Scanner/printer/Zip problem
Q: I have a system operating on Windows 95, a Canon BJC-600 printer, a Mustek 600 II EP scanner. This has worked fairly well until recently when the CD Rom drive failed. However, I now have a new 40X CD Rom installed. When this was installed the technician installed an Iomega zip drive (external). The connections are parallel port. So - the Zip works fine but after using the scanner briefly last week the scanner no longer functions. It is connected as the inside light works but the outside indicator light does not work and therefore the printer (which is connected through the scanner) does not work either. Do you have any suggestions? For instance, is it possible to download a patch or will it be necessary to unplug the zip if I am using the scanner?
A: This is why I don't recommend parallel-connected drives and scanners. First, I'd suggest turning everything off and removing one of the devices and seeing if the other one works correctly with your printer. Then, shut down, disconnect it, attach the other one and start up again, to check if the other one works alongside the printer. This will verify that the drivers are all in place and working. If not, reinstall them, updating with the newest versions available. Then, try connecting both no-printer devices together, but in the opposite "daisy chain" order from the way you had them when the problem occurred. If it just won't work, buy a second parallel port and install it as LPT2, and connect the two original devices to LPT1, and the Zip drive to LPT2, the new port.
Note that many of today's parallel-connected devices require bi-directional communication with the computer and thus won't work correctly if connected to a parallel switch-box, which cuts off communication to the peripheral when the switch deselects the device.
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