HOW TO: Troubleshoot Printing Problems in Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows
Millennium Edition
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;128345&Product=w98

The driver on the Canon site is old, but you could check to make sure your driver is
3.97, there are manuals here too.
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=DownloadDetailAct&fcategoryid=32
9&modelid=6747

This from Canon
I receive the error message "Error writing to LPT1" and the printer won't print.
Problem Description

Error writing to LPT1

Solution

If you receive an error writing to LPT1, try the following:

 1.. Reboot your computer and reset the printer.
 You can reset the printer by unplugging the printer for 30 seconds while it is
still powered on, then plug the unit back into the power source and press the POWER
button.  Make sure there are no error lights or beeps.

 2.. Make sure the printer is connected directly to the back of the computer and not
going through another device such as a scanner, tape drive or an external switch box.

 3.. Make sure to disable any other programs that may be attempting to access the
parallel port, such as parallel port scanners, tape backup drives, or other printers.

 4.. Check the status of the printer port by doing the following:

   1.. Right click the My Computer icon and click Properties.

   2.. Click the Device Manager tab.

   3.. Double-click Ports (COM & LPT).

   4.. Double click Canon BJ ECP Printer Port or Canon BJ Printer Port (Note:
drivers for older models may just state the port as: Printer Port or ECP printer
port). The device status should read "This device is working properly". If it does
not, please contact your computer manufacturer.

 5.. Test the connection to the computer by printing from DOS. To perform this test,
follow these steps:

   1.. Click the Windows Start button.

   2.. Click Shutdown.

   3.. Select Restart in MS-DOS mode and click OK.

   4.. Click Yes to confirm you wish to restart.

   5.. From the C:/Windows> prompt, type CD.

   6.. Press the ENTER key on your keyboard.

   7.. Type DIR >PRN and then press the ENTER key.

   8.. Note how the printer reacts/responds. You may stop the test at any time by
turning the printer off.

   9.. To return to windows type EXIT and press the ENTER key.

 If nothing happens or you receive an error, the issue is with the physical
connection between the printer and the computer.  The problem would involve either
the printer cable, the port on the computer or the port on the printer.

 6.. Reconnect or replace the printer cable. Make sure the parallel cable is
securely fastened to the computer and printer. Also, make sure you are using an IEEE
1284-compliant parallel interface cable no longer than 6 feet in length.

 7.. If the printer prints from DOS, uninstall and reinstall the printer driver.

Check the procedure used to set the mode of the installed port - the printer
requires a bidirectional mode. For your motherboard port this will be a
setting in the BIOS setup, but for the installed port it will be a different
procedure, presumably a setting in the port's properties in device manager,
or perhaps a separate utility that was part of the software supplied with
the port.