Vista Home Premium SP1 - trying to connect Brother HL-2142 laser printer as a local printer with USB cable connection. I have installed exactly as instructed in printer manual. When I go to print, file appears in print queue until it finally errors.

When I look in Device Manager->Universal Serial Bus Controllers->USB Root Hub properties->Power tab, the description shows "Unknown USB Device". Not sure if this is what the problem is. If it is, why would the USB Device be unknown?

Also in Device Manager->Other devices, I see the HL-2140 printer with a yellow key hole. Printer manual says using drivers and so on for HL-2140 is fine for the HL-2142.

When I try to add the printer manually, I can't work out which is the USB port. Doesn't seem to be one. I've attached document with screen shot of existing ports to choose from.

Using Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable (A Male/B Male).

Any ideas?

When you connect the printer to the PC via the USB cable, do you hear the
'ding' sound?

Do other USB devices work correctly?
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Windows Technologies - Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows


"harfmt" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:4c659f5f67e8040b91fc2d762b7f3ab3@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

>
> Vista Home Premium SP1 - trying to connect Brother HL-2142 laser printer
> as a _local_ printer with USB cable connection. I have installed exactly
> as instructed in printer manual. When I go to print, file appears in
> print queue until it finally errors.
>
> When I look in Device Manager->Universal Serial Bus Controllers->USB
> Root Hub properties->Power tab, the description shows "Unknown USB
> Device". Not sure if this is what the problem is. If it is, why would
> the USB Device be unknown?
>
> Also in Device Manager->Other devices, I see the HL-2140 printer with a
> yellow key hole. Printer manual says using drivers and so on for HL-2140
> is fine for the HL-2142.
>
> When I try to add the printer manually, I can't work out which is the
> USB port. Doesn't seem to be one. I've attached document with screen
> shot of existing ports to choose from.
>
> Using Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable (A Male/B Male).
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
> +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
> |Filename: Printer Ports.doc |
> |Download: http://www.vistax64.com/attachment.p...hmentid=14482|
> +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
>
> --
> harfmt

Hi Cari

No Ding! When I put my usb stick in the same spot, it reads it straight away.

harfmt wrote:

>
> Hi Cari
>
> No Ding! When I put my usb stick in the same spot, it reads it straight
> away.
>
>

Then try a different cable with the printer. If you still get no "ding",
then the printer is broken and the problem is *not* with your computer.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Great. Brand new printer and cable. It's not the printer - it works fine. I'll get a new cable, but I think it's vista, which is why I put this query on this forum.