Cannot get my iMac chooser to acknowledge the USB port for Epson SP 700

Question

I have an old iMac (that looks like a big blue bubble) with OS 9.2. I have an Epson Stylus Photo 700 that I’ve had since 1998.
I have a set of 9 year old triplets that I want to set the two up together! I’m thinking Good Luck…because I have tried everything. I downloaded the Epson drivers, bought a USB/Parallel adapter (as the Epson has no USB port.) The apple acknowledges the SP 700 under the chooser, but there is NOTHING on the right of the chooser to acknowledge the Epson in the USB port. Do you have any suggestions? I have a feeling there is some adapter card that is not on my OS 9.2 that needs to be downloaded. I saw something on the site 1.4.1, but I am scared to download that as under the apple system for the printer it says “O” next to the USB port , but it says 1.5.5, so I figure it is not smart to download any #’s less than that (like 1.4.1). Do you know of any adapter card that would work? Or some download I don’t know about, or is there one? Or can this even work or am I out of luck! I would be greatly appreciative of anything anyone could suggest.
iMac   Mac OS 9.2.x  

Answer 1

Hi pbk333 and welcome to the discussions.
THose early Epson USB drivers could be pretty pernickety, and even more so when used with a serial to USB adaptor. I see HERE, that there are a couple of "Driver updaters" available for use with the iMac etc. It may be worth trying them. THere is also some relevant information on the Epson site at http://www.epson.com.sg/other/help/inkjetcommonfaq.shtml
But a couple of other points. Firstly you've posted in the iMac G5 forum (which is mainly inhabited by people using the much newer "flat screen" iMacs that run much later operatings systems than 9.2. You are more likely to find someone who knows about this probem (or at least can remember whether there was a simple answer!) in either the iMac G3 forum at http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=888 or in the OS9 forum at http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=669
Secondly, those old printers can be pretty expensive to run , especially where children and colored ink are concerned! You may find that you can get a much newer printer, with cheaper ink and less problems with set-up, for not much more (maybe even less!) than a set of inkcartridges for the old Epson. I know OS9 compatible printers are getting hard to find, but something a little later than your Epson 700 (even a second hand Canon i560 or similar) might be a lot less trouble, and cheaper in teh long run, especially if children are using it.
Cheers
Rod