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Introduction to Parallel Ports and Devices

  • Article

This section describes the following topics about the support that Microsoft Windows provides for parallel ports and devices:

Physical Configuration of Parallel Ports

Physical Configuration of Devices Attached to a Parallel Port

A parallel port is typically a multimode communication port that supports the following:

  • Byte and nibble (read) modes

  • IEEE 1284-compatibility mode

  • Extended Capabilities Port mode

  • Enhanced Parallel Port mode

For information about parallel port and device standards, see the following specifications:

  • IEEE Std 1284-1994, IEEE Standard Signaling Method for a Bidirectional Parallel Peripheral Interface for Personal Computers

  • IEEE P1284.3, Standard for Interface and Protocol Extensions to IEEE 1284-1994 Compliant Peripherals and Host Adapters, Draft D6.00, December 3, 1998

For more information about Windows support for parallel ports and devices, see:

System-Supplied Parallel Drivers

Vendor-Supplied Parallel Drivers

Client Interfaces to System-Supplied Parallel Drivers