Extended Capabilities Port (ECP)

[Chip Fossa]

Out with the old; in with the new. I recently
purchased a new HP Pavillion pc with a lot of guts and equipped with Windows ME.

As I was reinstalling an HP Model 600 all-in-one printer/fax/scanner a flag popped up and
said 'see if your pc has an Extended Capability Port'[ECP] as this will be better for scanning and I guess other things in running the printer.

Jack, Everett, anybody, know where and how to find out it your pc has this ECP.

I called up HP Support as I have 1 year of 'free' support under the new pc purchase warrantee, but guess what?
Although this ECP is located on the pc, I was shoostied over to the 'printer' division
which promptly related to me their phone line support fees at $2.50/minute, not to exceed $25.00 per call.

Well, so much for that. Another great reason to have forums. If anyone knows, please let me know about the ECP and even if it's worth the efffort?
TIA
ChipsAhoy

------------------
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5

[Jack Stoner]

The printer port mode setting is in the setup or BIOS of the PC. You access that via the F1 key at power up and before windows starts. ECP is the fastest bi-directional setting for the printer port and is usually the default setting on newer PC's. Most bi-directional devices that use the printer (parallel) port require either ECP or EPP mode (EPP is slightly slower than ECP).

One note of caution. When you get into the setup be careful, if you change some of the settings it could affect the PC to the point it won't boot up. Look at the setup and if ECP is already selected, when you exit the setup select the option that lets you exit without any changes, the safest way.

I just set up a HP Pavillion (Model XE748) for a client and it had the ECP as default in the setup. It had a Phoenix BIOS system.

[Chip Fossa]

Thanks Jack...I just got this Pavillion as you know, and it is running great right now, printer and all. I think for the time being
I'll stay out of the BIOS. I'd hate to ruin
everything so soon.

Maybe in a week or two, I'll get brave and venture in there. Right now, I think I'll let the sleeping dog lay.

Thanks again, and I'll just file this.

Chip

[Everett Cox]

Chip-- RIGHT-click 'MyComputer' then LEFT-click 'Properties' on the context menu. Near the top of the window that will open, LEFT-click the 'DeviceManager' tab. When that opens, look down the list for 'Ports...' and LEFT-click the '+' to expand that entry. The line for your printer port (usually LPT1) will probably tell you how it is currently configured - ECP, EPP, or Standard. -Everett

[Chip Fossa]

Thanks Everett,
I went in there and under Printer Port (LPT1)Properties were listed these 3 items
located in the 'General' tab:
Device Type: Ports (COM & LPT)
Manufacturer: (Standard Port Types)
Hardware Version: Not available

So I guess this means that the pc DOES not
have ECP capabilities?

Thanks again, appreciate it...
Chip

[Jack Stoner]

Chip, your PC does have ECP. If it isn't displaying it could be the BIOS isn't supplying that information to the system. If you really want to know, check the BIOS, that's the definitive answer.

[Everett Cox]

Chip-- I had shown you how to use DeviceManager to check the port's current CONFIGURATION, only. If it showed up as you wanted, you would not have to worry about getting into the BIOS setup. In your case, it seems your port is set to 'standard' and you must follow Jack's instructions to change it to EPP or ECP. It is not difficult and I believe it to be important as some printer functions may require it. --Everett

[Chip Fossa]

OK. I'll check the BIOS. But not till I get brave enough. Thanks Jack & Everett.
Chip

You can lock this one Jack, if you like.