DataCard magna, User Manual

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Before you install
6-5
User’s Guide for Magna™ Platinum Series™ Printers
•
13.25 inches (33.7 cm) above the printer to allow the cover to open and to change
supplies.
•
If you plan to use the optional security lock, make sure the area includes a place
for the cable to wrap around a table leg or other secure object.
PC and software specifications
The Magna printer must be used with a PC that runs the printer driver. The PC also
runs a card creation application that captures and organizes the data to appear on
each card.
To support the printing speed that the Magna printer can deliver, the PC must meet
the following requirements:
•
Have a 233 MHz (or faster) Pentium MMX-, Pentium II-, Pentium III-, or Pentium
IV-compatible processor. Datacard recommends a 500 MHz (or faster) processor.
•
Have at least 128 MB of memory (RAM). Datacard recommends 256 MB or more
of memory.
•
Have 60 MB or more of hard disk space available to store the printer driver and
provide working space for preparing card data. (Additional components, such as
Diagnostics, might require more space.) Datacard recommends at least 100 MB
of hard disk space before installing the printer driver.
The PC, including processor speed, memory, operating system, applications
running, and available hard disk space, can have a dramatic effect on card
processing speed. The operating system or applications can require more or
faster resources than the printer driver. Meet the most demanding requirements
for the operating system, application, and drivers running on the PC.
•
Have one of the following ports or connections:
– An ECP parallel port (any operating system)
• The port should be configured as an ECP port (using the PC's BIOS). If
the existing parallel port is not ECP capable, obtain and install an ECP
capable parallel port for printer use. For information on configuring the
parallel port,
“PC port settings” on page C-1 .
• If your card creation application uses a security key, put the security key
on a different parallel port, if available. The security key can be on a
compatible-mode (IBM AT-mode) port. The printer data cable must
remain on the ECP parallel port (usually LPT1). You might receive
“security key not found” messages, “parallel port data error” messages, or
might notice that the card creation application operates slowly. If the
security key requires a compatible-mode port, obtain and install a
separate parallel port so you have a compatible-mode port for the security
key and an ECP port for the printer.
• Some parallel communication devices use a cable with a plug that allows
another device to be attached, so that two parallel devices are attached to
one PC parallel port, known as a pass-through or piggy-back plug. The
printer and printer driver cannot communicate reliably through such a
plug. Install a second parallel port in the PC if needed.
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