Mary writes:
I have two printers, HP All-In-One C4480 and an Epson Stylus CX8400. I currently have the HP connected to my computer. I would like to connect the Epson to it. I do know that you can use an A B switch. Is there anything else that needs to be done so I can switch between the two printers?
Hello Mary,
Actually, if you have enough USB ports on your computer, the switch may not even be necessary. You can have two printers plugged into a computer at the same time, as long as you have enough ports.
Windows will remember each printer you add to your computer, and you can then switch between the two in your Devices and Printers window.
However, if you do not have enough USB ports, you can certainly make use of the switch.
Or if you do not need to have both printers always plugged in at all times, you can simply plug in the one you need at each time.
-Audra
I have the opposite situation. I have an HP LaserJet 1200 which has both a parallel port and a USB port. I have the USB plugged into my personal laptop and the parallel plugged into the port replicator that my work laptop sits on. That works great – both laptops can print to the one printer. Here’s my question… my company is soon going to be sending me a new replacement laptop. I do not know the model, so I do not yet know whether the new port replicator will have a parallel port. If it does, no problem. But if it does not have a parallel port, how can I still have both laptops connected to the one printer? Replacing the printer or buying an additional one is not an option. Thank you.
Lynnette,
I wrote an article to respond to this question. The best way to set this up would be to set up printer sharing. Look for the article sometime next week to explain how to set this up.
Hello. And Bye.