USB001 Virtual printer port vs USB002 Local port vs USB003..

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.print_fax (More info?)

I have an hp1012 on USB001 and an Epson Stylus Photo 870 on USB003, both of
which are described as virtual printer ports in the printer's Properties.
Both printers print work fine. I also see an unused USB002 described as
"Local port". (Don't ask me how I ended up with this arrangement - I can't
really tell you.)

What is the difference between a USB local port and a USB virtual printer
port? Should the printers be assigned to virtual printer ports?

I am trying to gain some understanding of what is going on because of a
related problem, and that is that my scanning software (Microtek ScanWizard)
tells me that no printer drivers are installed, so I cannot use the copy
function. Nobody else to be complaining about this problem. I am running
WinXP SP1 on a plain ol' Dell 4500.

Any guesses as to what the scanning software might be looking at to
determine whether printer drivers are installed? I have uninstalled and
reinstalled the scanner and printers and related software so many time that
I have lost count. I am using the latest versions of scanner and printer
software/drivers.

Sure will appreciate any help.

Robert Leavitt

 

[Chuck]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.print_fax (More info?)

This might get a bit confusing.
A virtual port is a port that is setup as a link in software to what
ultimately & usually is a physical (local) port.
The virtual port "virtual0001" might or might not connect to USB Port 1
(001)
It gets interesting when you swap the printers and connect them to different
physical USB ports.
To confuse things further, just add a powered hub and connect both printers
to the same USB port via the hub.
After checking the printer port properties, etc.for each variation, apply
finger to lower lip, and make appropriate blubbering sounds. Don't be
suprised to find different and often confusing nomenclature used by
different printer drivers.

Things can and have been worse! We used to be forced to write our own
printer drivers in the early days of CPM, Apple dos, MSdos, and dot matrix
printers.
Finally, Microsoft was kind enough to supply a sort of universal graphics
driver included with DOS that accepted a data file describing the
characteristics of a graphics and /or color printer.

"BobLeavitt" <robertl101@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23phcBScoEHA.536@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>I have an hp1012 on USB001 and an Epson Stylus Photo 870 on USB003, both of
> which are described as virtual printer ports in the printer's Properties.
> Both printers print work fine. I also see an unused USB002 described as
> "Local port". (Don't ask me how I ended up with this arrangement - I
> can't
> really tell you.)
>
> What is the difference between a USB local port and a USB virtual printer
> port? Should the printers be assigned to virtual printer ports?
>
> I am trying to gain some understanding of what is going on because of a
> related problem, and that is that my scanning software (Microtek
> ScanWizard)
> tells me that no printer drivers are installed, so I cannot use the copy
> function. Nobody else to be complaining about this problem. I am running
> WinXP SP1 on a plain ol' Dell 4500.
>
> Any guesses as to what the scanning software might be looking at to
> determine whether printer drivers are installed? I have uninstalled and
> reinstalled the scanner and printers and related software so many time
> that
> I have lost count. I am using the latest versions of scanner and printer
> software/drivers.
>
> Sure will appreciate any help.
>
> Robert Leavitt
>
>


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