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Peripherals

Troubleshooting USB and Parrallel peripherals and connections

First try disconnecting and reconnecting you USB device. If not:
Check if the USB connections on your computer are properly installed. Go to START, then right-click MY COMPTER. Click on properties, and then select the HARDWARE tab.
Click the DEVICE MANAGER button.
Scroll down the window, and you should see the UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS CONTROLLER. Double-click on the icon.
A string of device will appear under the icon. If you see a RED-X on any of the USB devices, double-click on the device.
There is a pull-down menu under Device Usage. Select USE THIS DEVICE and click okay.
If you see a yellow circle instead, look under Device STATUS under the General tab. There might be some system conflicts affecting the device.
However if you don’t see any entries for your (U)niversal (S)erial (B)us controller, restart and check your BIOS settings (if any) . Enable your USB device.

Well apply the trail and error method. Disconnect BOTH ends of the USB cable. Disconnect any device from your USB hub. Restart your computer
Reconnect your hub. If it is detected, plug you devices ONE AT A TIME into your USB hub. This is to check if any of your devices are causing problems.
Some devices need to be connected directly into your computer. If any of your devices are causing problems with the USB hub, try connecting it to your computer.

Many USB devices derive their power from the USB connection itself. There’s a chance that overloading the connection (such as through the use of USB hub’s) can draw too much power. Thus, your device or even your computer may refuse to work
If this happens, try to disconnect any non critical USB devices, which do not have their own power adapters, or which you are not using at the moment.

Try disconnecting both ends of the parallel port cable, and then reconnect.
If possible, try using the cable on another computer if reconnecting doesn’t work. You may need to replace your parallel port cable.
If you are replacing your parallel port cable, make sure its IEEE 1294 compliant. Read the specifications.
Maybe your parallel port wasn’t installed properly? Go to START, then right-click MY COMPTER. Click on properties, and then select the HARDWARE tab.
Click the DEVICE MANAGER button.
Double-click the PORTS (COM & LPT) icon.
If you see a red x beside the LPT1 icon, double-click on the device.
There is a pull-down menu under Device Usage. Select USE THIS DEVICE and click okay.

You may need to update your printer driver. Go to your printer manufacturer’s site, look for the model of your printer and download the updated drive (if any that is).
Then check the version of the driver you currently have.
If you need to update your driver:
Go to START > CONTROL PANEL > PRINTERS AND FAXES.
Click on the PRINTER icon.
Double-click SET PRINTER PROPERTIES.
On the left sidebar, you should see a Printer Task menu. The last item should be SET PRINTER PROPERTIES. Click that.
If the current version of your printer driver is of an older version, you need to update your driver. Download from the manufacturer’s site.
Right-click on your PRINTERS AND FAXES window, click the ADD PRINTER option. Alternatively, you can find it under the FILE option.
Click NEXT at the welcome screen.
Choose the LOCAL PRINTER ATTACHED TO THIS COMPUTER option. Click NEXT.
Choose your printer port in USE THE FOLLOWING PORT option.
At the next screen, click the HAVE DISK button. Then choose BROWSE and find the file you downloaded from the manufacturer’s site.
Then follow the instructions through the end.

Do a through check. Have you run out of ink? Are all the cables secure?
There may unfinished printing jobs which are holding up your current print. Go to START > CONTROL PANEL > PRINTERS AND FAXES. Double-click your printer icon. If there are any jobs still running, it will be shown in the window. Go to the printer option, and choose the CANCEL ALL DOCUMENTS.

Check if you have connected properly. Disconnect and reconnect if necessary.

Right click the MY COMPUTER icon to access the System properties window. Which then..

..lead to the DEVICE MANAGER option.

Check to see if your USB device has been installed properly. Look out for status indications if any.

External USB hard drives have their own power supply. However, most USB devices get their power form their USB connection itself.

A parallel port connection.

The printer and faxes icon. You setup your printer settings here.

Check to see if there are any outstanding jobs which may be hindering your print.

Do a through check. Have you run out of ink? Any paper jam?

Add printer under the file tab.