posted on January 16, 2001 12:04:05 PM
I just got a HP CDRW that I won in an auction on eBay and I have a question. I'm trying to hook the thing up and I'm confused. It mentions how to hook it up through the printer, but I have a printer and a scanner and have those hooked up together. I'm sure it can be done, but I'm looking for some advice so I don't mess anything up.
posted on January 16, 2001 12:39:34 PM
You might have to add a second parallel port to your system. I'm not sure if you can piggy-back 3 things, and I don't know if an A/B switch would work in this situation.
Adding a second port would be easy, as long as you have an open slot and an available IRQ.
posted on January 16, 2001 01:49:59 PM
I would definitely go the route of adding another port. Your printer and scanner drivers constantly send bits of information to their respective device. This could have a detrimental effect of your CD, which is already a touchy device to be connecting to a parallel port.
Daisy-chaining three devices would be questionable. Some devices specifically state in their manuals not to have more than two devices on the port. Others will demand that their device be in a certain position in the things on that port.
You definitely don't want to be a manufacturer of shiny coasters. Look into installing another port.
posted on January 16, 2001 03:20:10 PM
Hi, I have the same set up and I bought a parallel port box (not sure what the official name is) but it has four slots with a dial on the front and I plugged the CDRW into one of the slots and the scanner/printer cable is in another. When I want to use the CDRW, I have to turn the dial to that port and run the CDRW. WHen I am finished I just turn the dial back to the scanner/printer setup. The box plugs into the computer and the peripherals plug into the box...kind of like an extension cord theory....Hope that makes sense. Pam
posted on January 16, 2001 03:24:28 PM
The box I am talking about has a dial for A/B/C/D and four parallel port slots on the back. I have been using this for about a year and have had no problems. Hope this helps
