Jump to content  Troubleshooting Serial and Parallel Ports
(Windows 98, ME, and XP)    • PrintPrint Use the steps in this
document to fix serial and parallel issues by enabling, or
resetting the serial and parallel ports.  Step 1: Enabling the
ports in the BIOS  A parallel or serial port has to be enabled
in the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) before it can function
properly. Many parallel devices also require that ECP mode be
used. Use the following steps to enable the ports and ECP in the
BIOS if they are disabled:   1. Turn on the PC and press the F1
key repeatedly when the first screen appears. On some Presario
PCs the key to enter setup may be F10 .   2. Press the RIGHT
ARROW key to select the Advanced menu screen.   3. Use the UP
and DOWN ARROW keys to select I/O Device Configuration and press
the ENTER key.   4. Use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to select the
listing next to Serial Port A.   5. If it is not already set to
Enabled, press ENTER to select Enabled.   6. If the listings
next to Base I/O Addre