scart to usb?

[Giggsie]

can you get a scart to usb cable?
My sons printer has scart only cable but his laptop has no scart connection on it.

[Buenchico]

Are you really sure it's a Scart socket on the printer? Scart plugs have 21 pins and they're used, to the best of my knowledge, exclusively for audio/video connections.

The socket on the printer is far more likely to be a 25-way serial connector. If so, you require something like this:
http://www.lindy.co.uk/usb-to-serial-converter -cable-25-way-rs-232-2m/42857.html

Chris

[ChuckFickens]

sorry to disagree Chris, printers are parallel not serial, they would need something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Targus-Parallel-Port-A dapter-Cable/dp/B0000AKL3D

[rojash]

ChuckFickens is right of course, but the fact that the printer has only a parallel port would seem to indicate that it's pretty old. Why not just spend an addition 10 quid and buy a modern printer with a USB port?

Examples here: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_pag e.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1142064304.1213567579@@ @@&BV_EngineID=ccekadeegdjgfdjcflgceggdhhmdgmi .0&page=ProductList&category_oid=-24814&show_a ll=true

[Buenchico]

Thank you for correcting me, CF. Many years ago (in pre-USB days) I had an HP printer that accepted both serial and parallel connectors and I've obviously forgotten which one was the most common!

Anyway, I think that we're all agreed that it's not likely to be a Scart socket.

Like Rojash, I'd guess that the printer is likely to be quite old. At least 5 years ago, a friend of mine needed a new printer for her elderly (non-USB) PC. I couldn't get her a new one anywhere (either in store or online) and I ended up driving a 150-mile round trip to get the nearest available secondhand one.

Chris

[ChuckFickens]

I wholeheartedly agree with both of above, rather than spending money on a cable you would probably be better to go and invest in a new printer,

[deggers316]

are you sure its only got a parallel port connection? my hp deskjet is around 6 years old and its got a usb connection

[stonekicker]

if you do buy another printer, i'd recommend a cannon or epsom. they are robust and are cheap to maintain with ink - others can be up to �50 a refill! the cannon rogash has highlighted would be perfect for homework and general use...

[geekazoid99]

I had the same problem with a dot matrix printer used to print forms that are carbon copied so inkjet no good. Get a usb to parralel port cable. Most decent computer shops sell them although I got mine cheap on ebay. You plug one end in your laptop usb and the other in the printer. XP does not need drivers it finds then automatically (I assume vista will do the same). Set the printer to print via the usb port and your off

[Giggsie]

thanks for all replies. Sorry it is parallel cable not scart, and yes printer is old must be 7-8yrs ago since bought. Maybe just get new printer but shame as it is in good condition and seldom used. Thanks for all your help.

[shylock73]

I have Cannon and rate them good and refills very reasonable

[Jugglering]

A total aside here, but don't forget to check the cost of refills for any new printer - some can be exorbitant and will soon outweigh the initial (cheap) purchase price of the printer.