Okay, the easy stuff first.

You can get AVG free here:

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/

Just click on Download Free Version.

As for your printer problem.

1. Open Device Manager and make sure that the USB to Parallel adapter installed correctly. I'd recommend installing it without the printer plugged in. You should see it listed under either USB (it will identify it as some kind of adapter) or Ports (it will show up as an additional LPT port). If it installed correctly, then . . .

2. Assuming the adapter is fine, you need to try the latest driver for your printer. I couldn't find a Sharp 1000, but I did find an AL-1000. Assuming that's what you have, you can find an XP driver here:

http://members.driverguide.com/drive...driverid=55708

You can also try the sharpusa.com website. I didn't have time to search it for your driver. Download the driver, if it's zipped, unzip it to a folder somewhere. If there's a file called "setup.exe" or "install.exe" in the unzipped folder, right click on it and select properties. Under the Compatibility tab, select "Run in Windows XP SP2 compatibility mode," and "Run as administrator." Run the program. Vista UAC will ask you to confirm you want to run it. Select Yes. Let the setup program do its thing.

Plug in the printer and let Vista detect it. If the setup program ran successfully, the printer will install. If there was no setup program, or it didn't run successfully, you'll have to try to install manually. When the "Install new Hardware" window comes up, don't click on "Install driver automatically." I forgot the language for the manual option, but it's the one at the bottom of the window. It will give you an option to tell it where to find the drivers. Browse to the folder you unzipped that has the drivers in it. Look for a folder that says XP or something similar. Hopefully, Vista will accept the driver that's in there.

If it doesn't, there's not a lot you can do, other than run a copy of XP in Virtual PC and use it from there as I described.