This sounds a little odd but let me explain. I have a Canon PIXMA iP5200 printer. It is a usb2.0 device. I could buy drivers for Linux (Turboprint) but for the time being I would rather just use the original software in my VMWare WinXP installation.

Now, some of you will be aware that VMWare only supports usb1.1. This didn't seem to pose an immediate problem at the time as the printer was recognized and installed when I plugged it in. I got as far as starting a test print and - BSOD/reset of the VM! The reason for this according to the VMWare help site is that the host usb port into which the device is conencted is usb2.0 and so the printer is also in usb2.0 mode. This causes confusion between the VM and the device as the VM thinks the device is usb1.1. They suggest to get a hold of an old usb1.1 hub or pci card and then the printer will switch to usb1.1 compatibility.

Well, I don't have one and really, don't feel like buyng one (if they can be found anymore) for just this purpose so on to my 3 questions which are:

Is it possible to force a usb2.0 port to be usb1.1 even though it has a usb2.0 device attached? How and where whould I go about doing this? Lastly, can it be set only for the one port/device? Thanks for your time.

The only way to force USB 1.1 speeds is in the USB connector, but I do not recommend it. Try using Windows 98 in the virtual machine or use Gutenprint (aka gimp-print). Try Gutenprint first.

I don't think that using Windows98 would make a difference (but I'll look closer at Gutenprint). XP is already in 1.1 mode so that's not the issue. The printer itself needs to be in 1.1 mode because the OS in the VM expects it. The only way to do that is at the host kernel level and I was hoping this could be set somewhere (apart from recompiling the kernel without 2.0 support - that's a bit drastic!). Anyway, I've sourced a 4port usb1.1 hub and with the printer plugged into that it's all good - messy, but successful. Actually - could I compile usb2.0 support as a kernel module? Perhaps I could script it's removal when VMWare starts. Hmm...

I'm having the same problem as you, with the Canon Pixma iP5200 and WinXP on VMware.

Actually, so much time, has passed after your post, and there's still no support for this kind of printer on gutenprint or any other free software.

It works with turboprint 1.94 but needs the turboprint.tpkey to print on high quality, without printing out and their logo..

I've been thinking seriously to buy it, but, there's no card to use, and i also prefered to install windows in another partition to use the original as better.

Actually i've used the same VMware installation of WinXp in Windows and it works fine. There must be something else in linu that comflicts. As more as i could search, i found errors from eggcups, when trying to print while using VMware of WinXP on linux.

Anyway, i've choosen to wait more time till the free software will support it, or find the tpkey file, somewhere.
If i had the knowledge, i would have tried to fix it on my own, but..

Linux is FREE, and all programs for use with it, would also be FREE!

I only posted a week ago but anyway, I don't believe in having to pay for something twice. The Canon software is easy to use and low on bloat (well relatively speaking for a package on a windows system - you do get to choose what to install unlike my experience with some HP packages). I've had no issues with cups fighting for the hardware. I tend to leave my printer off so I fire up a suspended XP session and turn the printer on anyway. The 'old hub' solution is great - a bit slow but great. I wonder when VMWare will properly support USB2.0...