Can I access parallel port in C++ code(on win98 virtual machine)?

Hi,

I have win XP installed on my desktop and I know that I cannot directly access parallel port via a C++ code without help of some device drivers (I don't want to go with that as I am not confident in doing that), so as an alternative I am thinking of installing win98 on virtual machine on my desktop.

My question is, If write a C++ code to write data on parallel port in windows 98 which is on my virtual machine, will this be successful? Can my code on virtual machine be able to write data on parallel port?

Please assist.

Thanks,
Saqib