With using Slackware since 96 (Currently Amazon AWS), and Ubuntu since 2009 on all our computers/laptops, LinuxCNC since 2014 and windozs only with VirtualBox on one system this is the only time I had issues with a stupid parallel port. I couldn't even get a PCI Parallel, or PCI-e Parallel card working. This was going on for a few weeks.
Now I have to find out what it was that caused it. I have to know. Side by Side Stepconf and hal files old and new should tell me. Then to get the Cards working will be the next thing.