LPT port problems

[Terryl]

Yes you read it right, an LPT port. (What the heck is an LPT port???)

I had to move to a new computer on one setup, the old one is slowly dying out, all programs were transferred using Laplink pro and that went flawlessly.

(The new PC has an SSD drive and man is it fast)

Now, here is the problem, the old PC did not have a LPT port, so I installed a PCIe LPT port card, it worked flawlessly till the swap to the new PC, all drivers were installed correctly in the new PC, and the port shows up in hardware manager, and has the correct LPT port assignment.......BUT the problem is the the Parallel port key for the design software** is not being detected.

I have done everything I can think of to get this to work, if I swap the card and key back to the old PC it works fine, the new and old PC's are Dell's but different models, I have updated all drivers and hardware drivers to the latest and greatest with no luck.

I have ordered a LPT port tester to use with some port testing software I have downloaded but it will take a few days for it to get here.

Anyone know a good way to test this port without hardware attached????? (the BIG question)

**The reason behind the addition of a parallel port, it needs one for the software key.


Stumped and banging my head against the wall.....

[auggie]

LPT port problems: can you look up the Ven-ID for it, if it gives you one under properties
and track down a Driver for it ?

[The Noof]

Make sure the port addresses are correct both in bios AND your o/s settings.

[auggie]

Maybe this might help hxxps://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc720331(v=ws.10).aspx

[Terryl]

LPT port problems: can you look up the Ven-ID for it, if it gives you one under properties
and track down a Driver for it ?

I have the drivers disk for this card, but after installing them the key is still not found.

[Terryl]

Make sure the port addresses are correct both in bios AND your o/s settings.

I don't see anything in the BIOS for an LPT port address, could that be a problem??

[Terryl]

Maybe this might help hxxps://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc720331(v=ws.10).aspx

That was for a virtual machine

[The Noof]

What bios Terry?What MB???Do you see address options with your operating system?

[The Noof]

I just thought of something Terry:if the MB doesn't have a parallel port, bios won't have an assignment for it, so it's purely o/s dependant.Make sure the address/resources the hardware/software require to talk to each other are the same.

[auggie]

can you add the parallel port manually to the driver configuration like what The Noof posted #9
what about a adapter usb-LPT/parallel etc. also contacting the design software place for idea's on it
i am no Tech on this, just trying to offer some suggestions

[Terryl]

OK I may need to give a bit of background on this, the software is for designing cabinetry for my Sister and Brother-in-laws wood shop, it originally came on a Dell PC (PC #1) with a built in LPT port, that computer died out but not before I transferred everything to a new PC, (PC #2, a Dell) but the new PC did not have an LPT port, so I originally tried a USB to Parallel adapter, the key was never found, I then installed a PCIe LPT card, key was found and everything was working fine, now PC #2 is slowly dying out, it's on life support till I get the new PC (PC #3) working with the design software, I have transferred the PCIe card to PC #3, installed the driver from the CD that came with the card and it is being seen in hardware manager as an LPT port, I can assign the correct LPT port # to it, but the software can not see the hardware key.

The software company does not support this software anymore, they want you to buy their new stuff at $7000 USD, (NOT) we can get a USB key but that would cost $700 USD (NOT), PC #3 only cost $350 USD (refurbished Dell) and is working flawlessly with all the other software that I transferred over with Laplink Pro.

I have been comparing line by line all registry entry's between PC #2 and PC #3 for this software, but this is very very time consuming, I'm trying to see if there was something missed in the transfer.

In the mean time I have ordered a LPT port dongle and downloaded some LPT port test software to check out the PCIe card in the new computer, as it all works fine in PC #2 if I move the card back to it.

[auggie]

OK, first off what OS on PC-2 vs. PC-3 (XP TO WIN7) is it possible if card/software work on PC-2
to get all info (drivers, ports,bios,ven-ID, etc.) that is being used/assigned off of it for use on PC-3
Software/Hardware OS dependent or supported ?

[fuzzywuzzy1]

Re-install the driver for your "Sentinel" Parallel key. This key may be made by "Rainbow". They have drivers to make it work. If yours is not a "Sentinel Key" please find appropriate manufacturer.
Your Parallel port is probably working properly but without the Sentinel driver it may not work.
Cloning a PC may not always activate this driver.
I have Sentinel Drivers version 7.3.1 (2/12/2007) and version 7.6.1 (11/17/2009). If you can't find any
Or download sentinel drivers from h??p://www.rainbow.com.my/support.php?id=1&PHPSESSID=

[Terryl]

AHHHAAA it works, thanks for the info Fuzzywuzzy1, I found the driver update for my key and did the update, it's all working now, thanks very much.

And thanks to all that helped out, this was a tough one.

[fuzzywuzzy1]

You're welcome.