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I'm kinda embarassed to ask this question, but I'm trying to install my printer and I need to know which port it's plugged into -- serial or parallel. The only ...
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  1. 12-12-2005 #1
    smolloy
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    Difference between a serial port and a parallel port

    I'm kinda embarassed to ask this question, but I'm trying to install my printer and I need to know which port it's plugged into -- serial or parallel. The only problem is that I am too dumb to know what either of these ports looks like.

    The port I have my printer plugged into has 25 pins if that helps.



    EDIT: Fixed a dumb grammar mistake.
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  2. 12-12-2005 #2
    dandnsmith
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    That would be a parallel port - serial has a lot less pins (number depends on age)
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  3. 12-12-2005 #3
    Game master pro
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    A parallel port is printer, it has lots more pind, a serial port is for old mices and stuff, most newer computer don't have a need for these so they wouldn't have much (or any)
    Also i am writing this post in links it's pretty cool for a text based browser!
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  4. 12-12-2005 #4
    smolloy
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    It's cool to go old-school and surf with links!!

    The reason I was asking about the ports is that I'm trying to install my printer using cups on my gentoo machine, and I was only able to configure a serial port, even tho I was sure my printer was plugged into the parallel port. Looks like I forgot to compile support for my parallel port into the kernel . That's next on my list now!

    Thanks for all the help guys.
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  5. 06-13-2006 #5
    mian_furqan2002
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    difference between serial and parallel ports

    plz send me the details about the difference between serial and parallel ports

    Quote Originally Posted by smolloy
    I'm kinda embarassed to ask this question, but I'm trying to install my printer and I need to know which port it's plugged into -- serial or parallel. The only problem is that I am too dumb to know what either of these ports looks like.

    The port I have my printer plugged into has 25 pins if that helps.



    EDIT: Fixed a dumb grammar mistake.
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  6. 06-14-2006 #6
    brother_mick
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    You could have a read thru this

    http://computer.howstuffworks.com/serial-port.htm

    That should give you an idea of what the are and the diferences
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