usb printer

[ssc1478]

I have an HP printer with both a parallel port and a usb port.  I'm
using usb because my eee box doesn't have a parallel port.

I can add the printer to ubuntu (9.04), ubuntu says its ready, but
when I try to print the status remains processing.  When I unplug the
usb cable the status will change to pending, and once I plug it back
in the status changes to processing.  It never actually goes to the
printer though.

Any ideas where I should look for the problem?

Thanks!

Phil