Serial or Parallel Port?

[RayBec]

I'm in the process of buying a bar code printer and I need to find out if I have a parallel and/or seial port. Will the windows device manager tell me? Help and Thanks!

 

[edfair]

Device manager will show under ports.
You could also see during bootup with some BIOSs.
You can also look on the computer. Parallel will be 25connection socket and serial will be 9pin or 25pin connector. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[Guest_imported]

Yes, device manager will tell you what Windows has found, but this may not be the whole story! Parallel and serial ports can be enabled/disabled in the BIOS, and can sometimes be given different IRQs, I/O addresses, etc., so look at the BIOS info when the computer is booting up before Windows starts. Also, there is often nothing easier than a quick visual check on the back of the PC. Serial ports come in 9 and 25 way varieties with the D-type plug showing PINS. Parallel ports are always 25 way with the D-type plug showing HOLES.

Hope that helps...


ROGER - GØAOZ.

 

[RayBec]

Thanks!

 

[FatesWebb]

uhhhmmm, almost all computer IBM compatibles have BOTH of these. only lately have they even started making pcs without serial ports or just one instead of 2. and parallel ports are basically just a printer port. so probably 99.9 percent of the time a computer will have at least one seriel or one parallel port..... pretty much standard equipment... especially the parrallel port havnt seen any computers without it... as for serial 95 percent have it and like 75 percent have 2 of them...