How to connect my USB printer into my non-USB computer?

My son recently bought me a Lexmark printer. I had an Epson but it stopped feeding paper and so my son bought the new printer. My problem is, my computer is 4-5 years old with a serial port. My new printer has a USB port into the printer. It seems no one can find a solution for me, other than getting a new computer. Simply, I need a cable with a serial port into the computer and a USB port into the printer. I was told at Comp USA that I could MAYBE solve the problem with about 3 adaptors! This costs more than the printer. I was also told I should consider a new computer. (I knew I should have come to you first! Metro center is close and I was there!) Is there another cheaper solution?

I am a 73 year-old great-grandmother with limited income. My knowledge consists of teaching stand-alone word processing classes and trouble-shooting for 13 years, and some DOS training, also. I have a general concept of what's going on but not that savy about computers in general. I can install a printer, a mouse, move my system and hook it up - all very basic. My son gave me his old computer but it serves my purposes very well.

I try to listen to your Saturday radio show on a regular basis and recommend it to all my friends and family. I love your show! You make me laugh a lot but more than that, it is very educational for me. Thanks for any suggestions.

Sincerely, Barbara Bassham

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This question was answered on March 18, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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Well, the simplist way I can think of (since you have WIN '98 installed) is to buy a USB PCI interface card It sounds funky but all it is a circuit card that inserts into one of you "white" slots on the motherboard (mainboard) of your computer It simple to install, but it requires that you open up your computer so you may want your son or some other person who is familiar with the inside of a computer Once installed you shold see a pair of USB ports sticking out the back of your computer That is where you would plug in your USB printer into.

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Posted by Student of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on March 18, 2004

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