PowerBook: Printing to Serial Printer

This article discusses the "Port is Busy" error message with the StyleWriter II and PowerBook 500 computer.
The PowerBook 520c and 540c computers employ a single serial port which is a combination Printer/Modem port. In order to use this port for serial printing, use the following information to properly configure your PowerBook 500 series computer:

If the Express Modem is installed:


Open the Chooser and do the following:
Note: Domestic PowerBook 500 series computers will have a Global Village Powerport Mercury modem installed, not an Express modem, and therefore will only need to have the PowerBook Setup control panel set to normal for step #1.

A similar situation can also occur when using the Color StyleWriter 2400 or other serial printer. If you see no port selection choices, make sure the PowerBook Setup control panel is set for Normal. Future Apple serial printer drivers will provide only one port selection (called the "Printer/Modem") in the Chooser.

This issue can also occur when printing to any serial printer with other PowerBook computers that have a single serial port including the PowerBook 150 and the PowerBook 200 series.

Published Date: Feb 19, 2012