parallel software key prob

have a software product that requires a software key connected to the parallel cable to run the program. old machine has pretty much died so trying this on a new dell xp machine. software is folder contained not windows based app. when i execute the program it wont let me in app. cuz it does not appear to recognize the terminator key.

this is a league application for dart, bowling and pool. i built a win98 machine and copied over the folder and app. works just fine. had to set files and buffers but works okay.

any idea why xp not recognizing this terminator key ?????

 

petec

unfortunately, the company that once produced this software is no longer in business and others that produce this type of software apparently is a few thousand dollars. not cheap.

tried compatibility mode with no luck. guess they will just have to buy this rebuild 98 machine from me.

thanks.

 

Hi

before giving up on the XP machine, check which mode the parallel port is set to operate in...

... & also check this on the W98 PC where the dongle works to see what you are "aiming for "

with Device Manager: if you see ECP or EPP then the port's bidirectional, if you don't see either ECP or EPP it's unidirectional

if the port is set to unidirectional it's output only, & thus may not be reading the "OK" reply coming back from the dongle correctly.

The operating mode for the port is generally controlled by a BIOS setting. Most BIOSes call the unidirectional mode SPP (= Standard Parallel Port)

If you reckon this might be causing the problem, change the BIOS setting for the port mode to EPP (first guess), then try ECP (second guess, because ECP will "book" a DMA channel as well as making the port bidirectional)


best wishes, HJ.

It's possible to get a dongle to work even with a unidirectional port - there are signals returned to the PC from the peripheral for things like "paper out ", "busy ", "online" available in all parallel port modes. Unidirectional and bidirectional refer to the capability of the 8 data wires

 

hugh jarss

very interesting reading. i will give that a try and thanks....greg

 

it might just be that the XP HAL isn't letting your app. access the port directly enough - which would be a pity

but there again, there's good reason to hope that it's the port mode thing. Many BIOSes use the unidirectional SPP mode as their default because it's the most "legacy" of the available options... depends on the particular BIOS & the mfr.'s take on backwards-compatibility

==

If your BIOS doesn't have SPP among the choices, it will probably be calling the unidirectional mode LPT instead. Although LPT really seems more of a generic term, the way I understand it...

good luck let us know how it goes...

best wishes, HJ.