VMWARE 4.5.2 parallel port in 2.6.7-r11

[malv]

Linux host - XP guest
I always stumble into the message about the parallel port being used by the host (linux) system and being disconnected for the guest. I tried everything - read all the prior posts.

Questions:

(1) I followed to the letter all module/kernel config requirements.
When running vmware, lsmod indeed sees parport0, ppdev but NO parport although this was selected in config. This may be normal under udev in 2.6.7 though. In fact the vmware manual doesn' t really say anything about linux 2.6.

(2) /dev/paperport0 does not appear to be used in linux (no cups or lp deamon running, no lp module loaded). How can I find out if indeed /dev/paperport0 would still be in used by some weird thing? What to do to make absolutely sure it is free in linux?

(3) Could the bug be in vmware in that it concludes /dev/paperport0 to be claimed by linux where it is not? Can vmware 4.5.2 use this parallel port at all under linux 2.6.7?

Thank you all,
malv