How to Add a USB001 Virtual Printer Port in Vista

You can add a virtual printer port within Vista to get your printer to work.

Microsoft Vista allows you to install a variety of printers to your computer, including an older printer that uses a Universal Serial Bus (USB) converter. Once you connect the printer and converter, you must add a port for the printer so the device will work with Vista. The port is a virtual printer port labeled USB001. A USB001 virtual printer port can also be used to connect a printer that is not being recognized by Vista.

Things You'll Need

• Printer driver CD-ROM

Instructions

1. Close any open programs and files. Click "Start," "Control Panel," "Printers."

2. Click on the "Add a printer" button on the menu bar of the Printers dialog box.

3. Click on "Add a local printer." Click "Next."

4. Click on the circle next to the wording "Use an existing port:."

5. Click on the down arrow by the wording "LPT1:" and select "USB001 (Virtual printer port for USB)." Click "Next."

6. Click on the "Have Disk..." button if you have the printer driver CD-ROM for the printer you are installing. Insert the printer-driver CD-ROM into your computer CD-ROM player now.

   If you don't have the driver CD-ROM for the printer, scroll through the "Manufacturer" list to locate your printer's manufacturer. Click on the manufacturer's name. Scroll through the "Printers" list to select the specific model of printer you are installing. Click on the printer's name/model.

7. Click "Next."

8. Click "Browse" on the "Install From Disk" dialog box to navigate to and select your CD-ROM's drive letter, if using a printer-driver CD-ROM. Click on the folder containing the driver for your printer. Click "Open."

   If you don't have the driver CD-ROM for the printer, skip this step because you have already selected your printer in step 6.

9. Click "OK." The name of your printer's driver will appear in the "Install the printer driver" dialog box. Select your printer's name. Click "Next."

10. Enter a name for your printer if one is not already assigned in the "Type a printer name" dialog box. Click "Next."

11. Click "Continue" when prompted with the "Windows needs your permission to continue" message.

12. Click on "Install this driver software anyway" to install your printer's driver and complete the USB001 virtual printer port setup. Click "Finish" when prompted.

Tips & Warnings

• To test your printer connected to the USB001 virtual printer port, click on the "Print a test page" button when prompted to press "Finish."

References

• Welcome.Solutions.Brother.com: I Cannot Print With Windows Vista 64bit
• Tek Tips.com: HP Photosmart 1000 Vista Driver

Resources

• World Start.com: Vista File and Print Sharing