Microsoft KB Archive/118972

= Parallel Port Printing Problems on IBM Thinkpad =

PSS ID Number: 118972

Article Last Modified on 12/15/2003

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51

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This article was previously published under Q118972



3.10 3.50 3.51

WINDOWS

kbprint



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 query words: prodnt 3.10

Keywords: KB118972

Technology: kbWinNT310Search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT351search kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTS310search kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS350search kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTW310Search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTWsearch

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