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HP Deskjet 3820 Color Inkjet Printer Troubleshooting

HP Deskjet Printers- What is the Difference Between a USB and Parallel Cable?

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READ THIS FIRST: Do not connect a product to a computer with a USB or parallel cable until instructed to. If the cable is attached prematurely, the product may not work or offer all available features.

Introduction

This document was created to describe the differences between universal serial bus (USB) and parallel cables. Not every computer or peripheral device has both. The pictures and descriptions below will help determine which connections you have on your computer and peripheral device. A peripheral device could be a printer, camera, scanner, or any other device that connects with these two types of cable.
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Do I have a USB or parallel cable?

Type of cableComputer end of the cablePeripheral end of the cable
USB cable
Parallel cable
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Important things to know about USB connections

Things to watch out for

If the cable is connected at the wrong time, the printer may not work or may not offer all the features available.

Advantages of USB

The USB cable offers the ability to connect many different devices, such as printers, scanners, cameras, and drives, with a common connection.

Supported operating systems

HP Deskjet printers support USB in the following operating systems:
  • Microsoft(R) Windows XP
  • Windows Me
  • Windows 98
  • Windows 2000

How do you connect the USB cable to the computer?

This end of the cable attaches to the USB port on the computer.
The connector on the end of the cable is shaped so it inserts only one way into the computer.

  1. Compare the inside of the cable connection with the port on the computer.
  2. Attach the cable by pushing it into the port on the back of the computer.

How do you connect the USB cable to the printer or other peripheral device?

This end of the cable attaches to the peripheral device.
The connector on the end of the cable is shaped so it inserts only one way into the peripheral device.

Attach the cable by inserting it into the USB port on the back of the device being connected.
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Important things to know about parallel connections

Things to watch out for

  • The cable type is very important. The printer cable should be IEEE1284 compliant, meaning that the cable meets certain standards set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Usually you can tell if the cable is compatible, by checking to see if “IEEE1284 compliant” is written on the cable. If the cable is not IEEE1284 compliant, the printer and computer may not be able to effectively communicate so the printer may print strange characters or the following error messages may appear:
    • Error writing to LPT1
    • Two way communication cannot be established
    • Printer out of paper
    • Printer not responding
    • Print cartridge not responding
  • If the cable is connected at the wrong time with Windows XP, the printer may not offer all the features available.

Supported operating systems

Connecting with a parallel cable is compatible in all Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Advantages of parallel connections

Parallel cables are the most common cable used to connect computers to printers. Most printers and computers have a parallel connection.

How do you connect the parallel cable to the computer?



This end of the cable attaches to the computer.
The connector on the end of the cable is shaped so it inserts only one way into the computer.

  1. Attach the cable by inserting it into the parallel port on the back of the computer.
  2. Once the cable is inserted, lightly tighten the screws to hold the cable in place.

How do you connect the parallel cable to the peripheral device?

This end of the cable attaches to the device.
The connector on the end of the cable is shaped so it inserts only one way into the connection on the peripheral device.

  1. Attach the cable by inserting it into the parallel port on the back of the device you are connecting.
  2. Once the cable is inserted, press the wires on either side of the port onto the cable to lock it into place.
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Can I use USB and parallel connections at the same time?

The HP Deskjet 960C, 980C, and 990C series printers can print to both parallel and USB ports at the same time, but only one is needed to print. You can connect these printers to one computer with a USB cable and to another computer with a parallel cable. The printers can automatically switch from receiving one type of data (USB) to receiving another type of data (parallel).
The HP Deskjet 640C, 810C, 830C, 840C, 880C, 895C, 930C, 950C, and 970C series printers can print to only one port at a time.
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