Hello, I am looking for an adapter that converts a parallel port on the computer to a USB port. I see plenty of the ones that work the other way around, e.g. convert a USB port into parallel for use with printers.
A serial port to USB port is an alternative solution for my problem .
If either exists, let me know mfr & model, I would be grateful.
-whipaway

What about a USB 1.1/2.0 PCI card to give your PC some usb ports? Would that work? www.siig.com seems to have lotsa converter-type things.

I looked everywhere for you and, just like you, can only find ways to connect parallel devices to USB ports on a computer!! How frustrating ... the parallel and serial ports are pretty old-fashioned nowadays though.

I looked a bit more, and from what I have seen, this is impossible to do. It seems as if you need a USB controller to access a USB device in any way (even through a converter). Therefore, your motherboard either has to have native USB support or you need a PCI add-in USB card to access USB devices. (Apparently there are tons of USB PCI cards that you just stick into the PCI slot of a pre-USB machine (even if your motherboard doesn't support it) and you have instant USB ports).

Apparently the reason you can find converters the other way around is because virtually all motherboards can handle serial and parallel devices and it's simply the means of connection you need the converter for.

Please correct me if this is wrong? I did a whole bunch of looking and looking and it seems this is the conclusion I've come to.

Thanks for all of your help. An internal PCI card would be the easiest solution, but this project is for my computer at work, and it would be a temporary project just to test some stuff out, and not a permanent thing, so I dont wanna hafta open up the computer to install stuff, and then open it up again to remove the PCB.

I don't want to seem rude here, but if you don't want to open your case... you're sol.

I have no problem opening the case up, but this is a secret project at work, and too many nosy people will ask questions if I start opening up computer cases around the place, so an external solution is the best idea for now.

Yes thats all and good for the PC (installing a USB card) but what if you wanted to use a USB printer with a Parallel Print Server, this is my predicament I have about 5 Parallel servers and they are becoming obsolete. What should I do?

Thaxton

get rid of them and buy new ones

I have the same problem of having parallel port servers. There has to be a solution out there!! (right?) I mean, with most of the new printers having USB connections

The solution was mentioned above ,the person just didn't what to install one .A PCI usb device Addin in card .