Printers and XP Mode

HammerHead · 14 Aug 2009

Is it possible to "port" a printer from XP mode to Win 7? I have been able to get the printer in Win 7 to show up in Printers/Devices in XP mode but not Vice Versa.

Night Hawk · 14 Aug 2009

For 7 you will need to set up a printer right through the Devices+Printers section there. I'm surprised you saw that in the XP mode unless the RC offers one more new support. Generally that looks to the 7 host for things like sound playback, ie connection, and sees yellow marked items for the sound card if installed as well as tv tuner cards and other addon devices.

Usb flash drives are the new exception to the previous statement there since you can now have full access to those while in the XP mode RC!

darkassain · 15 Aug 2009

if this printer is a usb based one you can interface it in xp mode using the USB feature...:)
under the usb button there should be something called "Unknown Device" or "Unidentified Device" (if you have a all-in-one printer then you might have to attach more than one device or if you have other devices that you have not installed drivers there might be a some guessing involved...

)

Night Hawk · 15 Aug 2009

That will be good to hear for those now trying out the RC version of the XP mode for the first time. Most printers for desktop application these days are usb while businesses and other setups may not be as fortunate with any serial type. Fax of course often uses the dialup type configuration where that may be a problem.

jimbo45 · 15 Aug 2009

Hi all
It's quite simple -- just add the printer to the XP virtual machine as if it were a "Real" machine. Create a new "Local" port and simply add the printer. XP will install its own driver.

I've got a number of posts on this forum (do a search) about sharing printers bewteen W7 and XP and between x-86 and x-64 systems.

Set your networking option in the virtual pc to Bridged or NAT so you can share the printer on W7.

With the "Integration" feature it might be even easier -- unfortunately using the Integration feature loses any decent screen resolution on your Guest OS so for me currently XP mode whilst a great idea has "shot itself in the foot" since with decent quality monitors these days the resolution on Virtual PC looks absolutely appaling ( VGA standard on a 28 inch screen looks quite frightening).

Cheers
jimbo

Night Hawk · 15 Aug 2009

As suspected it's already present in one form being a shared resource with the Host. When having the existing printer turned on it will either print on the spot or save the print job to a file for printing by the host. For businesses they usually have network access to one or more printers solving any problems that way.

HammerHead · 15 Aug 2009

Jimbo45
"It's quite simple -- just add the printer to the XP virtual machine as if it were a "Real" machine. Create a new "Local" port and simply add the printer. XP will install its own driver."
Done that Jimbo.
The problem is I can't use it in Win 7 because it doesn't show up any where to be selected. I installed a copy of the printer in Win 7 but it doesn't operate correctly there. So what I have is a printer functioning in Virtual XP that is not accessible from Win 7.

Night Hawk · 15 Aug 2009

Vista/7 drivers alone won't work from the start on XP or the XP mode. The image there shows that there was need for any installation if you look closely at the user account named there. You also need to set things up for network sharing. That means turning file and printer sharing.

wildbilly · 16 Aug 2009

XP mode is a beautiful thing! my HP f4280 would ONLY print in Windows 7 with a "basic" driver. BUT, I installed it on xpmode and now I can use all the functions on it. At first I was upset I got rid of Vista.......but this is just fine. It keeps everything nice and organized as well. Anything you install in XPmode stays separate.

I wonder if there will be a vista mode, or would that be redundant?

Night Hawk · 16 Aug 2009

Eventually there may be a Vista mode like for 8 or 9 once a newer version is no longer as closely tight knit as far as compatibility as 7 is to Vista in that regard. But when looking forward you may not be seeing any new 32bit editions of Windows to go along with the 64bit.

So far I haven't been able to print directly on the XP mode while the drivers for the lazer printer here went right on. That's a swtich from the beta version now being seen. Before there was no way to install device drivers.