linmix; printer has a port using a printer cable(ie; hp 1284 ieee connector with either usb or 9/15 pin connector to system case I/O terminal.) so now u have to see what u need & or have on hand. 9pin usually used with older systems, 15pin newer systems along with the usb ports.

Don't wish to be rude, but I think that's just what I said, isn't it?
My printer has a 15-pin connector and I have a 15-pin to 9-pin adapter, but for some reason it won't work.

linmix; have been tring to help but ur needs not very clear. two other ways attempt to contact the printer mfgs support for assistance and w support.
if u have all necessary hardware & connections are good then next is configuring device to system via hardware wizard in conrtolpanel. follow prompts-directions.

So that's what I did.

Controil Panel --> Printers --> select printer and go to Properties --> select port (COM1) --> select port speed (115.000 e.g) --> print test page

PC sends info to printer (you see a progress bar) and that's it: printer doesn't respond. I've tried with ALL possible speeds and with both COM1 and COM2, but no response from the printer. Test page is sent but never received. But when the printer is connected to LPT1 it works like a charm.

Dont know about XP, but when I have similar troubles with 98 I uninstall everything associated then start from scratch letting windows re-detect com ports, printer etc.. sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt

Hey folks, serial port handshake is different. You can't just hope to connect and go. Along with the adapter should come some software.

If not, available, I would strongly suggest that you add a parallel port card. (From 2S+1P configuration, you become 2S+2P). It's also probably least dependant on customised stuff like adapters, cables etc).

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linmix; as other posts stated com ports via printer conflict with other devices. that is why it is best to use lpt port(especially hp) work most of the time (without much config). question? why insist on using serial com when
lpt works?

'cos I have only 1 LPT port and need to connect 2 printers. I found a really old PC (+12 years) which has an I/O card with printer port. I'll try and find out how to configure the
jumpers to make it work.

I'm still surprised at the difficulty to interchange devives between serial ports. I have an external modem which works great on both LPT and COM, so why shouldn't a printer??

linmix; ah that is because of the interface between os & device, each has an interface
& may not quite match the hardware or software`s interface. that is where u configure so that their interfaces do match.

So what's this interface difference??
I was reading "Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition" which basically explains that the wiring of these prallell ports is only different in which pin carries which command, so adapting from one type to another should be possible without any problem. The difference must be in how windows handels the information and since it is a lot less configurable it doesn't allow me to 'blindly' use COM as if it were LPT. Can it be configured anyway to do this?

linmix; question ? do you have W user manual (that comes with pc or os bundle)? that has that information and how to configure windows with all apps.
Take time to read this vital information. answer to ur ? yes windows is config manually if u would like to or need to!

is the manual available online?

Centronics has only one pin that returns signals to the PC (Printer not ready).

Serial port has a handshaking protocol and you can (and must or default) set stuff like
-> Baud rate (maximum),
-> Parity mode - Even / Odd,
-> Stop bits etc.

since u r attaching a parallel printer to a serial port, the handshaking signal which should "regulate" the data flow, gets consumed at the printer end and so <Quote>nothing happens<Unquote>.

Not sure about your experience with external modems (need the model and specs) but all 25 pins connections aren't parallel),
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