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USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 16. Aug 2011, 23:22
by cornouws
HI *,

Found quite some topics on this subject, but not the solution for my problem.

Ubuntu 11.04 / Virtualbox 4.0.4 / Windows7 / Epson Aculaser 1100
I do have the USB ports active. So under Devises > USB Ports there is neatly listed the Epson printer [0100]

Now when trying to get it installed, I get stuck at the moment when I have to select a port.
LTP ... COM .... but nothing that connects me with the USB printer.

I guess it's something with WIndows, but that's not my special thing.
Somthing as explained here http://forum.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.p ... p175744%20 just does not work for me...

Any advise appreciated :-)

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 16. Aug 2011, 23:32
by Perryg
Is your <user name> in the lp group of the host?

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 17. Aug 2011, 00:33
by cornouws
Perryg wrote:Is your <user name> in the lp group of the host?
Not yet ... wil try that.
Thanks,

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 17. Aug 2011, 00:49
by cornouws
cornouws wrote:
Perryg wrote:Is your <user name> in the lp group of the host?
Not yet ... wil try that.
Thanks,
Alas, makes no difference (which does not really surprise me, since the printer USB already is listed in the Virtualbox window, so I would rather expect the problem to be on the windows side... :-\

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 17. Aug 2011, 02:12
by Perryg
Did you reboot the host after you added the name to the group? (minimum of log off when permission changes are done)
It is not that you can not see or even activate the USB port. If the name is not in the lp group you will not be able to access the print service.

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 17. Aug 2011, 10:07
by cornouws
Perryg wrote:Did you reboot the host after you added the name to the group?
Yes, I did.
Why do you think it may have something to do with the Linux settings? Isn't it enough if the virtualBox window shows the USB connection to printer ?

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 17. Aug 2011, 10:24
by poulbak
Have you installed guest additions?
A printer connected to USB should install automatically (without any user input).

I don't see how the host can have anything to do with that.
If, on the other hand, you connected via network to the host's shared printer, then the host would obviously control the printer.

You must first install an USB filter for the printer, simply by clicking on the menu item 'Devices, USB, Epson ....'

Hope this helps

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 17. Aug 2011, 13:50
by Perryg
Why do you think it may have something to do with the Linux settings? Isn't it enough if the virtualBox window shows the USB connection to printer ?
I believe that I answered that for you above. If you do not have your hosts <user name> in the hosts lp group it will not print. You also need your hosts <user name> in the vboxusers group as described in the VirtualBox users manual. Next on the guest you need to select the USB device to load each time you boot (unless you added a filter to do this all the time in the guest settings in VirtualBox). If all conditions are met and you still can not print then it is a Windows issue and not an issue with VirtualBox.

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 17. Aug 2011, 23:37
by cornouws
@poul, perryg:
thanks for your replies.
All your tips I've checked and done. So indeed I guess its an issue with Windows/the driver :-(

Regards,
Cor

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 17. Aug 2011, 23:41
by Perryg
That being the case why don't you just use the printer as a shared printer. CUPs and or samba should make it available to the guest (use bridged or host-only network mode)

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 18. Aug 2011, 19:39
by cornouws
Perryg wrote:That being the case why don't you just use the printer as a shared printer. CUPs and or samba should make it available to the guest (use bridged or host-only network mode)
Well, the driver for Linux does work, but functions are less (and colors are worse, so prolly need to dive in Ubuntu color management :-D )

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 18. Aug 2011, 19:41
by cornouws
cornouws wrote:Well, the driver for Linux does work, but functions are less (and colors are worse, so prolly need to dive in Ubuntu color management :-D )
Plus that testing printing native on Windows from neightly build LibreOffice is cool too ;-)

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 18. Aug 2011, 20:20
by Fister
Im having a similar problem. Still investigating the problem...

Re: USB printer WIndows 7 - which port to select ?

Posted: 18. Aug 2011, 23:10
by cornouws
Looked again and found an unrecognised /failing USB printer.
Updating the MSWindows USBPrinterdriver failed. The advise was to contact the printer manufacturer.