IE8 or SP3 has disabled printing

[Jose]

25 pins.


25 pins.


I have one Communications Port (COM1) and one ECP Printer Port (LPT1).


The LPT1, yes.


It is an has always been.


Err, BIOS? I might have flashed my BIOS once, but if memory serves, the
command was built into my ASUS motherboard and not that complicated. Can you
give me any hint as to how I can verify if the port is enabled?

One does not just "might have flashed my BIOS".

Did your printer stop working after you flashed the BIOS?

You need to enter the BIOS configuration (not flash it) by pressing an
appropriate key shortly after the computer beeps on a reboot. You may
see a message about how much memory and other things. It depends on
the BIOS software.

The instructions (like press DEL to enter setup) will be on the screen
briefly. If you do nothing, XP will load so you have to pay attention
and if you miss it, reboot again until it works. You only have a few
seconds.

On my machine, pressing the Del key at the right moment gets you into
the BIOS. Yours may be different.

The Delete key is not the same as the Del key.

My BIOS has Standard and Advanced settings. The ports (COM and LPT)
are in the Advanced section. There is a selection for configuration
of the parallel port. You may have to hunt around for it, but it
should be in there somewhere.

The communication ports can be disabled and that is what I suspect for
your parallel port. If it is disabled, it will not show up in Device
Manager (a symptom of your problem).

If it is disabled, enable it and the rest of the default setting for
the now enabled parallel port should be fine. Something like 378,
ECP, IRQ7 sounds abut right if there are choices.

You may want to make a note of your changes in case something goes
wrong, you can undo it. You can choose to save changes or not when
exiting the BIOS configuration. The computer will reboot after
exiting the configuration. You can go back into the BIOS before XP
starts to confirm your changes (good idea).

While you are in your BIOS, you should note the BIOS manufacturer and
version which will probably not be the manufacturer of the
motherboard. When you know the maker of the BIOS, you can go to their
WWW page to get a manual if you don't have one. You might need a
manual if you can't figure out how to enable the parallel port.

After XP boots, if you don't see the LPT port in Device Manager
something is still wrong.

Make sure the LPT port is numerically the same as the port setting in
your printer configuration.

Jose

 

[Kolja]

Did your printer stop working after you flashed the BIOS?

No.


On my machine, pressing the Del key at the right moment gets you into the BIOS. Yours may be different.

Del worked for me.

So this is what I found...

"Parallel Port Address [Disabled]"

By pressing the "+" key I was able to bring up 3 settings before scrolling
back to "[Disabled]", which were as follows...

-----

1.)

Parallel Port Address [378]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
Parallel Port IRQ [IQR7]

2.)
Parallel Port Address [278]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
Parallel Port IRQ [IQR7]

3.)
Parallel Port Address [3BC]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
Parallel Port IRQ [IQR7]

-----

How do I determine which setting is correct for my printer? I am willing to
trial-and-error the correct setting, but am not sure if that will permenantly
screw anything up. I've been warned against futzing around in my BIOS and so
have developed a healthy paranoia.

If it is disabled, enable it and the rest of the default setting for the now enabled parallel port should be fine. Something like 378, ECP, IRQ7 sounds abut right if there are choices.

Okay, so while I am seeing "378", I am also seeing "278" and "3BC. The
"IRQ7" shows up in each instance. No sign of anything that read "ECP".

While you are in your BIOS, you should note the BIOS manufacturer and
version which will probably not be the manufacturer of the
motherboard.

Forgot to do that.

 

[Jose]

Did your printer stop working after you flashed the BIOS?
No.

On my machine, pressing the Del key at the right moment gets you into the BIOS.  Yours may be different.

Del worked for me.

So this is what I found...

"Parallel Port Address [Disabled]"

By pressing the "+" key I was able to bring up 3 settings before scrolling
back to "[Disabled]", which were as follows...

-----

1.)

Parallel Port Address [378]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
  Parallel Port IRQ [IQR7]

2.)
Parallel Port Address [278]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
  Parallel Port IRQ [IQR7]

3.)
Parallel Port Address [3BC]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
  Parallel Port IRQ [IQR7]

-----

How do I determine which setting is correct for my printer? I am willing to
trial-and-error the correct setting, but am not sure if that will permenantly
screw anything up. I've been warned against futzing around in my BIOS andso
have developed a healthy paranoia.

If it is disabled, enable it and the rest of the default setting for the now enabled parallel port should be fine.  Something like 378, ECP, IRQ7 sounds abut right if there are choices.

Okay, so while I am seeing "378", I am also seeing "278" and "3BC. The
"IRQ7" shows up in each instance. No sign of anything that read "ECP".

While you are in your BIOS, you should note the BIOS manufacturer and
version which will probably not be the manufacturer of the
motherboard.

Forgot to do that.

Option 1...

That is the default.

378 is the I/O address. IRQ 7 is the Interrupt Request. ECP may not
be present.

Jose

Jose

 

[Kolja]

Option 1...

That is the default.

378 is the I/O address. IRQ 7 is the Interrupt Request. ECP may not be present.

Jose

The old washing machine is back! Thank you very much Jose. Your help was
indispensable!

 

[Jose]

The old washing machine is back! Thank you very much Jose. Your help was
indispensable!

Good job.

The "might have flashed the BIOS" was the missing piece of this
puzzle.

There is joy in Mudville after all.


Jose

 

[Charles W Davis]

If it is included with WindowsXP automatic updates, then very likely. If
it
is required for the latest version of Windows Live, then definitely.

Have you considered a Parallel to USB cable. That worked for me on that
printer. The system simply recognized the "plug and play" printer and
continued to install.