How can I connect 2 USB printers and have them both function

That was why I bought the HP Designjet 130. Prints from letter to D sized prints in color or photographic quality too and inks last forever. Cost was $1200.

You forgot to tell us about your:

• computer hardware
• Operating System (some version of Windoze??)
• Whether a print server is involved or not (I'm guessing no)

Since 1995, USB and Doze have be plug and pray play. There is no limit on how many USB devices generally (but we don't have enough specifics on your setup) that you can have.

Check the BIOS. Is USB enabled?

Go to Start-CP-Printers-Properties - Do both printers have drivers? There may be a sharing violation.

OTOH - Just ditch the Epson inkjet. The reason it was free is to get you to buy inkjet cartridges. Don't do it. Go wih the laser. Use the money you save to buy food, gas, or clothes. That is what I did.

You can isolate the printers with a data switch.

Some are automatic, but I prefer the manual switchover
as more dependable. They are cheap and straightforward
to set up. You just click the switch from printer A to B to
decide which printer to use. 4 way, A B,C,D. are available.

I have a spare set-up if you like but the postage (if to the USA)
would be more than the likely local cost.

jt.

My mother and father said, "if a strange car pulls up and invites
you to get in, just go."

I have seen these for RS232 printer ports. Don't think I have for USB. Are you sure about this?

Correct. Data switches have not used been used for at least 15 years for the reason you state.

Hi. I am not sure what the problem could be in your case. However I can think of an alternate solution that might help you. You can attach one of the PC's to the USB port and the other to a print server. Print server is a device used in Local Area Networking, by using this you can use the printer in a stand alone mode i.e. without a PC. The print server can be attached to your PC via the ethernet port on your PC. A Print server will cost you approx $100 to $150.

By doing this you will be able to use one of the printers as a local printer and other one as a network printer. Theoretically this should work, you will have to try it out and see if it works practically. All the best. Thank you.

Does not your print box come up with options on which printer you want to use? hit the drop down and select the one you need.?

Garth CR4

My guess would be that the HP software is using some sort of USB polling. What is the error message? Did you install software that came with your new printer or did you use the plug and play software built into your operating system? Try uninstalling the HP and removing all drivers. Maybe even do a system restore, if that is an option for you, to get back to where you were before installing the HP printer. Take another run at it using plug and play. You're not using one of those 4 port USB expansion things are you? Did you try using new USB cables? You may have a faulty cable. Your USB drivers may need updating. Need more info...

Open System Information (MSINFO32.EXE) and navigate to Hardware Resources > IRQs. Click anywhere in the right pane and then press CTRL-A and then CTRL-C. You have copied that data to the clipboard. Paste that data in a reply here. Regards, Keywalker

Come to think of it, the Epson is probably doing the USB polling and when it "sees" the HP it halts. Don't know if this can be rectified short of the A/B switch.

This is an antique Compaq Presario. I have connected to it, on USB ports, both a Samsung laser and a Konica-Minolta Magicolor 2400w laser.

I installed the appropriate drivers for each of those printers and have no problems with either of them.

When I call up the print function, the mono-color Samsung is my default machine, and want to print color, the print window gives me the ability to shift to the color laser. All I need to do is click on the arrow alongside the Samsung showing in the window and select the Magicolor printer.

If you have the proper driver software I would remove both printers and then reinstall them making one of them the default.

There should be no problem selecting one or the other.

j.