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Enabling a Parallel Port Device from a Virtual Machine

You can attach up to two bidirectional parallel ports (LPT) to a virtual machine. The virtual machine creates a virtual parallel port that connects to a parallel port or a file on the host operating system. You can change the configuration of a parallel port on a virtual machine between virtual machine sessions.

To add a parallel port connection:

  1. Select File > Open and open the virtual machine configuration file (.cfg) you want to modify.
  2. Select Settings > Configuration Editor from Workstation.
  3. Click the + sign next to Parallel Ports.
  4. Select a device node where you want to create a virtual parallel port. If a slot is not currently configured, the description reads Not Installed.
  5. In the Parallel Port window, select the Start Connected option if you want the parallel port device to be available as soon as the virtual machine powers on.

    Note: If the parallel port device may be inaccessible to the guest operating system when the virtual machine is powered on, deselect this option. For example, an Iomega Zip drive might not be connected when the virtual machine powers on. In this case, you can enable access to the parallel port after startup using the Devices menu.

    Warning: Exercise caution when you select the Start Connected option with bidirectional parallel port devices. Due to a limitation of the bidirectional parallel port controller, if a guest operating system boots with the controller disconnected, VMware Workstation may misidentify the controller and not be able to use it later if the device is reconnected.

  6. In the Type field, make a selection:
  7. If you selected the Device option, you can also choose the transfer capabilities of the virtual device:
  8. Click Install.
  9. Click OK.
  10. Power on the virtual machine.

Note: If an error message is displayed at power on stating the parallel port on the host does not have an ECR (Extended Control Register), it is possible the hardware supports it but it has been disabled in the BIOS. In this case, reboot your host, enter the BIOS configuration editor (typically by holding down the Delete key during early execution of the BIOS), find the parallel port field, and enable ECP mode (or other combination of modes that include ECP). Most modern computers should support ECP mode.

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