StarTech.com PCI2S1P User manual

PCI Serial & Parallel Card
PCI2S1P Instruction Manual
Actual product may vary from photo
2 Port Serial and 1 Port High-Speed EPP/ECP Parallel Slot Saver PCI Card

FCC Compliance Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Use of Trademarks, Registered Trademarks, and other
Protected Names and Symbols
This manual may make reference to trademarks, registered trademarks, and other
protected names and/or symbols of third-party companies not related in any way to
StarTech.com Where they occur these references are for illustrative purposes only and
do not represent an endorsement of a product or service by StarTech.com, or an
endorsement of the product(s) to which this manual applies by the third-party company in
question. Regardless of any direct acknowledgement elsewhere in the body of this
document, StarTech.com hereby acknowledges that all trademarks, registered
trademarks, service marks, and other protected names and/or symbols contained in this
manual and related documents are the property of their respective holders.

Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Installing the Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Verifying Your Installation (Windows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Accessory Products from StarTech.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Instruction Manual
i

Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a StarTech.com Slot Saver PCI card to your computer. This
product allows you to add 2 serial ports and 1 ECP parallel port to your computer using a
space-saving single card design. Perfect for small form factor and other reduced
footprint case designs, you can add support for your existing peripherals and devices
using Plug and Play setup and ports that often outperform integrated serial and parallel
ports.
Features
•Fully complies with the IEEE-1284 standard and supports BPP, SPP, EPP, and ECP
parallel data transfer modes
•Fast data transfer rates often outperform built-in ports (up to 960 Kbits/sec. on serial
ports, 1.5 Mbits/sec. on the parallel port)
•Complies with Plug and Play standards
•Backed by StarTech.com’s lifetime warranty
Before You Begin
To ensure a quick and easy card installation, please read through this section carefully
before attempting to install the card.
WARNING! PCI cards, like all computer equipment, can be severely damaged by static
electricity. Be sure that you are properly grounded before opening your computer case or
touching your PCI card. StarTech.com recommends that you wear an anti-static strap
when installing any computer component. If an anti-static strap is unavailable, discharge
yourself of any static electricity build-up by touching a large grounded metal surface
(such as the computer case) for several seconds. Also be careful to handle the PCI card
by its edges and not the gold connectors.
System Requirements
•Acomputer with an available PCI slot
•Minimum Operating System Requirements: Windows
95/98/98SE/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003 or later, DOS, Linux
Contents
This package should contain:
•1x PCI2S1P PCI card and separate parallel port (with ribbon cable)
•1x Installation CD
•1x Instruction Manual
Instruction Manual
1

Installation
This section will guide you through the installation of your PCI card and the related
software. Please read through the instructions carefully and complete each step in the
order listed.
Installing the Card
1. Make sure that your system is unplugged and you are grounded.
2. Remove the cover of your system (see your computer's user manual for details, if
necessary) and gently turn your computer onto its side.
3. Locate an empty PCI slot (usually white in color) and remove the metal plate that
covers the rear bracket. You may need a Phillips screwdriver to perform this step.
Retain the screw! You will need it to secure the card later.
4. Gently insert the card into the empty slot, making sure it is firmly seated.
5. Secure the card in place using the screw you removed in Step 3.
6. Connect the ribbon cable with the parallel port to the card with the red stripe facing
Pin 1 as indicated on the connector. Remove the metal plate from an available PCI
slot bracket. Secure the port in the empty bracket using the screw you removed.
7. Put the computer case back on.
Installing the Drivers
If you lose your installation CD, these drivers are available as a free download from our
website. Visit www.startech.com and click on the Downloads link for more information.
Instruction Manual
2
PCI
Slots

Windows 95/98/98SE/ME
1. Windows should automatically detect the new hardware. At the Add New Hardware
Wizard window, click Next.
2. Select Search for the best driver for your devices (Recommended) and click
Next.
3. Insert the installation CD into your computer’s CD-ROM or other optical drive and
check the Specify a location option.
4. In the space provided, enter x:\win9x (where “x:” is the letter of your CD-
ROM drive and win9x is your OS version: one of win95, win98, winME) and click
Next.
5. The Wizard will copy the needed files. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the
installation. If prompted, restart the computer to begin using your devices.
Windows NT 4.0
1. Insert the installation CD into your computer’s CD-ROM or other optical drive and
double-click My Computer.
2. Double click the WinNT folder. Double-click the WinNT.exe file and follow the
on-screen prompts.
Windows 2000/XP/2003
1. Windows will automatically detect the new hardware and start the Add New
Hardware Wizard. Click Next.
2. Insert the installation CD that came with the card into your computer’s CD-ROM or
other compatible optical drive. Choose Install the software automatically. Click
Next.
3. You may receive a warning that the driver is not digitally signed. Choose Continue
Anyway when prompted to complete the installation.
4. When Windows is done copying files, you will see a message above the System Tray
(next to the clock) stating that the card is installed and ready to use. You may now
begin using your devices.
DOS and Linux Configuration
For configuration details for DOS please refer to the documents in the DOS folder on the
installation CD. For Linux configuration information, please refer to the “Troubleshooting”
section of this manual on the next page.
Verifying Your Installation (Windows)
Windows 95/98/98SE/ME
1. Go to Start >Settings >Control Panel.
2. Double click System.
3. Click the Hardware tab.
4. If the card and related components do not appear with a red xor yellow exclamation
Instruction Manual
3

point (!) next to them, Windows has not detected a problem with the installation and
the card should function normally.
Windows 2000/XP/2003
1. Go to Start >Settings >Control Panel.
2. Double click System.
3. Click the Hardware tab and choose Device Manager.
4. If the card and related components do not appear with a red xor yellow exclamation
point (!) next to them, Windows has not detected a problem with the installation and
the card should function normally.
Troubleshooting
Q: Do these cards work with point-of-sale (POS) systems, manufacturing equipment,
software unlock keys, and other specialized applications?
A: The answer depends on whether the devices you need to use are designed to work
with specific system resources. Because StarTech.com PCI parallel and serial cards are
designed to work with the Plug and Play standard, the computer allocates the resources
needed to use the card in cooperation with the operating system (OS). Some software
applications and devices can only access a port using older reserved, pre-defined
resources (for example, LPT1 at memory address 378 and an IRQ setting of 7). Consult
your documentation to see if the software and/or hardware you are using has this
requirement. If so, you will not be able to use a PCI card. Instead, you can use an ISA-
based card like StarTech.com’s ISA1P (parallel) or ISA1S550 (serial) that can be hard-
configured to use a specific setting. Check the documentation for your computer or
motherboard to see if you have the necessary ISA slot(s) for this solution.
Q: I need to add several parallel ports to my computer, but I am having problems when I
have more than three parallel ports installed in my computer. Why?
A: While Windows will support more than three parallel ports (up to nine in total), LPT4
through LPT9 must be configured by editing critical system files, a task that should be
undertaken by experienced users only. Microsoft offers support on how to make those
modifications.
Q: I have installed the card, it is assigned a LPT port number and appears without any
warnings in Device Manager, but it does not appear as an option when I attempt to install
or re-configure a printer to the port. How can I correct this?
A: You can manually install the port(s) so they are available to printers, using the
following instructions:
1. On the opening screen of the Add Printer Wizard, click Next.
2. Choose Local Printer and uncheck Automatically detect and install my Plug and
Instruction Manual
4

Play printer. Click Next.
3. Choose Create a new port and select Local Port from the Type: drop-down list. Click
Next.
4. A dialog box will appear that prompts you to enter a name for the new port. Type
LPTx in the box (where “x” is the number assigned in Device Manager to the port you
are adding, without a colon). Click OK.
5. Continue the rest of the printer installation process, following the on-screen prompts.
Q: I have installed the card, and a NetMos Parallel Port appears in Device Manager,
but does not have an LPT port number assigned. How can I correct this?
A: Right click the NetMos Parallel Port entry in Device Manager and choose Uninstall
from the menu. Power off the computer and re-install the card in a different PCI slot
according to the instructions in the manual.
Q: How do I install this card in Linux?
A: Once you have physically installed the card in the computer, follow the following steps
to activate the port(s) in the operating system:
1. List the resources assigned to the PCI card by typing this command:
more /proc/pci
The response will include something similar to the following, however, yours will be
different:
Bus 0, Device 11, function 0:
Serial controller : Unknown vendor Unknown device (rev 01).
Vendor id=9710, Device id=9715
Medium devsel. Fast back-to-back capable. IRQ 11
I/O at 0xc000 [0xc001] printer port 1
I/O at 0xc400 [0xc401] ECP/EPP config registers 1
I/O at 0xc800 [0xc801] printer port 2
I/O at 0xd000 [0xd001] ECP/EPP config registers 2
I/O at 0xd400 [0xd401] not used
I/O at 0xd800 [0xd801] not used
2. Unload the parport_pc.o module by typing in this command:
rmmod parport_pc.o
3. Reload the parport_pc.o module to include the new parallel port. The following
example assumes the resources discovered in step 1 and a built-in motherboard parallel
port with a memory address of 378 and an IRQ setting of 7.
insmod parport_pc.o io=0x378,0xc000,0xc800 irq=7,11,none
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The first port assigned will be /dev/lp0, the second will be /dev/lp1, etc. In this case, the
built-in parallel port will be assigned /dev/lp0, and the port on the PCI parallel card will be
/dev/lp1. You will need to follow a similar configuration methodology for the serial
port module: contact your documentation or an experienced Linux user for details.
Q: I am having trouble printing using a port on the PCI parallel card, but the card and
printer seem to be installed correctly. How can I fix this problem?
A: Some older printers may have drivers that may have difficulty working with virtual
ports, since they do not use specific hardware resources. To test whether this is the
case, you can try installing a newer printer on the problem port. If it prints correctly, then
it is likely a software problem: download the most current drivers from the Web site of the
printer manufacturer to see if that corrects the issue. If not, move the printer to a built-in
printer port permanently and use a newer printer with the port(s) on the PCI card. If that
is not possible, you can use an ISA-based card like StarTech.com’s ISA1P that can be
hard-configured to use a specific setting. Check the documentation for your computer or
motherboard to see if you have the necessary ISA slot(s) for this solution.
Q: Is this card Mac compatible?
A: No. It is designed to be used with Intel and compatible-based computers only.
Specifications
Instruction Manual
6
Interface: Standard PCI 5v
Full profile card + parallel port (via ribbon cable)
Maximum Data Transfer Speed: 960 Kbits/sec. (serial)
1.5 Mbits/sec. (parallel)
Number/Type of Ports: 2 x 9-pin female RS-232 serial
1 x 25-pin female parallel (via ribbon cable)
Parallel Transfer Standards Supported: IEEE-1284 (BPP, SPP, PS2, EPP, ECP modes)
Regulatory and Other Certifications: FCC Class B, CE, UL

Accessory Products from StarTech.com
Contact your local StarTech.com dealer or visit www.startech.com for cables or other
accessories that will help you get the best performance out of your new product.
6 ft. Straight Through Serial/Parallel Cable DB25 M/F
SC6MF
6 ft. Straight Through Serial/Parallel Cable DB25 M/M
SC6MM
10 ft. Straight Through Serial/Parallel Cable DB25 M/F
SC10MF
10 ft. Straight Through Serial/Parallel Cable DB25 F/F
SC10FF
10 ft. Straight Through Serial/Parallel Cable DB25 M/F
SC10MF
20 ft. Straight Through Serial/Parallel Cable DB25 M/F
SC20MF
20 ft. Straight Through Serial/Parallel Cable DB25 M/M
SC20MM
50 ft. Straight Through Serial/Parallel Cable DB25 M/M
SC50MM
6 ft. Parallel Printer Cable
PB6_
10 ft. Parallel Printer Cable
PB10
20 ft. Parallel Printer Cable
PC20
30 ft. Parallel Printer Cable
PC30
50 ft. Parallel Printer Cable
PC50
6 ft. Parallel File Transfer Cable
PTXFER6
15 ft. Parallel File Transfer Cable
PTXFER15
Instruction Manual
7

Technical Support
StarTech.com’s lifetime technical support is an integral part of our commitment to provide
industry-leading solutions. If you ever need help with your product, visit
www.startech.com/support and access our comprehensive selection of online tools,
documentation, and downloads.
Warranty Information
This product is backed by a lifetime warranty. In addition, StarTech.com warrants its
products against defects in materials and workmanship for the periods noted, following
the initial date of purchase. During this period, the products may be returned for repair, or
replacement with equivalent products at our discretion. The warranty covers parts and
labor costs only. StarTech.com does not warrant its products from defects or damages
arising from misuse, abuse, alteration, or normal wear and tear.
Limitation of Liability
In no event shall the liability of StarTech.com Ltd. and StarTech.com USA LLP (or their
officers, directors, employees or agents) for any damages (whether direct or indirect,
special, punitive, incidental, consequential, or otherwise), loss of profits, loss of business,
or any pecuniary loss, arising out of or related to the use of the product exceed the
actual price paid for the product.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential
damages. If such laws apply, the limitations or exclusions contained in this statement
may not apply to you.
Instruction Manual
8

Revised: 30 August 2004 (Rev. B)
About StarTech.com
StarTech.com is “The Professionals’ Source for Hard-to-Find Computer
Parts”. Since 1985, we have been providing IT professionals with the
quality products they need to complete their solutions. We offer an
unmatched selection of computer parts, cables, server management
solutions and A/V products and serve a worldwide market through our
locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Taiwan.