HP ProDesk 600 G1 SFF: How to Enable on-board (integrated) Parallel Port

[pbirkel]

How do I enable the on-board parallel port?

1. The Device Manager doesn't find a LPT<anything> under "Ports (COM & LPT)".

2. 'msinfo' under Components --> Ports --> Parallel is empty.

3. At boot time F10 shows a version of the Business Desktop settings -- which does not include any applicable "Advanced" configuration controls.  However the Business Notebook BIOS settings (IAW "HP Business Notebook and Desktop PC F10 setup overview.pdf") includes the ability to set "Parallel Port Mode" as well as a section for "Port Options" that includes the ability to enable/disable the integrated serial & parallel ports. My working hypothesis is that both integrated ports are disabled by default (they require an optional cable to bring out the signals from the motherboard connector to an external DB-connector).

Is there some other "Business Desktop " configuration tool that gives access to these settings comparable to the Business Notebook?

'msinfo' reports "BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard L01 v02.77, 4/17/2019", which I believe is the most recent update.

[BeemerBiker]

Depending on the board revision you may be missing the connector for the parallel port

the following information describes your system and lists parallel port

please Scroll down to the motherboard picture and the header for the parallel port is identified somewhat in the center top of the board

go here and put your product ID in and maybe find the ID for the cable

https://partsurfer.hp.com/partsurfer/

once you get the cable ID you can look on eBay or at HP

https://parts.hp.com/hppartsIGSO/Default.aspx?mscssid=

[pbirkel]

Yes, my motherboard has the connectors (both parallel and serial; PAR and COMB, respectively, in the HW Reference Guide) populated.  Yes, I have an HP cable (PN: 611900-001) for the parallel connector.

[BeemerBiker]

Sorry I misunderstood your question

somewhere in the BIOS is a place to enable the printer or parallel port

look in security, onboard devices, etc. you'll have to hunt for it

be sure to plug the connector in before you turn the system on 

possibly the possibly the BIOS checks for the existence of the cable 

i've never worked with that system, sorry.

[pbirkel]

I've fiddled with the BIOS in all manners, including setting up a password in the hopes that the security-check would "unlock" access to enabling/configuring the on-board serial and parallel ports.  There is no change in the BIOS functionality; the existence of the ports remains hidden. It's odd IMO that the port control capability is directly exposed in the Notebook BIOS but not in any manner exposed for the Desktop BIOS. That said, I can imagine a corporate desktop scenario where it is desirable to lock configurations in a particular manner, but additional effort to hide those settings seems unwarranted.  Anyway, the BIOS seems pretty convinced that those ports don't exist, alas.

While the I/O connectors are present there are several unpopulated sets of SMD pads located adjacent that appear to be for resistor-packs likely used in interface termination (although research suggests that these components may have been more complex, including both EMI filtering and ESD protection; although the wrong footprint, an example: https://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/PACSZ1284-D.PDF).  Your suggestion that HP had motherboard variants that did not populate all components may be applicable here although it strikes me as quite odd to install relatively expensive connectors yet forgo cheap passive SMD components (although perhaps these weren't as cheap as I initially thought).  As far as I can determine there are no missing ICs here; the port-implementation silicon wouldn't be in the Southbridge but is likely present in whatever silicon implements the "SuperIO" (see diagram: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Motherboard_diagram.svg). I can imagine the silicon being able to sense the presence of termination resistors (modern MCUs are), but not merely the presence of a short (~8") cable.

I'm out of avenues to explore further; I've concluded that HP simply didn't (completely) implement the HW for these ports.  I think that I'll just have to use up some PCI slots in order to attain Parallel Port functionality :-{.

[BeemerBiker]

The bios setup for the G1 mentions the security tab can hide devices

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04272032#AbT6

the parallel port is not listed as one of the devices, however it is mentioned in the password  setup

if an unknown device is listed in the device manager you might try installing the "Intel chipset support"

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-prodesk-600-g1-small-form-factor-pc/5387447

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp82001-82500/sp82022.exe

there are also USB adapters to parallel port or digital IO depending what your application is.

[pbirkel]

We're operating on the same wavelength :-}.  I was hopeful based on the somewhat inconsistent G1 BIOS setup documentation -- however that needs to be read carefully as there is both BIOS-generic information and then separately BIOS-for-Notebook and BIOS-for-Desktop information.  The BIOS-generic information regarding password/security doesn't change the relatively-restricted (compared to the Notebook) BIOS-for-Desktop configuration options.  Sadly.

Unfortunately there are no lurking unknown devices :-{.  SP82022 looked a bit promising on that front when I started but it had no effect(s) that I could see then.  I've run it again; still no change in behavior.

As a general test I borrowed multifunction PCIe cards from other systems (one 1x and one 4x) to see whether my PCIe slots are working properly and both installed drivers (for the adapter and then the associated parallel/serial ports) without issues.