basic adding 2nd printer question

[97tbird]

I have windows XP.
my printer is a Canon (regular ink jet, using regular pin-type connector; this is the current printer installed on my PC)

I have another HP laserjet printer, which is a newer, USB plug & play type.
If I install this printer using the "add printer" wizard, would my Canon printer be automatically removed? (I don't want to)

I want to have my Canon printer always connected, but use the HP printer whenever I want, thru the front USB port...

How would I be able to select which printer I want to print on?
If I install the HP, and whenever I have it connected thru USB port, and I click print, will I get a prompt asking me to select which printer I want to use?
...how would this work?

Thanks a lot for any advice.

 

[drm7]

It should not remove your Canon printer. Once you install the HP using the HP disc click on "Start", then click "Settings", then click "Printers and Faxes". This will pop open a window that lists all installed printers. There will be a little black checkmark on the default printer. If the install of the HP made it the default printer then right click on the Canon and select "Set as Default Printer" and you'll be all set. Whenever you print something, say from Internet Explorer, click "File" then click "Print" in the drop-down. It will open a window and at the top of the window you can click on the printer you want to use. This will allow you to print everything by default to the Canon but select the HP for whatever you want to print on it.

 

[97tbird]

drm7

thanks a lot. I got it done, and works great !

 

[Matt_S]

When you're printing high-quality graphics, USB is the best thing that ever happened to printers. The end of the parallel port is not far away. As soon as most of the legacy printers have died, mfgrs will stop including that.