Frequently Asked Questions

Installation Tips for the SIIG Parallel Pro Enhanced Parallel Port

Description:

Customer has installed a SIIG Parallel Pro Enhanced Parallel Port and the scanner still does not work.

Cause:

On most computers, the Mustek Plug-N-Scan series scanners will only operate when attached to LPT1.

Solutions:

Option 1: Leave the scanner on the original parallel port and put the printer on the new port

If your Plug-N-Scan series scanner works fine on your original parallel port, it may be easier to configure your SIIG Parallel Pro as LPT2 and attach your printer to it while leaving the scanner on the original parallel port as LPT1. Refer to the instructions that came with the Parallel Pro if you choose to make it LPT2.

Option 2: Attach the scanner to the SIIG Parallel Pro configured as LPT1 and reconfigure the original port to LPT2

The Plug-N-Scan series scanners will perform best when attached to an Enhanced Parallel Port. If you have purchased a SIIG Parallel Pro Enhanced Parallel Port for your scanner, you may need to configure it as LPT1 in order for the scanner to work when attached to the Parallel Pro. If your existing parallel port is not an Enhanced Parallel Port, follow the steps below to reconfigure your original port as LPT2 and install the SIIG Parallel Pro as LPT1.

Disclaimer: Experience has shown that many Mustek Plug-N-Scan series scanner owners purchase the SIIG Parallel Pro Enhanced Parallel Port from SIIG, Inc. The information in this document is provided solely for the convenience of Mustek customers. Mustek technicians are unable to help you configure your SIIG Parallel Pro over the telephone. If you have trouble installing the SIIG Parallel Pro, contact SIIG�s Technical Support Department for assistance. Publishing of this information is not to be construed as an endorsement of SIIG, Inc. or any of its' products by Mustek. The jumper configurations listed herein will optimize the SIIG Parallel Pro for use solely with the Mustek Plug-N-Scan series scanners. This configuration may not be optimal when attaching other devices to the Parallel Pro.

NOTE: Most non Plug-N-Play sound cards use IRQ 5. If your sound card cannot be configured to use an IRQ other than 5 or 7, you will not be able to add the SIIG Parallel Pro to your computer because Parallel ports can only use IRQ 5 or 7. Many Plug-N-Play sound cards can use other IRQ settings. If your sound card is Plug-N-Play, you should be able to get the Parallel Pro to function.

Background:

The standard order of address assignments for each LPT port is:

LPT Port #

Port Address

LPT1

LPT2

LPT3

3BCh

O378h

0278h

Unlike serial ports, which can be specifically set as COM1, COM2 COM3 or COM4, LPT parallel ports are defined by the I/O port address. The highest address in the system is always LPT1; the second highest, LPT2; the third, LPT3. This is the prioritized order for I/O port addresses: 3BCh, 378h and 278h.

Example 1: When 1 parallel port with address 3BCh or 378h is already installed... the parallel port on the Parallel Pro will be addressed as LPT2 when set to 278h.

Example 2: When 1 parallel port with address 278h is already installed... the parallel port on the Parallel Pro will be addressed as LPT1 when set to 378h. (Setting the address on the Parallel Pro to the same one used by the existing parallel port will result in a conflict message during boot.)

Therefore, to make the SIIG Parallel Pro LPT1 you must set its' address to 378h. Your existing parallel port is probably using 3BCh or 378h. You must change it to 278h. This is done through your Computer BIOS or CMOS Setup Utility. If you are unfamiliar with changing BIOS settings, refer to your computer manual or contact the company who manufactured it. Mustek technicians will not be able to assist you with this.

When you are in the BIOS, note what IRQ your original parallel port is using. It will either be IRQ5 or IRQ7. You must set the SIIG Parallel Pro to whichever of these two is not being used by the original parallel port.

Setting Jumpers on the SIIG Parallel Pro:

The LPT port address, IRQ, LPT mode and DMA settings are jumper selectable via six 3-pin jumpers located on the board.

The following illustrates various jumper positions. Notice that a jumper is turned off by setting its' shunt over one pin only.

On 2 & 3

On 1 & 2

Off

To remove a jumper, simply pull up on the selected jumper's shunt. To install a jumper, center it over the appropriate pin or pins and push down gently until it is seated.

To configure the SIIG Parallel Pro as LPT1, set the jumpers as indicated in one of the diagrams below. The only difference between the diagrams is that one of them sets the SIIG card to IRQ5 and the other sets it to IRQ7.

Use these settings for IRQ5

Use these settings for IRQ7

LPT Port Address - JP6

The Parallel Pro is factory set as 278h. Reset it to 378h by placing the jumper over pins 2 & 3 as indicated in the diagram above.

Interrupt Request - JP4

The Parallel Pro is factory set as IRQ5. If your existing parallel port uses IRQ5, reset jumper JP4 for the IRQ7 option.

LPT Mode - JP1 & JP2

The Parallel Pro is factory set for EPP/ECP mode. You will need to change it to EPP mode by setting jumpers JP1 to pins 1 & 2 and JP2 to pins 2 & 3.

ECP DMA Select - JP3 & JP5

The Parallel Pro is factory set for DMA 3. This affects fast data transfer in ECP mode ONLY. It is recommended that you set JP3 and JP5 over pin 1 only. This makes the SIIG Parallel Pro function without a DMA which it will not need anyway since it is not being set to ECP mode.

Installation and Configuration:

After you have reconfigured your original LPT port's BIOS setting's and set the jumpers on the SIIG Parallel Pro, install it in your computer. If you have Windows 3.x, there is no further configuration necessary. If you have Windows 95, you will need to configure the card in the Device Manager. If Windows 95 did not detect the SIIG Parallel Pro, you will have to run the Add New Hardware Wizard in the Control Panel. If Windows still does not detect the new SIIG Parallel Pro card, you will have to use the Add New Hardware
Wizard to manually add the new parallel port. Read the Windows help to learn how to do this.

Resource Allocation:

After the new parallel port appears in the Device Manager, you must check to see that its resources are correct. This will reserve the resources set by the card's jumpers so future installation of Plug-N-Play devices don't cause conflicts with the SIIG Parallel Pro. Proceed as follows:
                         1. Click START and select Control Panel.
                         2. Double click the System icon and click the Device Manager Tab.
                         3. Click the + sign next to Ports then double click LPT1 (If you properly set the jumper on
                             the Parallel Pro to address 378h, it will be LPT1, though Windows will not list it as the
                             SIIG Parallel Pro).
                         4. Click the Resources Tab of the Parallel Port Properties window. Refer to the diagram
                             below:

5. Uncheck the "Use automatic settings" box.
6. From the list, choose Basic Configuration 1 (The default, Basic Configuration 0, does                .   not reserve the IRQ setting).
7. Highlight the IRQ resource and click the Change Setting button.
8. Change the IRQ to 5 or 7, whichever corresponds to the jumper setting you assigned to
    the Parallel Pro (Observe the conflict listing box to ensure the new setting does not conflict
    with other hardware).
9. Save your changes and restart your computer.
10.Your Plug-and-Scan series scanner should now work on the SIIG Parallel Pro card
    that is now LPT1.

Re-assigning Printer to LPT2:

The port that your printer is on has now become LPT2. You must change the printer's port assignment in the Printer Folder before the printer will function. Here are the procedures:
                        1. Click START and select Settings then Printers.
                        2. Using the right mouse button, click on your printer's icon and select Properties from the
                            pop-up Menu.
                        3. Click the Details Tab.
                        4. Click the down arrow next to LPT1 and choose LPT2 from the drop down list.
                        5. Click OK to save the change.
                        6. Your printer should print fine now on your original parallel port that is now LPT2.