Printer Offline

Drew Lockomawood · Mar 13, 2009

I'm running Windows XP in Parallels 4.0 on a iMac with OSX 10.5.6. God help me.

For some reason, I am unable to connect to a USB printer while using the virtual machine. When trying to print from Windows, I get the following message: "The printer is offline. Check that the printer cable is connected and the printer power is on."

Well... The printer cable IS connected and the printer IS on. From OSX, the printer works as expected.

Please help.

galochka · Mar 13, 2009

Hello Drew Lockomawood,

On Mac side please check the following:
1) System Preferences -> Sharing -> Printer Sharing -> Printer Sharin on-> Open Print and fax preferences -> there should be the printer

2) Configure -> Parallel Port 1 (or add it "+" parallel port) -> it should be connected and enabled

Start Virtual Machine -> Parallel Port 1 -> Connect default printer or printer you specfied when you set up Parallel Port 1

In case that does not help you may install Bonjour, please check the following article: http://kb.parallels.com/en/5156

Drew Lockomawood · Mar 14, 2009

Thanks for the response, galochka. However, the problem is that Windows says the printer is offline.

Drew Lockomawood · Mar 14, 2009

Print Sharing is on. Parallel Port 1 is configured. Windows still shows printer as being offline.

Drew Lockomawood · Mar 14, 2009

Followed your directions. Printer still shows as offline in Windows. What up?

ThiagoM · Sep 15, 2009

I am having the same problem! print is offline on win but is connect on parallels.

ThiagoM · Sep 15, 2009

I am having the same problem! Printer is offline on win but is conect on parallels! What I have to do for printer go online on win?

Anupama A · Sep 15, 2009

Hello,

Please follow the steps given below in order to resolve the printer issue:

1> Click on the Apple logo on your Mac. Select "System Preferences". Select Sharing and then enable "Printer Sharing".
2> Start the Virtual Machine.
3> Select "Parallels Desktop" written on the top of the Mac screen. Click on "Preferences". Select USB. Under USB you will see a number of devices selected. Click on the Add button. Select the Hp ColorLaserJet printer over here.
4> Now, close this window.
5> Select Devices from the menu. Click on USB and check the Hpcolorlaserjet Printer.
6> Click on the start button which is at the bottom left hand corner of the Mac screen. Go to Control Panel. Select Printer and faxes.
7> Delete all the existing Printers from this window. Now, add a new printer.
8> Try printing the test page.

Also, please follow the knowlegdebase articles given below in regards to the issue:

http://kb.parallels.com/en/5156
http://kb.parallels.com/en/5783
http://kb.parallels.com/en/4990

I sincerely hope that it will help you to resolve the issue.

Eric Evans · Sep 2, 2010

Worked

Anumpama,

Thanks for solving this issue. I was at my wits end with this one.

Eric

Eric Evans · Sep 2, 2010

oh oh now my mac side says offline

This solution worked great for my windows printing issue, but now my mac side says offline. Any ideas?

Thanks Eric

joevt · Sep 2, 2010

You can't use a USB device in Mac OS X while it's attached to the virtual machine. Detach the USB printer from the virtual machine before using it on the Mac side.

You can print to the Mac printer without attaching it to the virtual machine by setting up the printer port of the virtual machine and printing to the "HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS" printer in Windows which will print to the Mac printer.

Read the docs at and look at the "Sharing a Mac Printer" section:
http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v5/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/23532.htm