Printing Problems with ECP Port

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you print to an ECP (Enhanced Capability Port) port, you may experience any of the following symptoms:

• You may receive an error message. The error messages can include:

      - The port is busy.
  

      - Error writing to LPT1.
  

• The printout may be incorrect. Incorrect output can include incorrectly printed graphics or incomplete pages.
• The printer may go offline when you try to print.
• You may receive no printout.
• The print job may hang the print spooler. You must restart the computer to clear the hung print job.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur when the ECP port sends information to the printer faster than the printer can process it.

RESOLUTION

Change the ECP port to a standard port. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click System.

2. On the Device Manager tab, double-click the printer port.

3. On the Driver tab, click Change Driver.

4. Click Show All Devices.

5. In the Manufacturers box, click Standard Port Types. In the Models box, click Printer Port, and then click OK.

6. When you are prompted for the Windows 95 CD-ROM, insert the CD-ROM in the drive. Change the path to the Lpt.vxd file to the following path, and then click OK:

         <cd-rom drive>:\drivers\printer\lpt
   

   If you are not prompted for the Windows 95 CD-ROM in step 6, you must configure the ECP port as a standard port using the computer's CMOS settings as well. For information about configuring the port in the computer's CMOS settings, please consult the computer's documentation or manufacturer.

   NOTE: If you do not have the CD-ROM version of Windows 95, you can obtain the alternate Lpt.vxd file from Microsoft Windows 95 Service Pack 1. For information about obtaining Microsoft Windows 95 Service Pack 1, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

         ARTICLE-ID: 142794
         TITLE     : Availability of Microsoft Windows 95 Service Pack 1
   
   

7. Verify that the version of the Lpt.vxd file in use is version 4.00.503. To check this, double-click the port in Device Manager, and then click the Driver tab.

8. Check the Resources tab in Printer Port properties and verify that the settings are correct. If the Direct Memory Access value is displayed for a setting, click the Use Automatic Settings check box to clear it, and then change the value in the Settings Based On box until the Direct Memory Access value is no longer displayed.

9. When you are prompted to confirm that you have modified the settings manually, click Yes. When you are prompted to restart your computer, do so.

1. In Windows Explorer, use the right mouse button to click the Lpt.vxd file in the Windows\System folder, and then click Rename on the menu that appears.

2. Rename the Lpt.vxd file to Lpt.xxx.

3. Drag the Lpt.vxd file from the Drivers\Printer\Lpt folder on the Windows 95 CD-ROM to the Windows\System folder on the hard disk.

4. Restart Windows 95.

MORE INFORMATION

Note that if you add a printer port, Windows 95 copies the original Lpt.vxd file to the Windows\System folder. If this occurs, you must repeat the steps above.

For additional information, view the Readme.txt file in the Drivers\ Printer\Lpt folder on the Windows 95 CD-ROM.