I'm running Workstation 8.0.1 on Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate, and I've been trying to connect a Windows XP 32-bit guest to a physical parallel port.
The error I get in the log when the guest starts is: "The LPT1 device is used by another program". If I right-click the LPT port icon and select 'connect', I get "The "LPT1" device is used by another program. Failed to connect virtual device parallel0"
As far as I can tell, I've added the physical port to the guest's configuration properly. I've checked its configuration file and found the apporpriate entries as expected. I have the LPT1 port set as selected, not automatic detection. It's not exactly rocket sciece.
There is nothing that I am aware of, or can find, that is using the port in the host OS. I've never used the port before or had anything connected to it. The port is configured properly in the host.
I've even tried disabling the port in device manager in the host, in the hopes that Workstation could still access it directly (who knows, lol), but it made no difference whatsoever to the above.
I'm also configuring a serial port onto the guest as well, and that gave the same error at first but a reboot fixed that. Not so with the parallel port.
...
I don't know if this is a Windows 7 issue, or a Workstation issue. No amount of web searching has so far turned up anything of use, just lots of comments like "parallel ports are dead, get a USB printer!".
Unfortunately I have a couple of older device programmers that are parallel port connected with old software that won't run on my OS, and I need to use them. Buying new hardware (probably a couple of thousand pounds) is not an option.
Any ideas... anyone?
Rick.
