parallel port not there?
 

When I installed opensuse 10.2, my HP 920c worked fine but it recently stopped. There's no Communication to the printer. /dev/lp0 seems to be detected and configured, modprobe lists parport and parport_pc (and lp) but it still won't print. Here is a section from system messages:

Apr 9 15:47:58 x kernel: parport 0x378: You gave this address, but there is probably no parallel port there!
Apr 9 15:47:58 x kernel: parport0: PC-style at 0x378 [PCSPP,TRISTATE]
Apr 9 15:47:59 x kernel: pnp: Device 00:0c activated.
Apr 9 15:47:59 x kernel: parport: PnPBIOS parport detected.
Apr 9 15:47:59 x kernel: parport0: PC-style at 0x378 (0x778), irq 7, dma 3 [PCSPP,TRISTATE,COMPAT,EPP,ECP,DMA]
Apr 9 15:47:59 x kernel: lp0: using parport0 (interrupt-driven).
Apr 9 15:48:09 x kernel: pnp: Device 00:0c disabled.
Apr 9 15:48:09 x kernel: parport 0x378 (WARNING): CTR: wrote 0x0c, read 0xff
Apr 9 15:48:09 x kernel: parport 0x378 (WARNING): DATA: wrote 0xaa, read 0xff
Apr 9 15:48:09 x kernel: parport 0x378: You gave this address, but there is probably no parallel port there!
Apr 9 15:48:09 orca kernel: parport0: PC-style at 0x378 [PCSPP,TRISTATE]
Apr 9 15:48:09 x kernel: ppa: Version 2.07 (for Linux 2.4.x)
Apr 9 15:48:09 x kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Apr 9 15:48:09 x kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Apr 9 15:48:24 x kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Apr 9 15:48:24 x kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev fd0, sector 0
Apr 9 15:50:54 x kernel: hdc: drive_cmd: status=0x01 { Error }
Apr 9 15:50:54 x kernel: hdc: drive_cmd: error=0x04 { AbortedCommand }
Apr 9 15:50:54 x kernel: ide: failed opcode was: 0xec
Apr 9 15:50:54 x kernel: hdd: drive_cmd: status=0x51 { DriveReady SeekComplete Error }
Apr 9 15:50:54 x kernel: hdd: drive_cmd: error=0x04 { AbortedCommand }
Apr 9 15:50:54 x kernel: ide: failed opcode was: 0xec

I'm pretty sure it's parallel port thats not working but don't have any idea how to fix it. Suggestions?


Note: I haven't used floppies in a long time so I don't understand why it was mentioned.

I haven't used a parallel port printer for years. Have you tried to send stuff to the printer directly, by e.g.:

echo hello > /dev/lp0

(maybe have to be root, depending on permissions)? If you get a reaction from the printer then at least you know data is going through the port.

You could also check the log files, usually in /var/log/cups.

I guess you have checked the lsmod output. I noticed I now have a module 'ppdev' which I don't recall seeing before. Maybe the way the kernel handles the port has been changed.

You can also try changing the parallel port settings in the BIOS to see if it makes any difference.

Edit: it looks like ppdev has replaced ppa on my system. Not sure of the significance of that.

In the BIOS, the address of the parallel port can be changed. The default should be 0x378.

Thank you both for responding.

"echo hello > /dev/lp0" had no effect.
Neither ppdev nor ppa were installed. Adding them had no effect.
The bios address of the port was correct.
/var/log/cups may have a clue. There were no error messages but at the end of each test attempt was this entry: "CUPS-Delete-Printer: Unauthorized". Means nothrng specific to me. Do either of you have any ideas?



PS. Tested all memory addresses and modes. No luck.

If you google your warning message with search terms:

"parport 0x378" warning ctr

you will see several reports of similar problems. No standard fix unfortunately.

It is strange that your printer suddenly stopped working - seems to suggest hardware failure rather than driver problems. Can you try another printer, or the same printer on a different computer? Just rebooting with a live CD and trying to print from that might tell you something.

Do you have a parport0 entry in the output of 'cat /proc/ioports'?

Here's what proc has to say:
0378-037a : parport0
037b-037f : parport0
My Knoppix cd has gone kaput. I'll report back later. Should have thought of Knoppix myself. Sorry.


A new Knoppix was unable to detect the printer. If there is a separate way to test the port, I didn't find it. So either the motherboard or the printer is at fault. Looks like I need to find a usb printer. Thanks for the help.