iNova iNfo?

Jim13466 · Feb 25, 2000

Peter, thanks for all your input to this forum. I just got my 970cxi three days ago.

I bought it based on your comments in this forum and am very pleased.

I would like even more input regarding use:

What printer settings do you recommend for photo?

Do you use the 2400 x 1200?

I'm a PC guy, I know you're a Mac guy, however can you shed any light on
the " Use ECP hardware." setting in the printer driver? When that option is
clicked I can't print photos.

--Jim
Seattle

Tom Bunkley · Feb 25, 2000

Jim, I know you requested this info from iNova but like you said, he's a Mac person and I don't think he will mind me answering your question re:ECP

ECP stands for Extended Capabilities Port. It is Not a software option that you can just decide to use. It relates to the type of parallel port in your computer. The Parallel port can be a standard, standard bi-directional, EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port), or ECP (Extended Capabilities Port). If you look in your Windows Device manager, it should give you a clue as to what kind is installed in your computer.

Bottom line...if you don't have ECP it won't work and you may crash your computer if you keep playing with it.

Jim Michels said:
Peter, thanks for all your input to this forum. I just got my 970cxi
three days ago.

I bought it based on your comments in this forum and am very pleased.

I would like even more input regarding use:

What printer settings do you recommend for photo?

Do you use the 2400 x 1200?

I'm a PC guy, I know you're a Mac guy, however can you shed any light on
the " Use ECP hardware." setting in the printer driver? When that option is
clicked I can't print photos.

--
Jim
Seattle

Jim13466 · Feb 25, 2000

Tom, Device Manager does says - ECP Printer Port [LPT1].
Searching HP's techline didn't help. Default has the option
unchecked.

Thanks for your response.

Tom said:
Bottom line...if you don't have ECP it won't work and you may crash your
computer if you keep playing with it.

Jim Michels said:

Peter, thanks for all your input to this forum. I just got my 970cxi
three days ago.

I bought it based on your comments in this forum and am very pleased.

I would like even more input regarding use:

What printer settings do you recommend for photo?

Do you use the 2400 x 1200?

I'm a PC guy, I know you're a Mac guy, however can you shed any light on
the " Use ECP hardware." setting in the printer driver? When that option is
clicked I can't print photos.

--
Jim
Seattle

Click to expand...

Peter iNova · Feb 26, 2000

Jim Michels said:
Peter, thanks for all your input to this forum. I just got my 970cxi
three days ago.

I bought it based on your comments in this forum and am very pleased.

I would like even more input regarding use:

What printer settings do you recommend for photo?

Do you use the 2400 x 1200?

I'm a PC guy, I know you're a Mac guy, however can you shed any light on
the " Use ECP hardware." setting in the printer driver? When that option is
clicked I can't print photos.

Jim13466 said:
--
Jim
Seattle

Whatever ECP is, it must be in the windows realm alone. Both the "best" and the "High Res Photo" settings deliver very fine photographic images. My understanding is that the HRP is the 1200 x 2400 but that it is following a pattern that isn't a random-ish dither the way Epsons print.

The 970 does very well with Kodak paper that doesn't do too well in the Epson printers since Kodak decided to change its formula in late 98. Epson glossy paper doesn't do as well in the 970 either. I'm trying a bunch of Red River Paper from their sample pack ($10 for a slew of papers, surfaces and combinations) and I'll post something on that later.

About the printer. Quiet isn't it? Fast too, eh?

-iNova

Dave Kunze · Feb 26, 2000

Jim Michels said:
Peter, thanks for all your input to this forum. I just got my 970cxi
three days ago.

I'm a PC guy, I know you're a Mac guy, however can you shed any light on
the " Use ECP hardware." setting in the printer driver? When that option is
clicked I can't print photos.

--
Jim
Seattle

If your computer is relatively new, you can use the the system setup (what we used to call CMOS setup) that is momentarily available when you first boot your computer by (usually) pressing the F1 or Delete key before Windows starts. depending on your system BIOS, you can scroll through the options using the arrow keys and change the LPT1 from bi-directional to ECP. ECP allows true two way communication between the printer and the computer. It is usually required if your print spooler displays ink levels and other printer info while printing.

kunza

Bryan Biggers · Feb 26, 2000

Jim Michels said:
Tom, Device Manager does says - ECP Printer Port [LPT1].
Searching HP's techline didn't help. Default has the option
unchecked.

Make sure that the resources shown in the device manager match the resources used in the BIOS setup. (interrupt, address and DMA channel). Make sure the port it set to ECP in the BIOS, some machines have an ECP/EPP option which might not be as good as setting just ECP for the HP. ECP does use the DMA channel. I the resources don't match, change them in the device manager to match (switch to manual configuration). Also, if you changed your port type in the BIOs at any time, you need to delete the port in the device manager, and reboot to let Windoze re-detect it and reinstall the ECP drivers. Try "removing" the port in the device manger and letting Windows re-install it anyway. I have the P1000, and it does need the ECP port if you use parallel. Also, click on the computer at the top of the device manager list and check the interrupts and DMA channels in use to be sure that there is not a conflict. There it is in a nutshell!
Bryan

robert jeantet · Feb 26, 2000

Jim13466 said:
" Use ECP hardware"

Jim, ECP and EPP are closely related; EPP means "Enhanced Parallel Port". I"m not sure what ECP means, (Enhanced Communications Port?) but it's a similar function, which has to be enabled in the BIOS of your computer. As long as the motherboard of your computer is less than three or four years old, you should find such a function in the BIOS setup, usually in a line that says " enable ECP/EPP"

It allows data and printer info to go back and forth between the computer and printer. Printer info like ink cartridge levels.
regards
Robert Jeantet

Richard K · Feb 26, 2000

Bryan Biggers said:
Jim Michels said:

Tom, Device Manager does says - ECP Printer Port [LPT1].
Searching HP's techline didn't help. Default has the option
unchecked.

Click to expand...

Make sure that the resources shown in the device manager match the
resources used in the BIOS setup. (interrupt, address and DMA channel).
Make sure the port it set to ECP in the BIOS, some machines have an
ECP/EPP option which might not be as good as setting just ECP for the HP.
ECP does use the DMA channel. I the resources don't match, change them
in the device manager to match (switch to manual configuration). Also, if
you changed your port type in the BIOs at any time, you need to delete
the port in the device manager, and reboot to let Windoze re-detect it
and reinstall the ECP drivers. Try "removing" the port in the device
manger and letting Windows re-install it anyway. I have the P1000, and it
does need the ECP port if you use parallel. Also, click on the computer
at the top of the device manager list and check the interrupts and DMA
channels in use to be sure that there is not a conflict. There it is in a
nutshell!
Bryan

Ouch!

I use Macs at home but I also run several Windows NT servers for a living so I'm fully "PC compatible."

I kind of cringe when I see this level of fiddling needed to get a consumer product to work. Microsoft and Intel still have some work to do.

Jim13466 · Feb 26, 2000

Quiet, fast, much better than the Lexmark 3200 it replaced.
Wonder when I'll stop watching every print process through
the output gap.

Thanks,
Jim

Peter iNova said:
Jim Michels said:

Peter, thanks for all your input to this forum. I just got my 970cxi
three days ago.

I bought it based on your comments in this forum and am very pleased.

I would like even more input regarding use:

What printer settings do you recommend for photo?

Do you use the 2400 x 1200?

I'm a PC guy, I know you're a Mac guy, however can you shed any light on
the " Use ECP hardware." setting in the printer driver? When that option is
clicked I can't print photos.

Click to expand...

Member said:

--
Jim
Seattle

Click to expand...

Whatever ECP is, it must be in the windows realm alone. Both the "best"
and the "High Res Photo" settings deliver very fine photographic images.
My understanding is that the HRP is the 1200 x 2400 but that it is
following a pattern that isn't a random-ish dither the way Epsons print.

The 970 does very well with Kodak paper that doesn't do too well in the
Epson printers since Kodak decided to change its formula in late 98.
Epson glossy paper doesn't do as well in the 970 either. I'm trying a
bunch of Red River Paper from their sample pack ($10 for a slew of
papers, surfaces and combinations) and I'll post something on that later.

About the printer. Quiet isn't it? Fast too, eh?

-iNova

Jim13466 · Feb 26, 2000

All the stuff matches. I reinstalled the ECP drivers,too. All seems to be
working correctly.

Spool data format = EMF
The two radio buttons for bi-directional support are grayed out. You, too?

Attempt to Use Hardware ECP is unchecked. When this is enabled all
hell breaks loose during photo printing. I get an inch of the image on the
first page followed by several pages with a few lines of junk on each
page. Just stay away from there, huh.

I enjoy your website alot.

Just a fiddling PC guy,
Jim

Bryan Biggers said:
Jim Michels said:

Tom, Device Manager does says - ECP Printer Port [LPT1].
Searching HP's techline didn't help. Default has the option
unchecked.

Click to expand...

Make sure that the resources shown in the device manager match the
resources used in the BIOS setup. (interrupt, address and DMA channel).
Make sure the port it set to ECP in the BIOS, some machines have an
ECP/EPP option which might not be as good as setting just ECP for the HP.
ECP does use the DMA channel. I the resources don't match, change them
in the device manager to match (switch to manual configuration). Also, if
you changed your port type in the BIOs at any time, you need to delete
the port in the device manager, and reboot to let Windoze re-detect it
and reinstall the ECP drivers. Try "removing" the port in the device
manger and letting Windows re-install it anyway. I have the P1000, and it
does need the ECP port if you use parallel. Also, click on the computer
at the top of the device manager list and check the interrupts and DMA
channels in use to be sure that there is not a conflict. There it is in a
nutshell!
Bryan

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