Can't get a parallel HP5P to work on USB cable

I had this working once, but the old cable was very short & it broke. So now I have a new USB cable & can't get the HP5P to be recognized.

I have tried hints on the web "unplug the printer, shutdwn XP system, plug in printer. restart & plug-n-play will recognize the printer" NOT

I do have one of those yellow question marks in Device Manager - USB device.
Might that be contributing to the problem?

Any help will be much appreciated, as the 5P is a real workhores, at minimal cost.

 

I have two HP5's that are really cheap to run and still serve me well. Printing cost is less than one cent per page and they both have duplexers, meaning they both will print both sides of a sheet before ejecting the sheet once.

I have a color printer; but, that accounts for less than 1% of my printing.

My experiences with those USB to Parallel adapters is that some the first time you try them. Some work sometimes and give frequent glitches. Still some others are so much trouble as to make you want to abandon the printer and get another; however, if you are using a desktop, there is one solution that always works well 100% of the time, a PCI to Parallel adapter.

The customer feedback at NewEgg is invaluable. Be sure to read that on the item before ordering.

 

One thing about printers is that you can disconnect and reconnect the cable as much as you like as long as no "drives" are involved. You can power-off the printer and restart it after it is connected.

You can highlight and Uninstall the yellow question mark devices in Device Manager...they don't work now!

Just some "trys ".

Matt

 

At one point, I had my HP5 working on a 25-foot parallel cable and I heard claims from IT's that they had actually seen one on a 50 footer; but, pilotgal8 didn't mention that length was the problem. I'm guessing she doesn't currently have a parallel port.

 

It seems the problem now is "Can't get a parallel HP5P to work on USB cable ", though. It seems logical to me the reason she's using USB-to-Parallel adapter is she has no parallel port at present.

 

Updated details.

Hp5P installed on a new 'sufficient' length USB to Parallel cable. Plugged to USB on the computer & the 5P Parallel port. Uninstalled the 5P in the printer list. Rebooted computer, plug&play didn't find the printer.

unplugged the cable, rebooted computer, then plugged in the parallel cable. Plug&play still didn't find the printer.

Device manager shows 3 USB ports, tho there are 4 physical USB ports oon the rear of the machine.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.