> > OK, a bit ago I had to revert the 'settings' thingee [when the computer starts up, not in Windows] to default. The printer promptly stopped working. The settings I can find are correct to the best of my knowledge. When I try to print, I get a message that says something about an invalid port... or printer not comfigured to correct port... something like that. I checked and it's plugged completely into the correspondingly labled hole. I've tried to copy the message, but it won't let me and it disappears if I try to type it using a separate window. I get this feeling that it's one of those stupid little things that people would have assumed I already tried.
> >
> > Don't lose any sleep over this. I'm just wondering if there's some amazingly simple wonder cure- y'know, like, whack the monitor or something- that even I can understand and apply.
> >
> > Chris
>
> Ok, I don't think I can help Mousie, but HardWare I know. Go back into the CMOS SETUP where you changed to the DEFAULT settings. Look for a section that reads something like INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS. When you find it go into it and look for the following:
>
> 1) LPT PORT
> 2) PARALLEL PORT
> or
> 3) PRINTER PORT
>
> If you don't have INTEGRATED PERIPHERALS just go through each section looking for one of the above.
> When you have found the section you're looking for you first want to make sure the printer port is turned on. There should be an ENABLE/DISABLE toggle. Next make sure the port is set at address 378h. If an IRQ or INTERRUPT is registered it should be at 7. Sometimes it doesn't let you control that. Next see if there is a place to change the mode. This, if present, will toggle between the following:
>
> 1)NORMAL
> 2)SPP
> 3)ECP
> 4)EPP
> 5)ECP/EPP
>
> Set it for ECP/EPP. This is the speed that the data is transferred from the port to the printer. ECP/EPP is recommended, and sometimes necessary, for todays high speed printers to print correctly. If you set the machine to default settings the port was probably set back to NORMAL, if not disabled all together. Now save the changes and reboot the machine. When Windows comes up you will probably see it detect a new port. Sometimes it doesn't actually show this but most times it will. When Windows is completely up try printing. If this doesn't work I'd find someone close who works on computers and have him/her run a loop back test on the port to make sure it's still working.
>
> Drac


Heh. Thanks Drac. Ditto all the above, that definitely ought to get you back on track Chris. You may have a printer selection for BIDIRECTIONAL in your CMOS menu where all the SPP (standard parallel port), ECP (higher-speed printer), and EPP (for slower zip drives) stuff is located. At least, that's what I've been assuming all those acronyms meant. Once you get your printer working and other parts of your system to your liking, Chris, I recommend you write down all your CMOS settings for future reference or problems (such as when your battery runs out and wipes the settings). Writing the settings is actually a good policy for pretty well any PC.

It's funny. What with Plug 'n Play, Auto-Detect Peripheral compatibilities on Pentium boards, etc., installing new hardware components was supposed to get *easier* for users. Instead, you can now put in a new video or sound card and experience the total gratification of IRQ conflicts, and having to constantly reboot the computer 5 times until for some magical reason Windows "gets it" and installs the component correctly. I hate not knowing why it "worked" *that* time and not the others. In the good-bad old days of card jumper settings, we could reset the CMOS to our heart's delight and never lost the printer port connection. Of course, you might later lose the paper with the jumper settings on it and then you're in trouble, but that's another story.