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How to configure an HP inkjet printer for use with Virtual PC for Mac

Article ID: 825527 - View products that this article applies to.

INTRODUCTION

This article discusses how to set up a USB-compliant HP inkjet printer for use by Connectix Virtual PC for Mac versions 5 and 6, and by Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1.

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Virtual PC supports printing to most types of printers, under most guest operating systems. HP inkjet USB printers require that you print using the printer driver supplied with the printer. To use USB printing, you must use a USB cable to connect your printer to your Macintosh computer. Then, you must configure Virtual PC to use the USB connection to your printer with the virtual machine. To do so, follow these steps:

Start Virtual PC.
Click Settings in the Virtual PC List dialog box.
Click USB.
Click to select the Enable USB check box.
Click to select the check box for the USB printer that you want to use.
Click OK.
If your virtual machine is running, restart your virtual machine.

Note When you enable USB in Virtual PC for Mac, the printer uses the virtual USB port of the virtual machine. While the virtual machine is running, the printer is not available to the Macintosh operating system. If the Macintosh operating system tries to use the printer while the Windows-based virtual machine is running, the Macintosh operating system behaves like the printer is physically disconnected and generates an error message.

Typically, the Macintosh computer automatically resumes control over the printer when you close the virtual machine window, or when you quit Virtual PC. Sometimes, the printer may not appear in the Macintosh operating system when Virtual PC releases the printer. If this problem occurs, turn off the physical printer, disconnect its USB cable, turn the printer on, and then reconnect the printer to the host computer.

How to set up the guest operating system

The Windows USB printer setup procedure for a virtual machine is the same as the procedure for a physical computer. If you have the CD that was included with the printer, follow the instructions that came with the CD. If you downloaded the printer driver from the printer manufacturer, follow the instructions that came with the driver. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly. The order that you perform the steps can be crucial.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

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