Mac OSX can't connect to my printer or scanner through USB. Windows 7, in a Parallels VM, can see them.

Question

Mac OSX can't connect to my printer or scanner through USB. Windows 7, in a Parallels VM, can see them.

Hi everyone. I have an interesting issue. I am running Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9.2) on a 2010 iMac.

I am also running a Windows 7 VM via Parallels Desktop.

I have an HP Laser Jet P2201w connected directly to the iMac via USB. I have a Canon LIDE 60 connected directly to the iMac via USB. I have a Compact Card reader connected directly to the iMac via USB.

Windows 7 can see all these devices. It can connect through the VM, and print, scan and view photos to its heart’s content.

Mac OSX can’t see a thing. I download HP drivers, Canon drivers for Mavericks, and they all install successfully, then disappear - I can’t access them. I go back to Settings/Printer, and press the + button. It can’t see the HP Laser Jet, the scanner or anything else. Plug and Play doesn't seem to want to know.

Clearly OSX has an issue with the USB bus (which Windows doesn’t have). How do I get around this so that both Mac OSX and Windows 7 can talk to these peripherals?

Thanks!

David

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 5, 2014 8:38 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Apr 5, 2014 1:09 PM in response to DavidHSimmons

Try some basic troubleshooting/repair methods:

1) Reset the Printing System:

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14141

http://www.cnet.com/news/what-does-the-reset-print-system-routine-in-os-x-do/

2) Repair the hard drive:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4718

After each, try adding the printer and scanner, to see if it's fixed.

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Answer 2

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Apr 5, 2014 3:06 PM in response to greg sahli

I intended to explain better - Start up using the Recovery partition, then use disk utility to repair the hard drive.

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Answer 3

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Apr 5, 2014 4:29 PM in response to DavidHSimmons

In addition to Greg's suggestions, try opening System Information (Applications > Utilitites). In the left column you will see an entry of USB. With this selected the top right pane will show all the USB busses on the Mac. The printer and scanner should be listed under one of these busses. Do you see them?

If you do then I woud suggest Parallels may be having some influence over the ability for OS X to add them via Printers & Scanners. I don't have Parallels, I use Fusion and I know that when you connect some peripherals with the Fusion VM running, you are prompted which VM to use.

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