Which port????

[Gilli99]

Hi,

 

When I use my printer, a message pops up onscreen telling me that the printer will work faster if connected through a different port.

Can anyone tell me which port I should use and where it is among the others on my PC? I have 4 at the rear of the computer and 2 at the front. Its a Packard Bell. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks

 

Gill

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

This sounds like you plugged the printer in a USB 1 port which is slower than USB 2.

 

All the USB ports on your PC should be the same. The printer should still work if i'm not wrong.

 

Are you having trouble printing?

[Dalo Harkin]

It should still work as Maynard has said.

 

Can you let us know how the printer connects to the PC? or a pic?

it could be:-

USB

Parallel

Wireless

 

I would have thought that it is one of the last 2 by your 'ports' comment

Edited October 8, 2009 by Dalo Harkin

[Goku]

Hello Gilli. Please do the following:

• Click on Start and select Run.
  
• Type devmgmt.msc in the Open: box and click on the OK button.
  
• This should open up the Device Manager. Click on the + sign next to the Universal Serial Bus controllers category to expand its contents.
  
• Please note down the controllers listed there and post them in your next reply.
  

Also, can you please post the make and model of your printer and the exact alert you receive? I am guessing it is an Epson but I would like to verify it first.

 

Please provide the required information as soon as possible. Good Luck. :)

 

-- Goku

[Gilli99]

Hello Gilli. Please do the following:

• Click on Start and select Run.
  
• Type devmgmt.msc in the Open: box and click on the OK button.
  
• This should open up the Device Manager. Click on the + sign next to the Universal Serial Bus controllers category to expand its contents.
  
• Please note down the controllers listed there and post them in your next reply.
  

Also, can you please post the make and model of your printer and the exact alert you receive? I am guessing it is an Epson but I would like to verify it first.

 

Please provide the required information as soon as possible. Good Luck. :)

 

-- Goku

 

So sorry I havent replied before, I've had to go away for a time.

 

I have a HP Photosmart C 3180. It will work, but takes a time to start when I've clicked on 'Print'. So I wondered which of the usb ports was 'usb 2', which is what the pop-up says.

[RandyL]

We don't know the make, model and number of your PC so we don't know what ports it has.

 

Your all in one C3180 is USB only.

 

If your getting that message try a different port. On some old models there may be USB1 and USB2 but they should be paired. So try a different port. Notably switch the two pairs on the back or if using the front try a pair on the back.

 

HP all-in-ones will typically do a self calibration when turning on the printer or when starting a print operation if a print operation was not performed fairly quick after a previous operation. This is by design and will cause a delay before it prints.

 

Getting the message that using a USB2 port rather than USB1 would be faster is a fairly typical generic message given anytime a USB device that is USB2 capable is plugged into a USB1 port.

 

My hunch is that your computer has only USB1 ports, your printer is USB2 capable and your printer is just self calibrating before it begins printing.

 

As far as data transfer goes it would not make much difference on a PRINT operation once the print starts.

[Dalo Harkin]

The ones at the back on the MOBO where the sounds and keyboard etc attach will be the faster ones, it doesnt mean that they will be USB2 though.

 

When you set the printer up did it do it as a virtual port do you remember?

[Synapse]

Just as an aside, the HP site does not specify USB spec required for Windows, but it does for MAC, and its is USB 2.0

 

Also, looking around the web, alot of spec lists suggest USB 2.0 as the printer spec, which doesn't surprise me.

 

If it is a problem, take your PC to a shop and ask them to fit a PCI USB 2.0 card in the back.

[Dalo Harkin]

The only difference between USB 1.1 and 2.0 is the speed at which the data is received/transmitted it shouldnt stop the device from working

 

Adding a PCI card that supports 2.0 would be the easiest option, unless the reason its running at 1.1 is because the drivers have never been updated for the USB controller