sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 I did a bit of investigation and well nothing disappeared when I moved the usb from the laptop. So I looked at the multi-port serial adapters and it has (roland) on the side. I tried removing the usb to see if that would make a difference and it didn't disappear. I actually don't how its connected but there is a beep to signify the usb is attached or removed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 Okay, I did a bit of more investigatory work... It would appear the usb for the cutter is under universal serial bus controllers. And its 'USB printing support' as that is the only one that disappears when I pull the usb from the laptop. Is this helpful? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darcshadow 1,626 Posted October 1, 2020 Ok, I suspect now that you do not have the driver for the USB-2-Parallel adapter installed. Does the adapter have any markings on it other than what is in the photo you posted? Also, in one of your early post you said you had a problem on the LPT1 port but that went away when you put in an IP address. Where did you put an IP address in? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 1 minute ago, darcshadow said: Ok, I suspect now that you do not have the driver for the USB-2-Parallel adapter installed. Does the adapter have any markings on it other than what is in the photo you posted? Also, in one of your early post you said you had a problem on the LPT1 port but that went away when you put in an IP address. Where did you put an IP address in? I installed the driver for the usb-to-parallel adapter this morning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted October 1, 2020 Does this help any? I also found this online. Printers have evolved to keep up with advances in personal computers. Some of the original means of connecting printers are less commonly used. Parallel port interfaces, commonly known as Line Print Terminal (LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, etc.) are being replaced with newer interface devices such as Firewire, network printing and Universal Serial Bus (USB). Changing your printer port from LPT1 to USB is easy. Step 1 Connect the parallel port end of the adapter to your printer. Step 2 Insert the USB end of the adapter into the USB port of your computer. Step 3 Click "Start," "Settings," and "Printers and Faxes." Step 4 Locate and right-click the icon of the printer you wish to configure. Step 5 Select "Properties." Click on the "Ports" tab. Step 6 Remove the check mark from the box next to the LPT port where your printer is listed. Step 7 Check the box next to the USB port in the list. Click "Apply" and then "OK." If this is true, can't you connect in Flexi as USB? That is how I am connected with a Graphtec. in XP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darcshadow 1,626 Posted October 1, 2020 Also, have you tried running Flexi again, and do you still get that error about communicating with Production Manager? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 I always thought the usb-to-parallel (utp going forward if you don't mind) was the connector. so i did this (and sorry for my very basic instructions) Under printer and faxes, i clicked on properties - ports - scrolled to usb001 -add port - selected standard tcp/ip port and then put my address in there. I could be wrong but I just tried everything i could think of Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 2 minutes ago, darcshadow said: Also, have you tried running Flexi again, and do you still get that error about communicating with Production Manager? yes i keep getting the error Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 6 minutes ago, MZ SKEETER said: Does this help any? I also found this online. Printers have evolved to keep up with advances in personal computers. Some of the original means of connecting printers are less commonly used. Parallel port interfaces, commonly known as Line Print Terminal (LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, etc.) are being replaced with newer interface devices such as Firewire, network printing and Universal Serial Bus (USB). Changing your printer port from LPT1 to USB is easy. Step 1 Connect the parallel port end of the adapter to your printer. Step 2 Insert the USB end of the adapter into the USB port of your computer. Step 3 Click "Start," "Settings," and "Printers and Faxes." Step 4 Locate and right-click the icon of the printer you wish to configure. Step 5 Select "Properties." Click on the "Ports" tab. Step 6 Remove the check mark from the box next to the LPT port where your printer is listed. Step 7 Check the box next to the USB port in the list. Click "Apply" and then "OK." If this is true, can't you connect in Flexi as USB? That is how I am connected with a Graphtec. in XP shall i give this a go? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted October 1, 2020 Yes, try it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 3 minutes ago, MZ SKEETER said: Yes, try it. I don't know how to do it because it is not that straight forward. It doesn't give me the option to 'apply' when i select usb001. Please see photos of the options that it gives me. I don't know what to do next after I have selected usb001. It would be great if you could talk it through with me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 24 minutes ago, MZ SKEETER said: Does this help any? I also found this online. Printers have evolved to keep up with advances in personal computers. Some of the original means of connecting printers are less commonly used. Parallel port interfaces, commonly known as Line Print Terminal (LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, etc.) are being replaced with newer interface devices such as Firewire, network printing and Universal Serial Bus (USB). Changing your printer port from LPT1 to USB is easy. Step 1 Connect the parallel port end of the adapter to your printer. Step 2 Insert the USB end of the adapter into the USB port of your computer. Step 3 Click "Start," "Settings," and "Printers and Faxes." Step 4 Locate and right-click the icon of the printer you wish to configure. Step 5 Select "Properties." Click on the "Ports" tab. Step 6 Remove the check mark from the box next to the LPT port where your printer is listed. Step 7 Check the box next to the USB port in the list. Click "Apply" and then "OK." If this is true, can't you connect in Flexi as USB? That is how I am connected with a Graphtec. in XP how is your Graphtec set up in XP? Would mine have a similar connection? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted October 1, 2020 My XP does not have APPLY, Just click OK. No need to Add a port. Choose the Virtual Printer USB 001 Choose USB 001 in Flexi set up. Or whatever is close in Flexi set up, Your Flexi 7 is older than mine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darcshadow 1,626 Posted October 1, 2020 9 minutes ago, sophie reynolds said: I always thought the usb-to-parallel (utp going forward if you don't mind) was the connector. so i did this (and sorry for my very basic instructions) Under printer and faxes, i clicked on properties - ports - scrolled to usb001 -add port - selected standard tcp/ip port and then put my address in there. I could be wrong but I just tried everything i could think of ok, what you did there was add a TCP/IP address as a printer port. This would be used if you had a printer on a network. So what you did, won't hurt anything, but it doesn't help either. Are you sure you installed the driver for the UTP? The drivers haumana found for you are the comm ports and I don't believe are the drivers you need for the parallel port. 4 minutes ago, sophie reynolds said: I don't know how to do it because it is not that straight forward. It doesn't give me the option to 'apply' when i select usb001. Please see photos of the options that it gives me. I don't know what to do next after I have selected usb001. It would be great if you could talk it through with me don't click the add port, you just click the check box on the port you want to use and then click ok. if you expand the first column out so you can see the full name, what are the full names, also expand out the description, what is the full description? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 1 minute ago, MZ SKEETER said: My XP does not have APPLY, Just click OK. okay. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 2 minutes ago, darcshadow said: ok, what you did there was add a TCP/IP address as a printer port. This would be used if you had a printer on a network. So what you did, won't hurt anything, but it doesn't help either. Are you sure you installed the driver for the UTP? The drivers haumana found for you are the comm ports and I don't believe are the drivers you need for the parallel port. don't click the add port, you just click the check box on the port you want to use and then click ok. if you expand the first column out so you can see the full name, what are the full names, also expand out the description, what is the full description? I only install the driver that Haumana gave me the link for. so i forgot/didn't know that i could just press 'apply' so I have done that. The port is usb001 and description is virtual printer port for USB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted October 1, 2020 on my Flexi USB 001 is not even an option to connect to. for that cutter. Is it on yours? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 2 minutes ago, MZ SKEETER said: on my Flexi USB 001 is not even an option to connect to. for that cutter. Is it on yours? yes it is. I clicked apply and it did it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 I have now changed the port under printer and faxes to uSB001 and the production manager 'add setup' to usb001 too and its not communicating with the production manager. I turned the firewall off and its not made any difference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted October 1, 2020 Did you try plugging the USB cable into a different USB slot on your computer? Can you see in your computer device manager when it unplugs? Nothing more that I can add, except get a Serial card, if your laptop has a slot. or try different software. Signblazer is Free and has your cutter on it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sophie reynolds 0 Posted October 1, 2020 3 minutes ago, MZ SKEETER said: Did you try plugging the USB cable into a different USB slot on your computer? i dont have a second usb slot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted October 1, 2020 ok. You could download some trial software and see if they connect. VinylMaster.com Signcut. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZ SKEETER 4,709 Posted October 1, 2020 Also, are you still getting the same error of Production manager not opening/ firewall error? That error has nothing to do with connection to your cutter. That Production manager should open anytime you have something on your layout screen sending to CUT/PLOT. It doesn't need to be connected to a vinyl cutter. I do it all the time, making screenshots. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites