How can I test my parallel port on my Linux system?

[Syrinx]

I have an HP scanner and an HP printer that both quit working around the same time.

They are both PP devices, so I'm thinking maybe it's not the printer or scanner that are bad, but maybe my parallel port itself.

Anyone know of a simple way to test the PP?

Thanks.

[RoyGBiv]

1. Not sure ...

I would think you would need a parallel loopback device attached to the port to do something like that. I think these cost about $10 at Radio Shack. That is, you'd have to have something attach to the port you know is functional (and loopback devices are always functional) to see if the information you send to the port is actually going anywhere.

But, again, I'm not sure. That just sounds logical to me.

[Syrinx]

2. thanks RoyGBiv

I don't know why I didn't think of that. Sounds logical to me too.

Just yesterday, I walked around in the mall for a few minutes and noticed the Radio Shack is going out of business and everything is at least 50% off. I should be able to a get a loopback cable for a song.

Thanks again!

[hobbit709]

3. Do you have them both

connected to the same port? windoze was notorious for freezing up being unable to differentiate between them. It thinks the scanner is a printer and the printer is a scanner. The easiest fix is to get an I/O board with another parallel port on it. The easy way to test is just connect one device to the port and see if it works and then the other device. If the both work singly then the problem is in the port sharing. Before the USB devices came available I always used a separate card with more ports.

[Syrinx]

4. good idea. thanks.

I primarily use Linux, but I also have Windows 2000 intalled, and the devices don't work on either os.

I haven't tried them singly, though. But I will.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. Uh oh...

Sounds like new motherboard time. That said, do check the BIOS and see if the ports have gotten turned off at some time.

[Syrinx]

7. well it isn't so bad

Because I've had this computer for about seven years... it's woefully out-dated at this point. That being said, I'll check the BIOS. I want to squeeze a few more months out of the machine, and find a good deal around Christmastime.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

9. Speaking of good deals:

The prices on 939 Athlon64s are way down, both single and dual-core, as well as the Sempron64s(a great processor!).

For motherboards, I like Gigabyte and Epox. Very nice kit and very solid.

If you go budget, a Sempron 64 and a Gigabyte K8S motherboard is a great combination. I have built a number of machines from this combo and it is solid and inexpensive. And fast. Just not a good gaming flamethrower combination.

[Syrinx]

12. thanks for the tips

I will look into those models!

[hunter]

6. I've written off PC parallel ports as extinct.

A bad mix of hardware and software problems I'm really not interested in anymore.

If your motherboard parallel port has gone bad (and they do) you can turn it off in setup and install another if you have a spare slot, but my opinion is that USB is always better. I was actually happy when my old parallel port scanner died and I had to buy a new one for $70. My beloved BJC4100 printer (pour all the cheap ink into the BC-20 cartridge you want to) lives on the end of a $9.00 USB-to-parallel cable.

Good luck, and enjoy the adventure.

[Syrinx]

8. thanks

Yeah, parallel ports, I think, were going the way of the dinosaur when I bought this computer in 1999. I paid over $1200 for it back then, and I'm drooling over what I could get for that now. But I won't pay nearly that for my new replacement, and it will still be tons better.

[hunter]

10. My latest computer, the one I'm using now, cost $100.

I'm pretty fearless shopping the surplus and junk stores of Silicon Valley. Except for my old Atari 8 bits, it's the best damned computer I ever bought. It's running ubuntu which I like it a lot.

Mind you, if everyone was like me, there would be no progress. Somebody's got to buy the expensive cutting edge top end machines or nobody would bother developing them.

[Syrinx]

11. I doubt I'll be able to get a deal like that around here

But I definitely won't be going for the latest and greatest either. The latest buzzwords aren't worth hundreds of dollars. ;)

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

13. Ahhh...Weirdstuff Warehouse.

Such a loverly place.