VPN client disables my LPT1 parallel printer port
 

I am running the VPN client 4.8.01.0300 on my Windows XP SP2
machine (an AMD Athlon 2600 on an MSI Nforce2 motherboard with an
onboard parallel port connected to an old but trustworthy dot
matrix printer.) I use it to connect to the National Institutes
of Health, where I work.

It seems that every time I connect, it permanently disables my
parallel printer port. After a week of hair pulling, I stumbled
upon a way to get my printer working again. What I have to do is
go to the Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager, Ports,
Parallel Port, Port Settings. I can then change the value of
Filter Resource Method to anything at all (use, not use, or
sometimes use interrupts) and click OK. Then my printer works.

I have to do this every time I use the VPN and want to print
afterwards.

Is this a "feature" of some kind? Is it trying to protect me
from attack by my poor old printer?

Is there any way to stop this behavior? If not, is there some
way to correct it without going through the cumbersome dance
described above?

I'd report the problem to CISCO but I couldn't find a good way to
do it on their website.

Thank you very much.

Alan