Parallel Port Printing Problems on IBM Thinkpad

 Last reviewed: August 30, 1996
Article ID: Q118972
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5 and 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5 and 3.51

SYMPTOMS

When you print from an IBM ThinkPad to a parallel port, various problems may appear in the output.

CAUSE

Printing problems may occur when the Parallel Port Arbitration is not disabled.

WORKAROUND

To disable Parallel Port Arbitration in the system setup:

  1. Power-on the ThinkPad.

  2. Press CTRL+ALT+INS after the memory count-up and while the cursor is staying in the upper-right corner of screen. Enter password if it's set. The blue IBM logo then appears.

  3. Press ENTER.

  4. Select Set Configuration, and then press ENTER.

  5. Select Change Configuration, then press ENTER.

  6. Select Parallel Port Arbitration Level, and then press the F6 key several times until "Disabled" appears.

  7. Press the F10 key to save the setting, and then press ENTER.

  8. Press the F3 key twice, and then press ENTER to start the operating system.

This forces the parallel port to no-DMA ISA machine compatible mode and resolves the error with some printers.

The IBM product discussed here is manufactured by IBM (International Business Machines Corp.), a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional reference words: prodnt 3.10 3.50 3.51
KBCategory: kbprint
KBSubCategory: ntprint NTSrvWkst

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Last reviewed: August 30, 1996
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