LPT1/Printer Port Corrupted

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Somehow, the printer port has become corrupted and printers will not work
when connected. I had Dell replace the motherboard thinking it was a
hardware issue, but that did not fix the problem. I have removed the port
from the device manager, did a repair of XP, etc. and still not luck. I
have tried all the troubleshooter suggestions and nothing will print (DOS
command, text doc, etc.).

Anyone have any ideas to get this port working again? Thanks!

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

The printer port is located on the motherboard so that would not be the
problem. The printer port is also most likely enabled in the BIOS. The
most likely problem is the BIOS does not have the correct type of printer
port selected. I would go into the BIOS and try a different type. For
example you might change EPP to ECP or the other way around. Anyways, try
them all until you find one that works

Typically once you get to a desktop the computer will then find the printer
and you know you are home free.

--
http://www.americantechie.com

"Karl Burrows" <karlspam@spam.yourbeacon.com> wrote in message
news:uLDMtXmjFHA.2484@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> Somehow, the printer port has become corrupted and printers will not work
> when connected. I had Dell replace the motherboard thinking it was a
> hardware issue, but that did not fix the problem. I have removed the port
> from the device manager, did a repair of XP, etc. and still not luck. I
> have tried all the troubleshooter suggestions and nothing will print (DOS
> command, text doc, etc.).
>
> Anyone have any ideas to get this port working again? Thanks!
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Karl Burrows wrote on Sat, 23 Jul 2005:

>It is not a BIOS issue. I checked all the settings and tried every other
>combination. It will print the job when the printer is rebooted. I checked
>on the HP site and tried other printer drivers, etc. and still no luck. Any
>other suggestions?

If the printer is working correctly (can print internally-generated test
page, but not test page from Windows) and Device Manager shows the port
working correctly, then it must be some form of communication problem.

You've probably tried changing the cable. Is the printer directly
connected to LPT1 or does it pass through another piece of hardware, a
Zip drive for example? When I upgraded to XP I found I could no longer
print with the printer connected to the pass-through port on my Zip
drive, though it worked under previous versions of Windows.

What happens when you can't print? Do you get any error messages,
garbled output? Or does just nothing happen?

--
Nightowl

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Karl Burrows wrote on Sun, 24 Jul 2005:

>If I print, it just sits in queue and does nothing. Status just says
>printing. If I reboot, then the page I printed will then print. No test
>page or anything will print until you reboot, then all the jobs print.
>
>This tells me it is probably not the cable, or it would not communicate at
>all. I removed all the HP drivers, tried using "default" LaserJet drivers
>(4 Plus), removed the LPT1 port, tried every configuration in BIOS,
>unchecked bidirectional support, etc. I have moved the printer to another
>computer and it works fine and have tried other parallel printers and they
>do not work either. I even did a repair of XP and that did nothing either.
>Dell has even replaced the motherboard.
>
>Any clues from all of this? Maybe I should just buy another parallel PCI
>card and try it there.

Hmm. . . In Start > Settings > Printers and Faxes, can you try
right-clicking on your printer and choosing Properties. On the Advanced
tab click the radio button for Print directly to Printer, and OK your
way out.

Does this make any difference?

--
Nightowl