Nasty parallel printer

Hello
I have been trying to help my friend connect his new Epson printer to a rather old pentium computer using win98 and a parallel printer connection. Everything I try says the printer is not present. I am not a newbie, although most of my work has been with Macs.He does have another printer on the machine which he uses for business receipts. It seems to be connected with everday phone wire. could the fact that this printer is connected and working be the problem? The new printer is also USB compatible.....should I go out and buy a USB adaptor and forget about the parallel connection? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Harv

 

Did you check the bios to see if the parallel port is enabled?
You might also check system properties to see if the LTP port has driver or resource issues.

 

The key can be different depending on which make the PC is the best choices are usually Del,F1,F10,F12 it may well also display the key on the screen as it boots.To enter the bios tap the above key a few times as it boots
HERE is a list of a few others if it doesnt work.

 

Hello,
Well... with no luck trying to use my parallel port, I went and installed a USB adaptor and was able to get the printer to do "self testing" and other things (head adjustment and ink levels) but.... each time I tried to print eith a Word doc or Explorer page I am told that an illegal operation took place and to contact the vendor. Am I forgetting something? Could the presence of another parallel printer (runs with a business program call Regedit) be the problem?
Harv