LPT1 port access with DOS program

[Guest]

Hi all,

I have a client with an old DOS program which accesses a hardware security
key connected to the LPT1 port. This program worked fine in Win95 and 98,
but it will not function in XP (even if run in the correct compatibility
mode).

The client's software, on start, needs to read the security hardware
attached to LPT1. Is there any way to help the DOS program recognize the
LPT1 port.

Thanks,

 

[Bob I]

Yes, update the dongle detection software. The software vendor will be
the place to start your quest.

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately, the vendor has since gone out of business. The software was
written by a lcoal software company that is now defunct (circa: 1993). Any
other ideas?

 

[Kerry Brown]

Unfortunately, the vendor has since gone out of business. The
software was written by a lcoal software company that is now defunct
(circa: 1993). Any other ideas?

Find a computer that will run Windows 98. Find some different software.

 

[Guest]

You have me smiling, Kerry. That is my reaction... however, clients become
quite attached to their software. This one even makes freshly baked bread.

 

[Bob I]

Then you will need to run an operating system the software works on.

 

[Kerry Brown]

You have me smiling, Kerry. That is my reaction... however, clients
become quite attached to their software. This one even makes freshly
baked bread.

I have similar clients. I have told them what the options are. If they base
their business on something that is EOL then sooner or later they will be
OoL (out of luck). So far I've been able to find compatible hardware for
them but it is getting hard to find new motherboards that will work with
Windows 98.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

You could locate a Windows NT kernel mode parallel port (UserPort??) which
would get back direct access to the parallel port's hardware.

 

[Ron]

Hi all,

I have a client with an old DOS program which accesses a hardware security
key connected to the LPT1 port. This program worked fine in Win95 and 98,
but it will not function in XP (even if run in the correct compatibility
mode).

The client's software, on start, needs to read the security hardware
attached to LPT1. Is there any way to help the DOS program recognize the
LPT1 port.

Thanks,

How about running the old DOS software on a virtual PC 2004 (it's free)
installed on XP machine?
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

worth a shot.

 

[Guest]

I will try that, Ron. Could be worth a shot. Thanks.

 

[Kerry Brown]

How about running the old DOS software on a virtual PC 2004 (it's
free) installed on XP machine?
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

worth a shot.

It's worth trying but I didn't have any luck when I tried it with parallel
port dongle.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi all,

I have a client with an old DOS program which accesses a hardware security
key connected to the LPT1 port. This program worked fine in Win95 and 98,
but it will not function in XP (even if run in the correct compatibility
mode).

The client's software, on start, needs to read the security hardware
attached to LPT1. Is there any way to help the DOS program recognize the
LPT1 port.

Thanks,

WinXP does not allow any software applications to directly address
hardware resources, such as serial or parallel ports. This behavior is
by design and 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 systems, very specific device drivers
must be provided by the application's manufacturer.

Contact the manufacturer of the application to see if any updates,
patches, or upgrades are available. 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 the OS for which it was designed. Alternatively, you'll
need to acquire a newer version of your application that is designed
specifically for Win2K/XP.



--

Bruce Chambers

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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[HeyBub]

Unfortunately, the vendor has since gone out of business. The
software was written by a lcoal software company that is now defunct
(circa: 1993). Any other ideas?

The software vendor didn't make the dongle. Contact the dongle manufacturer.

 

[Guest]

This works, I have done this for many clients.

1st, you need to find a mother board that still has one ISA slot. There are
still a few being manufactured that still support the latest chipsets. (Most
dongles only are supported on non-ecp, non-epp ports, i.e. bi-directional)
2nd, you need to locate an ISA parallel port the has jumper setting to
select irq5, 3f8.
3rd, In device manager you need to select the option for legacy support.
4th, in your bios, the on board lpt needs to be set to lpt2 or disabled.
5th, and this is the important part. The hardware part needs to be done
before the OS is installed, or you MUST run an in place repair, HAL makes
changes only to the OS at that time , that cannot be done after the OS is
installed. I found this out through a $245 tech support call from Microsoft
with an application the need access directly with a com port. This does work.