PC will not recognise any parallel port printer

In the BIOS there is a setting for saying how the parallel port is configured. BIOS is the thing entered when you hit DEL etc on bootup. Under peripheral setup, you can set the port to be auto/disabled/378h/278h etc. Make sure it is auto and certainly not disabled!. Also you can set the mode to SPP/EPP/ECP/EPP+ECP. ECP is generally best. In any case you can always experiment!

check to see if you have an open com port  you probalaly don't because modems and mouses plus other serial and parallel devices use them you only have a limit of four so check around control see if you can find them   because i don't have win3000

i am sorry mean  win2000 pro                not            win3000

When you boot the PC, do you see the Parallel port mentioned in the initial stages (you have to be quick).

If NO - The problem is either in the BIOS (see tpilgs answer) or the Parallel port may be faulty.

If YES- Then the problem is within Windows. If you go to Control Panel - System - Devices - Ports, does it mention a Parallel port. What are its settings, does it match the BIOS settings.


Another possibility is that the printer, or your parallel cable may be faulty.

More likely than not, you need to get drivers from Dell for that specific laptop, for Windows 2000.  It's a notorious problem with laptops.  Go to the dell site, get drivers for you model, install them.

I would recomend using a parallel-to-USB adapter.  This could have the added advantage of improving preformance, due to the intricicies of Windows 2000.