Parallels is a virtualization package for the Macintosh that primarily is used for running Microsoft Windows in a virtualized environment on OS X.
At some point you’re going to run into the problem of wanting to print something from the guest OS. Do not try to install a Windows XP print driver for the device that’s connected directly to your Apple. That’s not how it works.
You have a virtual machine. Surprise, you have a virtual printer too.
To set it up is trivial:
- Stop your Windows VM if it’s running.
- Open VM Configuration Editor (Parallels Desktop menu – Edit – Virtual Machine)
- Add Parallel Port Printer to the VM Configuration: click “Add” – select “Parallel Port”, hit “Next” – select “Use a printer” – select the printer you have available in the Mac OS.
- Make sure that you are able to print using that printer from the Mac OS side.
- Start Windows and try printing some document using “HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS” (it’s generic driver that’s being used for printing from the Virtual Machine to any Mac OS compatible printer).
This creates a HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS printer, which then gets redirected to the host operating system’s default printer. Printing then works normally, queuing and all.
Now, I did run into this problem using Microsoft Office on Windows XP with a HP DeskJet 6980 connected wirelessly through an Apple AirPort Extreme in bridge mode:
Here’s how I solved it.
I deleted the print queue on the host operating system, then I turned the power off and back on again on the printer, and tried again.
Seriously. I power cycled the printer. That’s all that was required. Second time through, it worked like a champ.
Big scary error message, itty-bitty solution.
NOTE: You will want to scan through your document if you’re using exotic fonts. In my case apostrophes were coming out as Ã.