computer shuts down

I have a printer that has the capability of a fax and phone it is a panasonic multi-function plain paper fax. I was told that i can use it as a printer, but everytime i put the cables in to connect it to the computer it will not turn on. It gose straight to a black screen. I have an E Machine and its running windows milleniun if that matters at all. it has 800MHz(intel Celeron Processor), 128MB(syncDRAM), 20GB(hard drive ultra DMA/66), 3D AGP(graphic intel direct AGP), and 56k*(data/fax modem ITU V. 90). Please someone can you give me a clue and tell me what might be wrong.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by psychofighter19 on 10/07/03 06:30 PM.</EM></FONT></P>