No such thing as a EPP port anymore?

[L. Swift]

Hi all, (We have already set the BIOS to EPP or ECP+EPP, but Win2k still
detect it as ECP.)

One of our customers are running Win98 and WinMe, but now we need to move
our machines to at least Win2k pro and above. Everything works fine except
we can't find a way for Win2k or WinXP to install the parallel port as EPP
and not ECP. The reason we need EPP is because one of their main software
application requires a hardware key to be plug into the parallel port before
it can work. And this software interface with the hardware key only in EPP
mode. The software vendor is out of this business so we couldn't get any
updates from them. This software costs the customers several thousands of
dollars and is still working very well for them, so they're not going to
junk it and purchase new ones which will cost them even more.

Now we're stuck, we need at least win2k for some new apps but cannot move
forward because win2k and XP doesn't support EPP. This seems like a step
backward by mircosoft, or is it? Do anyone know how I can install EPP port
onto Win2k or XP?

We have already setup the BIOS to EPP or ECP+EPP, but Win2k still detect it
as ECP. If we try to change the port manually, we are only presented with
the option of "Communication port", "ECP printer port", "Multi-port
communication port", or "Printer port". None of these works with the
hardware key. Any takers, any solution ??

Many thanks.

L. Swift

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Windows NT, 2000 and XP does not read a hardware key successfully.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

It really isn't an issue of an ECP vs. EPP parallel port.

Both Win2K and WinXP, like WinNT before them, do not allow any
software applications to directly address hardware resources, such as
serial or parallel ports. This is one of the reasons the WinNT family
of operating systems is so much more stable than Win9x. For a
hardware security dongle to work on these operating system, very
specific device drivers must be provided by the application's
manufacturer.

If the application's manufacturer will not (or cannot because they
no longer exist) provide you with a patch, new device driver, or
product to render this legacy application Win2K/XP-compatible, you
have little choice other than to replace it, or continue using Win98.
You'll need to acquire a version of your application that is designed
specifically for Win2K/XP. Contact the manufacturer of the application
to
see if any updates, patches, or upgrades are available.


Bruce Chambers

--
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having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Si Ballenger]

Hi all, (We have already set the BIOS to EPP or ECP+EPP, but Win2k still
detect it as ECP.)

One of our customers are running Win98 and WinMe, but now we need to move
our machines to at least Win2k pro and above. Everything works fine except
we can't find a way for Win2k or WinXP to install the parallel port as EPP
and not ECP. The reason we need EPP is because one of their main software
application requires a hardware key to be plug into the parallel port before
it can work. And this software interface with the hardware key only in EPP
mode. The software vendor is out of this business so we couldn't get any
updates from them. This software costs the customers several thousands of
dollars and is still working very well for them, so they're not going to
junk it and purchase new ones which will cost them even more.

Now we're stuck, we need at least win2k for some new apps but cannot move
forward because win2k and XP doesn't support EPP. This seems like a step
backward by mircosoft, or is it? Do anyone know how I can install EPP port
onto Win2k or XP?

We have already setup the BIOS to EPP or ECP+EPP, but Win2k still detect it
as ECP. If we try to change the port manually, we are only presented with
the option of "Communication port", "ECP printer port", "Multi-port
communication port", or "Printer port". None of these works with the
hardware key. Any takers, any solution ??

Many thanks.

L. Swift

Go to the below site, scroll down, and download the useport.zip
file. Userport will set the NT/2K/XP registry to allow usermode
programs to have access to the computer hardware like they had
with win 95/98. Set it to allow access to 378-37A, 278-27A, or
what ever is the address of your hardware parallel port (the
default settings will open the parallel port for access). Name
your desired memory address, run the program, and thats it. I
use it so I can run qbasic programs, assembly programs, and debug
programs to control the pins on the parallel port. Very nice
little application.

http://www.embeddedtronics.com/design&ideas.html

 

[L. Swift]

Thank you all who replied and gave your precious advise. Special thanks to
Si Ballenger for the link, will download the program and try it out.

Cheers !!