XP Mode can't access parallel printer connected with USB to DB-25 adapter

Question

After some arduous work I finally got XP Mode to run on Windows 7 Virtual PC on my Win 7 Pro 64-bit machine. I have an HP LJ 4000 printer that has a Centronics interface with a DB-25 plug.
I used a USB to DB-25 adapter advertised as IEEE 1284-compliant.. I got the LaserJet 4000 installed, and it prints great from Windows 7. But nothing can print to it in XP Mode. The printer is recognized on the (XP Mode) Printers and Faxes page, but that's
as far as it goes. It is installed as the default printer (it's the only one in XP Mode; I didn't bother to install any others). The Win 7 Device Manager lists it under Universal Serial Bus Controllers as a "USB Printing Support" device and says it is working
properly. General properties shows "IEEE-1284 Controller." The XP Mode Device Manager shows an LPT1 port (which does not exist) and says it is working properly. Location is shown as "on Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to ISA bridge (ISA mode)." I haven't a clue what
this means (my motherboard is an ASRock and does not have any LPT ports). The Printer Troubleshooter in XP Mode exhausted itself without finding a solution. I first used the drivers for Windows 95 from the old (1997) HP installation CD for LJ 4000. I did update
the HP LJ 4000 drivers for XP Mode from HP's web site later, but this did not help either.

Answer 1

Hi ,
In a Windows XP Mode, USB devices can be used in two different ways: Sharing and Redirection and
Integration features is enabled by default.
Storage devices, Printers and Smart cards can be used without having to redirect the device manually, by simply sharing it with the host.
Sharing requires the devices are available in both XP Mode and Host OS. If not, you need to use redirect device to Virtual Machine.
Please refer to the following link and follow the steps scenario 2: Use a USB device in a virtual machine to redirect a USB device to a virtual machine.
http://capitalhead.com/articles/windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-and-virtual-pc---part-3-use-virtual-machine-application-on-windows-7.aspx
Please Note: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy
of this third-party contact information.
More information for your reference:
Networking and Using Windows XP Mode
Tracy Cai
TechNet Community Support