Configuring a Parallel Port

Select: VM > Settings > Hardware > Parallel

You can attach up to three parallel ports (LPT) to a virtual machine. The virtual parallel port can connect to a parallel port or a file on the host operating system.

You can set the following options under Device status:

Connected — Check or uncheck this option to connect or disconnect the port while the virtual machine is running.
Connect at power on — Check this option if you want the port to be connected automatically whenever you power on the virtual machine. You can change this setting when the virtual machine is powered on or powered off.
Note: If the parallel port device may be inaccessible to the guest operating system when the virtual machine is powered on, deselect this option. For example, an Iomega Zip drive might not be connected when the virtual machine powers on. In this case, you can enable access to the parallel port after startup using the VM > Removable Devices menu.

You can set the following options under Connection:

Use a physical parallel port — Select this setting if you want the virtual machine to use a physical parallel port on the host computer. Use the drop-down list to specify which available parallel port to use.
Use output file — Select this setting if you want to send output from the virtual parallel port to a file on the host computer. Type the path and filename for the file or click Browse to locate an existing output file.

Note: When you power on the virtual machine, you may see an error message stating the parallel port on the host does not have an ECR (Extended Control Register). If so, it is possible the hardware supports ECR but it has been disabled in the BIOS. In this case, reboot your host, enter the host computer's BIOS configuration editor (typically by holding down the Delete key early in the boot process), find the parallel port field, and enable ECP mode (or a combination of modes that includes ECP). Most modern computers support ECP mode.

If you are adding a new parallel port, click Add to install the device.

To remove an existing parallel port, select that port, then click Remove.

Click OK to save the configuration and close the virtual machine settings editor.