i suggest if your gonna create your test program, make sure you have windows 98, if you are using microsoft visual studio, because i have experienced trouble with microsoft visual C++ on windows xp specifically in accessing parallel port, even if we use the add on that can be downloaded from a certain website, it still doesnt work. I dont know why but I suggest to use windows 98
You can work with WindowsXP for parallel port interfacing. I have done in C and Java. You can get the codes and tutorials from my book
MY EXPERIENCE IN PARALLEL PORT INTERFACING
you can get it from yahoo group-booksbybibin https://groups.yahoo.com/group/booksbybibin/