A puzzling question.....

[user]

I put together a computer for my stepmother (with a DTK PAM-0055I MB)
which has a Pentium II 450 MHZ processor in it. It includes Intel
82430HX system chipset & NS PC87306 Super I/O controller. Without going
into all the other hardware on the computer, let me simply state what I
feel is critical to know.

It has a Parallel port on the MB (LPT1), and one installed via a PCI
Netmos card (LPT2). Both are set for ECP/EPP and the computer has Win
98 SE loaded on it. Now to the puzzle:

What I found is that if her printer (a Lexmark Z22) were turned on
during the loading of Windows, the P/S2 mouse would NOT be detected by
Windows. On the other hand, if it is turned off during this boot up, it
DOES detect the mouse. This occurs every time, and it does not matter
to which parallel port the printer is attached. Once the mouse is
detected, turning on the printer has no ill effects on the mouse and the
printer prints fine. She also has a parallel port scanner (hence the
two parallel ports) and placing the scanner cable on either parallel
port during Windows boot up does NOT have any effect on the mouse if the
scanner is turned on.

The computer runs fine with no other hang ups or problems.

I told her not to have her printer power on during the loading of
Windows in order to avoid this problem, but for the life of me I cannot
understand how having her printer power on could effect the mouse as it
does. Any theories????

Ken

 

[jona]

I put together a computer for my stepmother (with a DTK PAM-0055I MB)
which has a Pentium II 450 MHZ processor in it. It includes Intel
82430HX system chipset & NS PC87306 Super I/O controller. Without going
into all the other hardware on the computer, let me simply state what I
feel is critical to know.

It has a Parallel port on the MB (LPT1), and one installed via a PCI
Netmos card (LPT2). Both are set for ECP/EPP and the computer has Win
98 SE loaded on it. Now to the puzzle:

What I found is that if her printer (a Lexmark Z22) were turned on
during the loading of Windows, the P/S2 mouse would NOT be detected by
Windows. On the other hand, if it is turned off during this boot up, it
DOES detect the mouse. This occurs every time, and it does not matter
to which parallel port the printer is attached. Once the mouse is
detected, turning on the printer has no ill effects on the mouse and the
printer prints fine. She also has a parallel port scanner (hence the
two parallel ports) and placing the scanner cable on either parallel
port during Windows boot up does NOT have any effect on the mouse if the
scanner is turned on.

The computer runs fine with no other hang ups or problems.

I told her not to have her printer power on during the loading of
Windows in order to avoid this problem, but for the life of me I cannot
understand how having her printer power on could effect the mouse as it
does. Any theories????

Windows' inadequacy to deal with P&P. Set to non-P&P OS in bios
and the IRQ's on 'manual' assignment.
Just a thought.

 

[user]

Windows' inadequacy to deal with P&P. Set to non-P&P OS in bios
and the IRQ's on 'manual' assignment.
Just a thought.

You know, that is one thing that never crossed my mind. The computer
is 1000 miles from me and I don't think I want my 85 year old stepmother
to alter the CMOS settings, but this is as good a theory as I have
heard. Thanks. Anyone else with a theory??

 

[Trent©]

I put together a computer for my stepmother (with a DTK PAM-0055I MB)
which has a Pentium II 450 MHZ processor in it. It includes Intel
82430HX system chipset & NS PC87306 Super I/O controller. Without going
into all the other hardware on the computer, let me simply state what I
feel is critical to know.

It has a Parallel port on the MB (LPT1), and one installed via a PCI
Netmos card (LPT2). Both are set for ECP/EPP and the computer has Win
98 SE loaded on it. Now to the puzzle:

What I found is that if her printer (a Lexmark Z22) were turned on
during the loading of Windows, the P/S2 mouse would NOT be detected by
Windows. On the other hand, if it is turned off during this boot up, it
DOES detect the mouse.

How did you set up LPT2? Do you have it using an interrupt?

Also, did you turn off the com ports on the PCI card?

This occurs every time, and it does not matter
to which parallel port the printer is attached. Once the mouse is
detected, turning on the printer has no ill effects on the mouse and the
printer prints fine. She also has a parallel port scanner (hence the
two parallel ports)

I don't understand the 'hence'. Was there something special about
those devices?...where they couldn't be ganged on the same port?

and placing the scanner cable on either parallel
port during Windows boot up does NOT have any effect on the mouse if the
scanner is turned on.

It sounds like a simple IRQ conflict.

I told her not to have her printer power on during the loading of
Windows in order to avoid this problem, but for the life of me I cannot
understand how having her printer power on could effect the mouse as it
does. Any theories????

Per above. But you'd really need to check it out.

A good look into Device Manager might lend some clues. Again...I'd
suspect IRQ conflicts...probably precipitated by the com ports on the
PCI card. Unless you turned them off, of course.

Good luck...let us know.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[WebWalker]

You know, that is one thing that never crossed my mind. The computer
is 1000 miles from me and I don't think I want my 85 year old stepmother
to alter the CMOS settings, but this is as good a theory as I have
heard. Thanks. Anyone else with a theory??

I agreed with the poster about IRQ conflict.
Which LPT the printer connected to?
I will avoid using the PCI's LPT or move the PCI's LPT to another slot
to avoid IRQ conflict.