First off, i cannot search, i keep getting an error:

2: pspell_new(): PSPELL couldn't open the dictionary. reason: No word lists can be found for the language "en".
File: /var/www/vhosts/machsupport.com/forum.machsupport.com/forum/Sources/Search.php
Line: 700

Now to my real problem. I can't get mach to see port 2 pin 2-9 as inputs. I have it checked on ports and pins page. Address is right because outputs work. My pci parallel card is the same as i have in other machines and is capable of ecp, epp, and spp modes. Windows 7 will only show it as ecp LPT port  in device manager.  I thought this was the problem but my other windows 7 machines show the same thing. In bios, i cannot set it for epp only, my only choice is ecp/epp mode. I guess at this point, i need to probe the cable and make sure the signal is getting all the way back to the pci card. Pretty sure it is though.

Hi,

The Search function is currently off-line but should return once the webmaster finds and replaces the missing / moved file. 

As far as the Mach3 Parallel Port is concerned Pins 1-9 are always Outputs - they cannot be changed to Inputs.
Some, if not all, External Motion Controllers (such as the Warp9 ESS) will allow Pins 1-9 of Port 2 to be configured as Inputs so if that's what you need then consider changing from the Parallel Port to a Motion Controller.

Tweakie.

Wow....i'm an idiot. I've got 4 parallel port machines and i knew this. Just happens that i've been messing with a smooth stepper for a few months on one machine.