Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time.

JoeJetty · 12-31-2007, 12:02 AM

I have two USB printers hooked up to my computer (with 4 usb ports in the back and 2 in the front) and only one or the other works at a time. They are brand new printers (HP & Lexmark) and it doesn't matter which port I plug one into it works fine but if I plug the other into ANY of the other ports at the same time I get a "USB device not recognized" message. The same happens in reverse, if I unplug the first printer and plug in the second it works fine, but when I plug the first back in I get the same "USB device not recognized" message. What the heck is going on?

JoeJetty

**sobeit** · 12-31-2007, 07:03 AM

try uninstalling both printers and reinstalling.

12-31-2007, 10:07 AM

Hi JoeJetty and welcome to TSF

Follow sobiet666's advice as it sounds like a driver conflict to me. Uninstall both printers and reinstall to see if this helps the issue. Also see if Printer Spooling is working on both of them.

JoeJetty · 01-01-2008, 12:16 PM

I uninstalled both printers. Turned off the machine. Started it back up again and installed the HP with no problem but when I installed the Lexmark - at the point where the disk said to connect the USB - it didn't recognize the connection. This is what happened in reverse to the HP because I had the Lexmark printer first. So now I'm back to just pluging in whichever USB printer I'm going to use. Is there a adapter that I can use with a female USB to a male Parallel that I can use to make one of these printers LPT1? Being new neither one of these printers came only with USB connections.

Thanks for the help so far,

JoeJetty

JoeJetty · 01-01-2008, 12:19 PM

I made a typo last reply- being new these printers ONLY came with USB connections.

JoeJetty

01-02-2008, 07:43 PM

Have you thought about putting the printer on a network and sharing the printer. To tell you the truth I have no idea what to do at this point, but recommend trying it over a network connection.

I am asking other Hardware Techs to look at this so please be patient, help is on the way

JoeJetty · 01-05-2008, 11:03 PM

Thank you. I hope someone has an answer.

**BCCOMP** · 01-07-2008, 07:30 AM

Hi Guys,
I do not mean to jump in on this thread. I saw Techpro5238 ask for assistance and Terrister respond, but don't see the post here.
This is what Terrister suggest:
"When you install the software, it creates a usb printer port to use. Go to each printer, right click, and go to properties. Now click on the ports tab. Make sure they are using different ports. They all want to be on usbport1"
I am just forwarding this info and take no credit.
Sorry, if I am stepping on anyone toes here.
Thanks,
Bill

JoeJetty · 01-07-2008, 11:39 AM

OK. Yes they both say USB001 when either one is in use. I can add a USB002 but how do you configure it to one of the printers?

**Terrister** · 01-07-2008, 01:17 PM

The software creates this port as part of the install. Not sure which printer you installed 1st, but try deleting them and install the other one 1st.

I would almost bet it is the Lexmark causing the problem. I have had a lot of problems with Lexmark software. See if they have updated software at Lexmark.com

12-31-2007, 12:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
JoeJetty Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. I have two USB printers hooked up to my computer (with 4 usb ports in the back and 2 in the front) and only one or the other works at a time. They are brand new printers (HP & Lexmark) and it doesn't matter which port I plug one into it works fine but if I plug the other into ANY of the other ports at the same time I get a "USB device not recognized" message. The same happens in reverse, if I unplug the first printer and plug in the second it works fine, but when I plug the first back in I get the same "USB device not recognized" message. What the heck is going on? JoeJetty

12-31-2007, 07:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. try uninstalling both printers and reinstalling. __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

12-31-2007, 10:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
techpro5238 Guest Posts: n/a OS:	Re: Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. Hi JoeJetty and welcome to TSF Follow sobiet666's advice as it sounds like a driver conflict to me. Uninstall both printers and reinstall to see if this helps the issue. Also see if Printer Spooling is working on both of them.

01-01-2008, 12:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
JoeJetty Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. I uninstalled both printers. Turned off the machine. Started it back up again and installed the HP with no problem but when I installed the Lexmark - at the point where the disk said to connect the USB - it didn't recognize the connection. This is what happened in reverse to the HP because I had the Lexmark printer first. So now I'm back to just pluging in whichever USB printer I'm going to use. Is there a adapter that I can use with a female USB to a male Parallel that I can use to make one of these printers LPT1? Being new neither one of these printers came only with USB connections. Thanks for the help so far, JoeJetty

01-01-2008, 12:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
JoeJetty Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. I made a typo last reply- being new these printers ONLY came with USB connections. JoeJetty

01-02-2008, 07:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
techpro5238 Guest Posts: n/a OS:	Re: Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. Have you thought about putting the printer on a network and sharing the printer. To tell you the truth I have no idea what to do at this point, but recommend trying it over a network connection. I am asking other Hardware Techs to look at this so please be patient, help is on the way

01-05-2008, 11:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
JoeJetty Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. Thank you. I hope someone has an answer. Last edited by JoeJetty; 01-05-2008 at 11:07 PM. Reason: typo

01-07-2008, 07:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,009 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. Hi Guys, I do not mean to jump in on this thread. I saw Techpro5238 ask for assistance and Terrister respond, but don't see the post here. This is what Terrister suggest: "When you install the software, it creates a usb printer port to use. Go to each printer, right click, and go to properties. Now click on the ports tab. Make sure they are using different ports. They all want to be on usbport1" I am just forwarding this info and take no credit. Sorry, if I am stepping on anyone toes here. Thanks, Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

01-07-2008, 11:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
JoeJetty Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. OK. Yes they both say USB001 when either one is in use. I can add a USB002 but how do you configure it to one of the printers?

01-07-2008, 01:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Re: Two USB printers and only one or the other works at a time. The software creates this port as part of the install. Not sure which printer you installed 1st, but try deleting them and install the other one 1st. I would almost bet it is the Lexmark causing the problem. I have had a lot of problems with Lexmark software. See if they have updated software at Lexmark.com __________________