USB to Parallel Adapter - Hang Boot

Go to control panel, system, select device manager and scroll down to the USB and see if there is a yellow exclamation mark there. If so select properties and choose update driver and see if it will correct it.
Dave

Your connection sounds a little confusing to me. Did you connect from a parallel port on the printer to the USB port on the Dell? Why not use the Dell parallel port? Many printers will not work with this type of connection. If you go to Dell FixIt forum and ask, "Why don't I have active USB ports," you will get the answer on how to activate them. The reason you can use the printer tool box functions is because these do not depend on communication with anything. What model and type of printer are you using? Does it have a USB port?

I got this off the Belkin Site. They have quite a lot of info (FAQ's) about their Paralel to USB cable. The USB Printer Adapter supports bi-directional communication on printers whose driver is written using the normal Windows API. This is the reason many bi-directional printers function fully with the product. For printers whose drivers directly manipulate the parallel port, as opposed to using Windows' printing API, it is impossible to "re-direct" these commands to the USB port. They say the cable supports just about all printers including HP's. There is a troubleshooting section there that give some suggestions on dealing with problems such as drivers, faulty operations etc. I was trying to find the site that listed all of the printers that work on Parallel/USB cables, but can't remember where I found it. It souunds like a possible driver problem as mentioned above. You can also go to USB.ORG and look up the manufacturer of your cable. Maybe there's some info there or elsewhere on USB.ORG's site dealing with your printer/proper drivers/cable. I have to download new drivers to get my Epson Sylus working through the USB port. They just came out last month.

No problems with the HW function in the HW setup window.

Interesting and I will look into it. I have some doubts because... The failure to boot occurred prior to loading any driver, prior to connecting the printer side, only the PC-USB side was connected. I still can see how the cable is at fault just due to wiring, but that is less likely to me than a PC USB issue. I'm gonna talk to some friends to see if they have a USB connectable device that I can borrow to see if USB to USB will work.

Thanks again

The reason for not using the parallel port is that I'm trying to connect two printers. The one in question, as stated in the original message, is an HP LaserJet 4L and it does not have a USB port. The adapter is supposed to provide USB (computer end) to Parallel (printer end) adaption. To reiterate, the port and associated drivers work ok, except that the computer won't boot or shutdown properly when the USB side is connected to the PC. When plugged in after boot it does work.

Maybe a parallel port auto switch would work unless you use both printers at the same time.. P

Iget this same problem using a multifunction hub
(4 usb, 1 par, 1 ser).
It doesn't matter what if anything is plugged into the hub, I cannot power down or start up with it connected... I have to unplug
- once it starts booting I can plug it in and all is well

I have tried two different types of adapter cables and both cause the problem. The cable distributer admits that they may conflict with some USB "chip sets". The cables go back. I inserted a std USB - USB cable and no boot problems, I'm convinced that it is the adapter cable that is causing the problems.

thanks all for you input
LM

May be driver problem, but I am unconvinced since the cable causes the problem when not connected to printer and this occurs during the boot prior to loading drivers. The hang-up occurs prior to executing the BIOS. It must be the wiring crossover in the adapter cable that causes a pull up or down on the wrong data line in the USB circuit??

thanks
LM