Dead parallel port?

[Michael Peek]

Hello gurus,

I have Ubuntu 5.10 installed, and I'm trying to get an old Epson Stylus
Color 850 working on the parallel port.  This printer spent many years
connected to an old RedHat-5 print server at work, so I know that this
printer is at least partially supported under linux.  I have verified
that the printer and cable work (under WinBlows), but I'm uncertain that
the parallel port on my linux box works.

When I type: cat /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*
I get nothing.

When I type: modprobe -r lp parport_pc parport ; modprobe lp
I get:
==> /var/log/kern.log <==
Jun  3 13:00:34 localhost kernel: [4296669.316000] parport_pc: VIA
686A/8231 detected
Jun  3 13:00:34 localhost kernel: [4296669.316000] parport_pc: probing
current configuration
Jun  3 13:00:34 localhost kernel: [4296669.316000] parport_pc: Current
parallel port base: 0x378
Jun  3 13:00:34 localhost kernel: [4296669.316000] parport0: PC-style at
0x378 (0x778), irq 7, using FIFO [PCSPP,TRISTATE,COMPAT,ECP]
Jun  3 13:00:34 localhost kernel: [4296669.399000] parport_pc: VIA
parallel port: io=0x378, irq=7
Jun  3 13:00:34 localhost kernel: [4296669.405000] lp0: using parport0
(interrupt-driven).

According to the BIOS printout at bootup 0x378 irq 7 is correct.

And then when I type: cat /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*
I still get nothing.

Out of curiosity I tried: echo "Hello World" > /dev/lp0
I get:
==> /var/log/kern.log <==
Jun  3 13:02:59 localhost kernel: [4296813.610000] lp0 out of paper
Jun  3 13:03:09 localhost kernel: [4296823.610000] lp0 on fire

The printer has paper (and the printer is well under the flashpoint of
your average electronic component).

Is it dead?  Is there something else I can try?

Confused and frustrated,

Michael Peek