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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 14 Text
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PRINTFAX.ZIP
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PRINT.FAX
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1992-10-18
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┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ OS/2 2.0 Technical Tips │
│ From the │
│ OS/2 Technical Support Team │
│ Boca Raton, Florida │
│ │
├───────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────┤
│ File Name │ Description │ Number of pages │
├───────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────┤
│ PRINT.FAX │ OS/2 Print Troubleshooting Guide │ 3 │
└───────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────┘
Problem: When trying to print to the LPT port in the system, OS/2 returns
an error stating that the printer is off-line, off, or out of
paper, or cannot write to LPTx. Also, the printing may have
worked under DOS, but does not work under OS/2.
Resolutions: Check the following.
* Verify that the system is operating properly by running diagnostics
on the system or getting it checked by a service rep.
* If there is a NON-IBM parallel adapter in the system, verify that the
non-IBM adapter is configured for IRQ7 and a different port
address than any other adapter in the system. Note the
recommended port/IRQ combinations for the EISA and Micro Channel
systems as described at the end of this troubleshooting guide.
* If this is an EISA system with an AT type parallel port adapter
in the system, make sure that no other adapter uses the same IRQ
as the printer port.
* If there is an (LAN, MIDI, serial, sound) adapter such as a bus
mouse that uses the same IRQ as the LPT port, reconfigure the
other adapter to use a different IRQ.
In particular if you are using a SoundBlaster card, it is
configured by default to use IRQ7. Reconfigure to use IRQ10
instead
* Ensure that there are no other parallel ports in the system trying to
use IRQ7 and/or the same port address. Change the jumpers or
switches to configure appropriately leaving LPT1 configured
as IRQ7. Note the recommended port/IRQ combinations for ISA (AT)
systems as described at the end of this guide.
* Ensure that LPT1 is configured for IRQ7 and not IRQ5
* Bus mice usually use IRQ5 so if printing is failing too, or LPT2
is recognized, reconfigure the mouse for a different IRQ.
If this problem persists after trying the above, or none of the above
can be done due to hardware restrictions, the adapter may need to be
replaced or upgraded. Some older 8-bit Parallel port adapters do not
work with OS/2.
Problem: Receive printer pop-up that the printer is off-line or it is not
responding when starting a print job.
Resolution: Check the following.
* Problems have been found when using certain parallel port
printer cables that do not meet the parallel port specifications.
Cables that are longer than six feet in length are suspect.
Cables that do not contain all 25 wires will not work under OS/2.
Problems with cables longer than six feet in length are more
evident on higher speed processor systems.
* Hold the printer queue, send a job and make sure the job makes it
to the queue. If not, the printer object is not installed
properly. Otherwise, it is probably hardware related. Also, you
can try using the IBMNULL printer driver so that we can insure
that the printer driver is not at fault.
Problem: Erratic or slow printing
Resolution: Check the following.
* The parallel port card is probably of older vintage and does not
interrupt correctly. Adapter will need to be replaced unless a system
board problem is evident, or the adapter card address and
interrupt level do not match supported pairs. Please refer to
diagram below.
* If there are three LPT ports in a (AT/EISA) system, using AT
technology cards, it will be normal for one of the parallel ports
using IRQ7 not to work at the same speed since the AT class
system does not share interrupts. One of the parallel ports will
be running off a simulated interrupt that runs off the system
timer services, which will be the one that is running slower.
Please refer to diagram below.
* Ensure that the printer is in the correct emulation mode for use with
the driver installed. NOTE: Not all printers really emulate 100% so
we can't guarantee that the driver will work fully with a emulating
printer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Following are the hardware setups for the different bus types; ISA
(or AT), EISA, and MicroChannel (MC).
Note that EISA bus systems with EISA parallel port cards installed
will support interrupt sharing just as the MC bus systems.
However EISA bus systems with ISA parallel port cards installed
will NOT support interrupt sharing, and therefore must be
configured to use different interrupts.
Two parallel port hardware setups for the different system bus
and adapter types:
ISA/EISA (ISA Adapter) EISA (EISA Adapters)/MC
_________ ________
3BC/IRQ7 LPT1 3BC/IRQ7
278/IRQ5 LPT2 378/IRQ7
Alternate 2 parallel port setup when I/O parallel port cannot
be set to 3BC:
ISA/EISA (ISA Adapter) EISA (EISA Adapters)/MC
________ ________
378/IRQ7 LPT1 378/IRQ7
278/IRQ5 LPT2 278/IRQ7
Three parallel port hardware setup recommended:
ISA/EISA (ISA Adapter) EISA (EISA Adapters)/MC
_________ ________
3BC/IRQ7 LPT1 3BC/IRQ7
378/IRQ7 LPT2 378/IRQ7
278/IRQ5 LPT3 278/IRQ7
Note that in the 3 parallel port setup case in ISA bus systems and
in EISA bus systems with ISA adapters, LPT1 and LPT2 are both
configured for IRQ7. This setup is still legal, as OS/2 contains
an algorithm that resolves the resource conflict by using the
timer interrupt.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The file PRDESC.LST on the OS/2 V2.0 device driver diskette one
contains a list of device drivers to use for some common printers.
If your printer is not on the list, but will emulate a printer on
the list, try using the device driver for the emulated printer.
You may also try using the IBMNULL device driver.
The file PRDRV.LST also on the OS/2 device driver diskette one
lists the printer drivers by their device file name and shows the
device driver diskette for each.