error communicating to LPT1

[SKTodd]

My 75 year old father is constantly tinkering with his PC and now has the printing functionality inoperable. I am not hardware a hardware person so I don't know how to fix the problem. Whenever he tries to print he gets an error message that there is an error communicating to LPT1. We have reloaded the printer driver.

 

[Guest_imported]

When you say "tinkering", do you mean he's been using his screwdriver under the hood, or just playing about with software settings, etc? Assuming the latter, check in the BIOS to see if the parallel port (LPT1) has been disabled. You didn't mention which operating system is being used, or the type of printer. Check the printer cable by substitution with a known good one. If you have an MS-DOS boo disk (say v6.2 or similar) with PRINT.EXE included on it, try booting with it and then printing a text file to LPT1. If this works, then it suggests your operating system needs to have LPT1 re-installed. If still no go, then try checking the parallel port with a loopback plug and something like CHECKIT.


ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[FatesWebb]

I suggested removing the print driver (start settings printers) and the lpt1 in the device manager, and rebooting the system. thenof course youll have to reinstall the printer driver if it doesnt already. also if you boot to DOS you can just hit printscreen and it should start printing, if it doesnt you may have bad hardware or cable, or in bios it could be disabled. FatesWebb

if you do what I suggested it is not my fault...

 

[s0121]

My 75 year old father is constantly tinkering with his PC and now has the printing functionality inoperable.

1.st the ???? tinkering with PC does not make printer inoperble.
2.nd what printer is it by name and modle
3.rd what OS are u using. 85/98/me/xp
4.th I'm sorry im 60. hehe and TINKER a LOT also. take the priter to a friends and see if it works there.
5.th test with a new Printer Cable.
6.th Im sorry****install the software that came with the printer. Im sure u already did that.
Frank Smith
s0121@starband.net
"SomeWhere in Kansas--"Near Dodge City"

 

[Guest_imported]

Tinkering with a screwdriver or whatever inside the PC could well cause a problem. If, for example, the parallel port connection to the motherboard had been dislodged, removed or replaced backwards or one pin out, this could give the symptoms described. This was a question we needed to ask in order to establish EXACTLY what had been done.


ROGER - GØAOZ.