[comp.os.minix] lpr on off brand AT's under version 1.3

gossett@homer.bethel.edu (Eric Gossett) (09/13/90)

I am running Prentice-Hall's version 1.3 on a Foundation AT (an early
clone).  I get the spurious out-of-paper message.  It is not likely that
my printer (Epson FX-80) is the problem.  Has anyone found a solution
to this problem on other machines?
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Dr. Eric Gossett             INTERNET   gossett@bethel.edu
Bethel College               UUCP  
St. Paul, MN 55112 USA       TELE       (612) 638-6131
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Dr. Eric Gossett             INTERNET   gossett@bethel.edu
Bethel College               UUCP  

burgess%creek.decnet@hsdp2.brooks.af.mil (CREEK::BURGESS) (09/13/90)

  I ran into the same problem.  Many video cards for compatibles use the 
Monochrome printer port regardless of card type.  The "IBM-PC" uses two 
different ports; one for each type of card.  MINIX relies on this 
difference and generates spurious "out of paper" messages when attempting
to talk to a non"IBM".  A fix is to include an #IF in front of the port
selection logic and an #ELSE after with the port address defined as that
of the MONOCHROME VIDEO PORT (since this seems to be the one used most
often). Follow the whole thing with an #ENDIF.  It is a change to the
kernel of the system, so the system must be recompiled to effect the
change.  Instructions are available in "ast"'s book.  The actual code is
left as an exercise for the student, since all of my MINIX stuff is
on its way from Germany.  For those who REALLY need handholding, my
mail address is: "BURGESS%CREEK.DECNET@HQHSD.BROOKS.AF.MIL".
David Burgess
NCOIC, Management Information Systems
USAF School of Aerospace Medicine.