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From: efrethei@blackbird.afit.af.mil (Erik J. Fretheim)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Epson Equity II builtin parallel port woes!!!?!?!!
Keywords: HELP PLEASE
Message-ID: <1325@blackbird.afit.af.mil>
Date: 4 Sep 89 01:59:22 GMT
References: <504@mjbtn.MFEE.TN.US>
Reply-To: efrethei@blackbird.afit.af.mil (Erik J. Fretheim)
Distribution: na
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology; WPAFB, OH
Lines: 62

In article <504@mjbtn.MFEE.TN.US> root@mjbtn.MFEE.TN.US (Mark J. Bailey) writes:
>Hello Netlanders,
>
>I work with an Epson Equity II (not the II+).  Recently I began to get a 
>Keyboard and Setup error on powerup.  Also, normally in the past, when you 
>no avail.  Now, with the builtin port, it no longer initializes the 
>printer.  We tried different printers and different cables too.  BUT,
>no print.  AND, if you hit the printer OFFLINE or turn it off, the meter
>stops, and complains "Printer Not Ready...."  With the secondary port,
>it initializes the printer, but still won't print and behaves the same
>as builtin port when using First Publisher as described above.  Epson
>suggests that it is the "logic" board (I assume they are referring to 
>the motherboard?).  If you redirect LPT1 to COM1, it prints like you
>would expect (to a serial printer).  
>
>Something is blocking the data.  I don't know if it is a bad address,
>or if the system can't access the address of the builtin or secondary
>port or what.  No one I have talked with here seems to know why this
>would be happening.  I don't own the machine, but it still frustrates
>me just the same.  This is why I am turning to you.
>
>Does anyone out there have any clue as to what in the world is going on
>here????!!!  I have seen some strange faults in my time, but this one
>really gets me.  I don't recall ever seeing such a problem with a 
>parallel port.  We have considered replacing the mother board.  I don't
>have any figures ($$$), but if anyone reading this does, I would like
>to hear from you.  If for nothing else, it would help me talk turkey
>with the dealer.  :-)  The Equity II is an XT clone with an 8086.
>I should also add that we completely reinstalled Dos 3.2 (Epson's)
>thinking that it might be a bad software setup.  Still no luck.
>


I have a similar problem with my floppy drive.  All I get are disk read
errors and write protection not disabled (even when reading).  I have 
traced it far enough to know that there is only one line on which the 
data from the drive is getting scrambled.  It's my only system so I
don't dare tear it apart until I get a replacement, but until then I can
only work with what I have or can Kermit onto the system (and hope
the hard disk doesn't fail).  Epson isn't very helpful, to fix a 
simple problem like this the machine is "sso well designed" with everything
one needs that the only fix they do is to replace the motherboard at 
$470 a wack (plus $200 labor).  This sucks! Not only that but it isn't
even funny.  The only good as far as I can see is an excuse to get a 
good machine.









erik






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