john banks

The parallel port seems to have spontaneously packed in so I can't use my Ecutek dongle or program my microcontroller boards.

Windows 2000 (and another hard drive with Windows 95 on it) just disable the parallel port and say there are conflicts with other devices, and that the parallel port is using addresses that are not right.

I have not changed them though, and not installed new hardware.

Using the Thinkpad config utility it won't take re-enabling of the port, disabling the conflicting devices doesn't help.

In short, and it is not surprising given its age and heavy use in and out of cars I think it is dead.

Any suggestions before I buy another laptop?

stevencotton

Later versions (>98?) totally destroy any DOS action you might otherwise have (and love), otherwise I'd try copying a file to "LPT1" from a DOS prompt whilst a printer is connected, and see if you get any output.

Not a lot else you can do really, except buy a PowerBook (and VirtualPC perhaps) and really upgrade

sti555

1.- Buy a usb > paralell converter.. done..

2.- reset BIOS & hardware profile, normally works a treat if you go into device manager Delete the port, reboot & win2k will reinstall it.. useful for usb problems too..

Tim

john banks

Thanks guys, thought you had it there with option 2 Tim as it worked again and then promptly failed again. Removing the CMOS battery didn't help either.

Might try option 1 but the Deskey dongle might not like it, or my microcontroller programmer.

john banks

Option 1 doesn't work with Deskey.

So need a new laptop with on board serial and parallel ports. Suggestions? 1024x768 screen would be very useful, otherwise any PII would do (P233MMX at present on 800x600 with 96MB).

john banks

Got the next model Thinkpad 380Z (vs 380XD) off Ebay so I can use my car PSU, and now get 1024x768 display with a Pentium II 300 instead of 800x600 with a P233.

Usability improvement of that will be substantial, but perfectly adequate for what I use.

Probably will ebay my old one with "parallel port doesn't work" and hopefully get a bit for it. Cheap old laptops are always welcome.

sti555

John,

I would def do a repair install before buying another laptop.. just to make it's knackered , try booting from a ms-dos boot disk.. plug in a paralell printer.... load the graphics program at cmd prompt>

c:\

type: graphics

press print screen & see what comes out .. would'nt be suprised if it's the os messing up the hardware profile... perhaps try booting in safe mode too & testing it F8 before win 2k splash screen..

May be worth getting a quote to get it fixed??



Tim

sti555

john,

forget all that!, just read your last post.. oops

john banks

Only have a ghastly GDI printer so can't test that.

Tried safe mode and removed the LPT port and tried various setups and can't get anything to work.

Think it is goosed. Better be since I just bought another

sti555

lol!

cheers

Tim