Using printer not supported by OS X

S

straight_up

Bit poster
I am attempting to use Windows to print to my Lexmark 8300 all-in-one -- it has no Mac drivers -- but get the error message "USB device you are trying to connect to the virtual machine is being used by another process. Wait 5-10 seconds, then try to connect the device again. If this does not help, find the application that blocked up the device and disconnect it manually" when trying to let Parallels use that USB device.

How can I discover which process in OS X is "owing" my printer and revoke its access so Parallels can do its thing?

[I saw the sticky thread with the Bonjour tip, but doubt that will let me print, scan, etc., since there are no OS X drivers for my printer.]
 
I have an HP colorjet for which HP has not provided drivers. I installed Bonjour in Windows (Bonjour for Windows is available at apple.com).

Windows has drivers but can't see the printer because of the Mac USB problem in earlier Parallels releases (fixed now). So I attach the printer using OS X as a raw device. A raw device is pass-through. It will not modify the data. In Bonjour for Windows I attached the Mac raw printer and use the HP printer drivers for Windows. Windows formats the print stream and sends it to OS X which passes it straight on through to the printer. This configuration also lets me print from other Windows and Unix systems by using the Mac as a print server, so it is actually quite handy.

When I start VM's they do not automatically attach to USB devices so when I start XP it will not snatch the printer away from OS X.

Some day I'll replace that printer with a network printer that supports CUPS and Windows - that will take care of all my Unix VM's and XP.
 
How do you attach the printer as a raw device? (also, my device is also a scanner, which might make things more complicated.)
 
If you are happy to use this printer only on Windows (and not OS/X). then you might try the new Beta release, which is supposed to handle USB connectivity better. I can't vouch for this, because I am still on 1970. Be sure to read the release notes, be aware that it's a beta and maybe unstable, and backup your VM before installing the Beta.

If you want the printer to work under OS/X, I would go to GimpPrint and see if you can find a Lexmark driver. Chances are a driver from an older Lexmark model will drive your printer just fine. However, finding one that properly uses the scanner, too, may be difficult. Do a google on GimpPrint to find the site.

The other thing you could try is to go to the Lexmark site and see if you can find a driver for Linux or Unix. Since OS/X is Unix under the covers, this might work for you.

Bonjour will probably not work for you unless you can get the printer to work on OS/X. (The exception might be if you attached it to an external printer server.)

Good luck.
 
make sure you read the release notes about using beta software BEFORE you install.... know what you are installing before you dive in and do it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top