XP Mode and 32 bits LPT1 printers

Question

This XP virtual mode is from a W-7 Ultimate 64bits and works well with a couple of 32bits devices, one of them a photo or slides scanner for digital conversion, and others 32bits programs.
My system is a Lenovo Laptop TP61p with a mini dock where I have access to a parallel port. More details bellow.
If I boot from a HDD with pure W-XP pro SP3 I am able to print to an Epson LQ-1050+ impact printer quite well. Same from a Vista B SP2 HDD. This is also prove that the printers' cables are OK  
But I would like to avoid swapping HDD and do the same through the Virtual XP-Pro Mode of Windows-7 SP1. The program installed the printer OK and I can hear it initializing when the system is turned on, but I can't even get a test print. LPT1 is properly configure.
Is there a hack or a policy that could solve the problem? How can I make this work?
Many thanks anticipating a deluge of suggestions.
Cheers
Rolando E Creagh, MD. FACS. USA. T61p, 64608WU, Dual Core Centrino 2.6 GHz, T9500, 8GB RAM, Intel TurboMem 4GB (working). HDD 0: 1.0TB 7.4K rpm AF w/ W-7 Ultimate SP1 64b (2nd clean install). HDD 1: 0.5TB 10K rpm w/ W-7 Ultimate SP1 64b (cloned). HDD 2:1TB 7.4K rpm AF w/W-7 SP1 64b (1rst clean install). HDD 3:250GB, Vista-B-SP2 clean install, HDD 4:100GB, XP-SP3, factory install. HDD 5:1.5TB, 5K rpm, AF, DATA. 2504-10U Mini-Dock

Answer 1

Dinosaurs are not really extinct, because sometimes they are immortals.
I have a large data base in a DOS base program (Smart Ware) which I have not being able to convert satisfactorily to Acces. Works well and it relates to my physician office from which I am now retire. but I must legally preserve this for 25 years. I still have Pentiums, 32bits programs and several perfectly functioning impact printers. My retired practice still uses an still valid and efficient testing program with 32bits devices and programs that will only work with W-98, yet all the data obtained can be worked by any 32bits W-OS, if you can imagine.The relevancy of the results is still in the high 90% and new systems available are just that, new but very expensive and not better for patients. Why should I spend more money?
Hope you like my explanation.
Back to the printer. I just had the great surprise that my W-7 64b Ultimate using a Mini Dock (which has LPT1) properly configure the port, actually installed the Epson LQ-1050+ printer. I could not believe it. Now, the particular testing program is installed in XP-Mode (for manipulation of the data). XP-Mode has the proper port LPT1 and configuration, and it pretend to install the printer, who gets inicialized but it does not print. I have been advice to add certain lines to the Virtual PC (vmc) file being an XML. But it did not worked. Here is the original:
<super_io>
                                             <floppy id="0">
                                                            <pathname>
                                                                           <absolute type="string" />
                                                                           <relative type="string" />
                                                            </pathname>
                                             </floppy>
                                             <parallel_port>
                                                            <port_type type="integer">0</port_type>
                                             </parallel_port>
                                             <serial_port>
                                                            <connect_immediately type="boolean">false</connect_immediately>
                                             </serial_port>
                                             <serial_port id="0">
                                                            <port_type type="integer">0</port_type>
                                             </serial_port>
                                             <serial_port id="1">
and to add the following lines at this point:
                                             <parallel_port id="0">
                                                    <port_name type="string">LPT1  (378h-37Fh)</port_name>
                                                    <port_type type="integer">1</port_type>
                                             <parallel_port>
This did no worked, but I wonder if is located in the correct area, considering there are two lines about Parallel port already, just above the serial ports ones.
Your obviously expert opinion?
Cheers
Rolando E Creagh, MD. FACS. USA. T61p, 64608WU, Dual Core Centrino 2.6 GHz, T9500, 8GB RAM, Intel TurboMem 4GB (working). HDD 0: 1.0TB 7.4K rpm AF w/ W-7 Ultimate SP1 64b (2nd clean install). HDD 1: 0.5TB 10K rpm w/ W-7 Ultimate SP1 64b (cloned). HDD 2:1TB 7.4K rpm AF w/W-7 SP1 64b (1rst clean install). HDD 3:250GB, Vista-B-SP2 clean install, HDD 4:100GB, XP-SP3, factory install. HDD 5:1.5TB, 5K rpm, AF, DATA. 2504-10U Mini-Dock