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1994-12-06
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Resolving IRQ problems 10/01/92
GENERAL OS/2 PRINTING TIPS & TROUBLESHOOTING
--------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
P1 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
MICRO CHANNEL / EISA SYSTEMS
A1 Verify that the system is operating properly by running diagnostics
on the system or getting it checked by a service rep.
A2 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.
A3 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.
A4 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
AT (ISA) CLASS SYSTEMS
A1 See A3 and A4 under micro channel systems, above.
A2 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.
A3 Ensure that LPT1 is configured for IRQ7 and not IRQ5
A4 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 will need to be
replaced or upgraded. Contact Point of Sale or authorized dealer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P2 Receive printer pop-up that the printer is off-line or it is not
responding when starting a print job.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A1 Please go through checklist in P1 and verify the full hardware
configuration is correct.
A2 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.
A3 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P3 Erratic or slow printing
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A1 Please go through the checklist in P1 and verify that the full
hardware configuration is correct.
A2 The parallel port card is probably of older vintage and does not inter-
rupt 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.
A3 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.
A4 Insure 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.
DON'T TRY INSTALLING OS/2 2.0 PAINTJET DRIVER ON A 1.3 SYSTEM
-------------------------------------------------------------
The OS/2 2.0 PaintJet driver does not work on a 1.3 system. This driver (any
any other driver) requiring the mirrors.dll will not work with 1.3. The
mirrors.dll is a 32 bit dll.
----------------------------------------------------------------
DMA PARALLEL PORT ARBITRATION LEVEL
When using OS/2 2.0, the DMA parallel prot arbitration level should not be
disabled. It should be set to SHARED 7. When using OS/2 1.3 with CSD 5054 or
greater applied, the DMA parallel port arbitration level should not be disabled.
Any level prior to this, should have the arbitration level disabled on those
systems with a DMA parallel port (PS/2 models 56, 57, 80-A21, 80-A31, 90, and
95).
----------------------------------------------------------------
PARALLEL PORT PRINTING PROBLEMS
If nothing prints on an AT (ISA) bus system, the parallel port may be configured
incorrectly. This is especially true if the parallel port worked correctly
under DOS. Up to 3 parallel ports can be installed on most systems as long as
the port address and hardware interrupt levels are set properly. The proper
combinations under OS/2 are address 3BC and IRQ7, 378 and IRQ7, and 278 and
IRQ5. If these combinations are not used, printer error messages or very slow
printing will occur.
AT bus systems are incapable of sharing hardware interrupt levels. This means
each adapter in your system must have a different hardware interrupt level
assigned. Special code handles the conflict as described in the paragraph
above. Many sound cards (Soundblaster) use the same hardware interrupt level as
the first parallel port and the conflict must be resolved if you intend to
print. Using IRQ10 with Soundblaster is recommended since it does not conflict
with the parallel ports (IRQ7, IRQ5). IRQ2 cannot be used since it drives the
slave 8259 Programmable Interrupt Controller.
Problems have been found when using certain parallel port printer cables that do
not meet the parallel port specifica- tions. 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. The six foot cable length problem is more evident on higher
speed processor systems.
Some older parallel port adapters fail to generate hardware interrupts. These
adapters usually work correctly under DOS since DOS does not use hardware
interrupts to print. OS/2, due to its multitasking capability, must use
interrupts to transfer data out the parallel port. If your adapter fails to
generate interrupts, it must be replaced in order to print under OS/2. If your
buffer light illuminates on your printer or if your printer prints the first
character and then an error message is displayed after approximately 45 seconds,
you may be experiencing an interrupt problem.
-------------------------------------------------------------
REDIRECTING PRINTER PORT
To print to a communications port, you must redirect the output:
1. Display the pop-up menu for the appropriate printer
object.
2. Select the arrow to the right of OPEN; then select
SETTINGS.
3. Select OUTPUT.
4. Display the pop-up menu for the port you want to set up.
5. Select the arrow to the right of REDIRECTION.
6. Select the port you need. For example, you might
select COM1 to send your output through a communications
port.
or
.
1. Select OS/2 SYSTEM; then select Command Prompts.
2. Select OS/2 Window or OS/2 Full Screen.
SPOOL /D:LPT1 /O:COM1
PRINT MYFILE.TXT /D:LPT1
Note: You can redirect output to a COM port; however, you
cannot redirect output from a COM port to a LPT port.
The redirection option is only available when two or
more printer objects are defined.
------------------------------------------------------------
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM OS2TNT DOCUMENT.....
When installing auxiliary parallel port expansion cards, you need to ensure that
LPT1 is configured to interrupt level 7 (IRQ7). Not doing so will cause
printing under OS/2 to function erratically. Be aware that when using many
other common adapters such as the SoundBlaster card, they may come from the
factory configured on IRQ7. Also, many manufacturers recommend you configure
their cards on IRQ7. Non-microchannel machines cannot share interrupts and each
card must be on a separate IRQ to avoid conflicts. See the reference for your
adapter cards to configure the IRQs. Additionally, LPT2 cards should be
configured on IRQ5.
--------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTIONS, COMMON PROBLEMS AND ANSWERS
..
PROBLEM: Automatic emulation switching does not work
RESOLUTION: None
AES does not currently work under OS/2 2.0. Lexmark is working
on this to be released soon.
..
QUESTION: How does AES for OS/2 interact with 2.0 GA?
ANSWER: The basic function of AES is to provide a
convenient method for emulation mode switching on
the IBM LaserPrinter products. By correlating
LPT ports with emulation modes on the printer, a
user can send their job to the correct port and
set the mode switch properly, and thus not have to
touch the printer to change emulation modes.
During AES install, the option is given to the user
if they want to install extra LPT ports (as the
LPTX.SYS Device Driver). This driver is the same
identical driver that is used by the Lexmark
External Network Adapter, IBM 4033. It essentially
allows for character monitors to be installed on
LPT ports > 3. Then the character monitor does
what it needs to, and re-directs that data to the
physical port where the printer is connected. Or
in the case of the IBM 4033, the data is
re-directed (by the character monitor) to the
Token Ring or Ethernet PS/2 card
..
PROBLEM: Printing problems with parallel ports - nothing
prints.
RESOLUTION: Ensure that LPT1 is configured to use IRQ7 and
LPT2 is configured as IRQ5. Check the printer
cable to ensure that the cable runs all 25 lines,
not all cables wire the necessary lines. If the
problem persists and you are convinced it is not
an interrupt problem, cable problem or just the
wrong driver, the problem may be with your I/O
card. Some older I/O cards do not work in OS/2.
If you send a print job to a printer that is powered off, you may experience a
corrupted job when responding to the RETRY dialog after powering on the printer.
You should cancel the job and resubmit it after turning on the printer.
-------------------------------------------------------------
BETA VERSION OF IBM4072 EXECJET DRIVER FROM LEXMARK
.
Customers who need an IBM4072 ExecJet driver can now get a
beta version from Lexmark by calling Lexmark support at 1-606-
232-3000 or by logging on to the Lexmark Bulletin board at
1-606-232-5653. IBM users can obtain the driver by entering
the following command at a VM prompt:
EXEC TOOLS SENDTO LEXCJN1 LEXTOOLS DRIVERS GET OS24072 PACKAGE
--------------------------------------------------------------
PARALLEL CARDS KNOWN NOT TO WORK:
Boca Research:
After Calling Boca Researches tecnical support line, they admitted that the
parallel ports in the following cards will NOT work correctly for os/2. These
cards will however be upgraded this summer (exact date unclear).
IDE Controller cards
I/O AT41 and I/O AT45cards.
SIIG:
SIIG multi-purpose serial/parallel/game card.
-customer could not print with this card. Only printed when he
replaced card.
DIAMOND:
- DIAMOND I/O DIO-100 Revision A 1985.
Card did not work. Customer got printing to work only when the card was
replaced.
----------------------------------------------------------
SOME OEM PARALLEL PORT CARDS THAT WORK CORRECTLY UNDER OS/2
These are cards that a) the manufacturer confirms that they work under interrupt
driven printing for os/2 2.0. or b) Where the succesfull replacement for a card
that did not work under os/2 2.0.
BOCA RESEARCH:
IO AT 44 - confirmed by manufacturer and customer
IO AT 24- confirmed by manufacturer
EVEREX:
EVEREX Multi I/o card (model???) - confirmed by
customer
12/31/99