I'm keeping one Windows XP machine because...

mikling said:

I tried using a USB to LPT converter years ago on a laser. It also did not like the older laser.

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I researched whether my old Panasonic KX-P7305 parallel port laser printer would work with my new all USB ASUS Sabertooth Z87 motherboard and Windows 8.x. The answer appears to be yes but selection of the USB to LPT cable may be critical - some work and some do not. However, the issues some have with establishing a proper connection may be due to the installed printer driver version and/or the sequence/procedure used when installing the printer. (@PeterBJ has demonstrated the importance of the sequence used when installing Canon printers under the Windows 8.x OS) An add-on card that provides a parallel port should do the trick without the aforementioned variables though at a price premium.

One example of a user reported working USB to LPT cable, including HP lasers, is http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-SBT-UPPC-Centronics-Printer-Cable/dp/B0007UVRVO.

Lastly, I did not try installing my Panasonic laser printer as I have had no larger document print job need.

stratman said:

I researched whether my old Panasonic KX-P7305 parallel port laser printer would work with my new all USB ASUS Sabertooth Z87 motherboard and Windows 8.x. The answer appears to be yes
Lastly, I did not try installing my Panasonic laser printer as I have had no larger document print job need.

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After all that.
Chicken..

You caught me.

Naw, you didn't. Just being honest. I have had no need for the laser printer since building the new computer. Also, the Panny is getting long in the tooth and considered a new laser printer rather than spend $10 on a cable only to have to purchase a new printer soon thereafter.

Here is what I'm going to do. I'll mount my spare hard disk in the computer and install Win7 on that. Later on I can decide to drop the XP. I checked my printers and scanners, they are all able to work with Win7.

I'm not looking forward to reinstall all tools and software I've got. Maybe I'll wait some time to start with this labour. After all, the last update is today and after that XP should be safe for weeks or even months...

You can get Parallel to USB adaptors for very little money

i run my trusty HP4L printer on windoze like that.

link to ebay

http://r.ebay.com/jWlrek

You see I tried 2 different types years ago and they did not work so I am leery. Maybe the newer ones have better microcode to be more compatible.

PeterBJ said:

Maybe a parallel port extension card for PCI slot or for PCI-e slot could drive the laser printer? You could then use one of the newest and most powerful motherboards and other hardware to speed up profiling.

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I did this years ago when buying a new computer to accomodate an updated MS OS and continuing to use an older HP laser printer. As I recall, it was an HP4P! Worked just fine. Hopefully it will work with the newest motherboards and Bios.

The trick with two drives, or two partitions, is useful for parallel port users too. Imagine the next setup:
drive 1: Windows 7, internet connection, mail, social media, streaming video and audio. Newer printers are installed to print mail or other documents.
drive 2: Windows XP, Photoshop, scanners, printers, parallel port connection, camera upload.

We don't need an internet connection to photoshop, scan or print. Without the internet connection we don't need to fear an automatic firmware update.
I've got an HP S20 negative scanner. I wonder if it will work properly under Win7, there is no official driver for it. It's a shame that HP doesn't support us with drivers other than on the CD-rom. Now I know what brand not to choose when it's time to buy new equipment.

The same goes for Microsoft products. My next computer will be a Mac after this XP debacle.

Do you not think 14 years is long enough to support any O/S ?
I reckon that’s good value for money in any mans language don’t you ?

But it's much less than 14 years. It was introduced october25 2001, that is 12,5 years. It was sold until 2007 when it was followed by Vista. That makes it 6 years. After the introduction of Vista it still was sold, as an alternative. So now its is 5 or 4 years.

I wonder how long Windows 8.1 will be supported.