artist, the phaser printer takes a "spraying" approach to displaying its art. This means that the printer will spray ink from the container onto a rotating drum, placing its images on a sheet of paper. Print heads are placed in a manner that they are separated by color. The mixture of the colors (black, yellow, cyan, and magenta) create vibrant, eye-catching images. The reason these specific colors are used in the creation of newer colors is the fact that they are the base colors. In other words, these colors can produce virtually any other color by mixing just the right amount of each color.

Final Product

After the print heads place the image on the drum, and the drum rotates, the paper is pushed out with the image that was on the drum, clearing the drum of the ink, which prepares it for another rotation. Solid ink can make images look more lively, since they do not mix with the paper like liquid inks. Once the ink freezes again, it ends up being a very small welt on the paper. This is similar to how polish looks on wood. The image on the paper will have a clear and professional appearance.

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Unable to Scan to a Desktop From Konica Minolta

Konica Minolta scanners allow you to scan 35 mm film strips and projector picture slides onto your computer. Troubleshooting the scanner can fix problems with scanning images to your computer desktop.

Connection

Konica Minolta scanners are connected to your computer by a USB cable. You should first check the USB connection if the scanner does not scan to your computer desktop. Locate the USB port on the back of the scanner and press the cable fully into the port. Then check that the other end of the cable is secured to a USB port on your computer.

Loading Film

Loading the film incorrectly into your Konica Minolta scanner will prevent your images from scanning onto the desktop . To properly load your film, pull open the film loader, lay a 35 mm film strip flat on the bottom part of the loader and press down on the top part of the loader until it clicks in place. Press the film loader gently into the film input slot on the scanner until the scanner grabs hold of it and pulls it fully into the scanner.

Software

The Konica Minolta scanner may not scan to the desktop if you plugged the scanner into the computer prior to installing the supplied software. If you connected the scanner prior to installing the software, uninstall the software through the Windows "Add/Remove" utility. Unplug the scanner and reinstall the software using the supplied installation disc.

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How to Change an Ink Waste Pad in a C44ux

When the waste pads get full of ink in your C44ux printer, your printer will more than likely stop working and the lights will flash, indicating a problem. The waste pads get full when the printer realigns and excess ink is collected by the waste pads. The good news is that you don't have to replace the waste pads--you can take them out and simply wash them off and reuse them.

1). Unplug your C44ux printer from the power source.

2). Open the printer by removing the top from the bottom. Use a flat-head screwdriver to carefully pry off the top. You will see marked tabs on the bottom of your printer, indicating where you should place the screwdriver.

3). Remove the waste pads. They are located at the back of the printer on the right side. They look like small sponges. There are two of them. Use gloves to remove them to avoid getting ink on your hands.

4). Wash the pads in the sink under warm water until the water runs clear and there is no more ink. Do not use any cleaning product on the pads, just water.

5). Dry the pads by letting them sit out or using a blow dryer.

6). Replace the pads and reattach the printer covers. Plug your printer back in.

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Clear a Paper Jam on Inkjet Printer

Paper jams are among the most common problem with ink jet printers. Follow these instructions to learn how to clear a paper jam so you can get back to work.

Disconnect the power cord from the back of the printer before you begin. With the power disconnected, you will protect yourself from being shocked. This is an important step when you are fixing any type of electronic device.


Instructions

1. Move your printer so that you'll have access the back panel. Unhinge the back access panel of the printer.
    
2. Look for paper through the opened back panel. Remove any paper you find jammed.
    
3. Close the back access panel. Make sure that it latches into place and looks the same way it did before you opened it.
    
4. Open the front or top access panel. This is the panel you use to access ink cartridges. If the carriage that holds the ink cartridges moves, then you forgot to unplug the printer. Go back and do that now. Look for paper that may be jammed in this area of the printer.
    
5. Remove any paper you find jammed here. There will be resistance from the paper feeder, so pull slowly or the paper will rip and create a more serious problem.
    
6. Close the front access panel. Make sure that it latches back into place.

Plug the printer in and attempt to print again. If you can print successfully, you have removed the paper jam.

Tips & Warnings

1. If you have removed all jammed paper and foreign materials from the printer and you still get an error message, you may have a problem with the carriage or the ink cartridges. Contact HP customer service.
    
2. Remove jammed paper from the back whenever possible. Removing jams from the front can cause damage.
    
3. Do not overfill the tray with paper. Check the tray for markings that tell you how much paper it can hold.
    
4. Do not add or remove paper while the printer is printing. This is one of the leading causes of paper jams.
    
5. Printers are very sensitive and are easy to damage. Simply touching some inner components can have lasting negative effects. If you are unsure of what you are doing, find someone who is more experienced with printers.

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How to Convert USB to Parallel

How to Convert USB to Parallel

There are many older devices such as printers and scanners that are still in good working condition. But because technology has advanced, the parallel connectors on these devices can't connect to newer computers that only have USB ports. In order for the older devices to work with newer computers, you'll need to buy a cable that will connect to a parallel port on one side and a USB port on the other side.

1). Turn off your computer and the device before attaching the cable.

2). USB cableAttach the parallel side of the cable (the larger of the two connectors on the cable) to the device. Plug in the USB side of the cable to the computer's USB port.

3). Tighten the screws on the parallel connector to ensure there is a good connection. On the computer, make sure the USB connector is firmly attached.

4). Turn on the computer and the device. Once the computer is up and running, the operating system should automatically detect newly attached devices. If auto detection doesn't work, insert the CD that came with the device and install the software driver.

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