[Flipper]

I have tried to connect my Canon BJC50 portable printer to my Toshiba A105 4094 laptop which has no parallel ports. I bought a parallel to USB cable and it takes 10 minutes for a page to print.. if it ends up printing at all.
In talking to Canon they said I was out of luck.. that the parallel spoke a different 'language' than the USB.
Someone said to try going thru a router - but I didn't understand what they were saying. If there is a workaround it needs to be something that I can still tote around with me without adding too much bulk or weight.

This has been THE most reliable printer I've ever used.. and am having troubles thinking I may have to go another route.. (tears).. But, if I do.. any suggestions on another portable printer? Not necessary to print photos.
Thanks for any suggestions.

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Uh, Oh.. no responses to my query... If no-one can figure a workaround is there anyone who can recommend a portable printer they've had experience with?

[Flipper]

Uh, Oh.. no responses to my query... If no-one can figure a workaround is there anyone who can recommend a portable printer they've had experience with?

[Retired Tech]

Where did you install the printer driver from?

Does it say for windows XP

If you click start, right click my computer, click properties, hardware, device manager, right click the printer, click update driver, choose from list, is there one for your printer

[Neil Jones]

I have tried to connect my Canon BJC50 portable printer to my Toshiba A105 4094 laptop which has no parallel ports. I bought a parallel to USB cable and it takes 10 minutes for a page to print.. if it ends up printing at all.
In talking to Canon they said I was out of luck.. that the parallel spoke a different 'language' than the USB.
Someone said to try going thru a router - but I didn't understand what they were saying.

This won't work because using a router would still need your adaptor, which you've identified as being a bit hit-and-miss.

A lot of laptops (and many branded computer systems) have dropped support for legacy connectors now, so you won't find serial ports, parallel ports or even PS/2 ports now on models like these. Heck, on the back of a Dell machine you get 5 USB Ports, a network port, video port and a sound hole. And nothing else.

If there is a workaround it needs to be something that I can still tote around with me without adding too much bulk or weight.

The only real workaround to this is to find another portable printer that works off USB, as the USB to Parallel adaptors aren't very good and usually cause more trouble than they are worth.

[Flipper]

Thank you for the replies.
Keith: The driver is Windows XP approved. I downloaded it first from an online source, then downloaded the one that shows in the add printer wizard that is XP compatible.

Neil, sadly, I'm thinking I may be looking for another portable printer... or travel with an older laptop that can deal with my very reliable canon! poop.

Any hands on experience with portable printers? I've only seen two so far. One by HP one Canon (which looks to be more of a photo printer).