The symptom you described is very common on Compaqs, and possibly
others.  Compaq has a newer ECP printer port driver on their web site.
As for the "key" not working, it may require the ECP mode to work
properly.

Dean Kukral wrote:

> Background:
>
> Ever since I built my PII computer last winter I have
> been having a problem with my printer that is
> driving me crazy.  (It is not the printer, it is the
> computer; I am not sure if it is software or
> hardware.)