LPT Ports

[MYstIC G]

Got a PC with onboard Parallel & 3 x Parallel PCI cards in it (2 from 1 manufacturer, 1 from another).

It's suddenly deciding to be gay in that it will now only assign (this being windows ME) 3 of the LPT ports whilst seemingly ignoring the fourth. I've tested all the cards & they all work, as does the onboard port so it seems ME is the problem. Anyone know of a workaround because i've found it utterly impossible to even find out if 3 LPT ports is a ME limitation, a PC limitation, etc.

ARRRRAGH!

Regards
Rob / MYstIC G

 

[xane]

Check out the IRQs, maybe a clue in there, I know Windows 9x has a funny way of reassigning IRQs thru "steering" when you least expect it to.

If you can, use your BIOS to predefine your IRQs to each slot.

 

[Tom]

Can you use the ports in DOS?

 

[MYstIC G]

Untested on DOS cos frankly I cba. I've tried manually setting the stuff but windows still won't assign the port even with no conflicts & no duplicate settings on any cards :/

 

[(Shovel)]

The onboard one will be controlled in the BIOS for sure you could try disabling it, rebooting, then enabling it again? See if that gives Windows the poke it needs?

 

[MYstIC G]

Well, put windows XP on there, now have 4 LPT ports. Can only actually use LPT1-3 with any printer though, which is typically fucking useless :/

 

[Ulysses777]

Try the following on XP:

Run Regedit, then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports.

Then right-click on the Ports folder and click New String Value, and name it LPT4: (include the colon). You'll probably have to restart before it does anything.

See if that helps

 

[MYstIC G]

Ta Ulysses will give that a go now i'm back in the office

 

[MYstIC G]

Nuts, it didn't work :/