[Pro2006] Opto OS456 Lite installation problems

[Bill Seward]

I'm using MS-DOS 6.22 on an old 486 laptop I have.  I've made sure that 
the DIP switches are set per the Opto instructions, then used the DOS 
MODE command to set the port to 9600, 8-N-1.  The port is actually set 
that way--I used an old copy of PROCOMM to check.

As an IT type, I can tell you why you have I/O problems with NT/2K/XP.  
Those versions of the OS do not allow software to directly access 
hardware, such as COM ports.  This is meant to keep ill-behaved programs 
from crashing the OS.  Works quite well, but breaks a lot of old 
software (or new software, such as Probe v7, whish is DOS-based).  Back 
in DOS days, you could assume you have the whole computer to yourself, 
and program accordingly.  Now, you must use the OS API calls to get to 
the actual hardware.  I suspect that getting something like Probe to 
work on these versions of the OS are hit-or-miss at best.

Len G. Carpenter wrote:

>I don't have an opto but yes, if you are running a windows NT based operating
>system you can have all kinds of IO problems.  As I understand it windows 3.1 and
>95 and 98 and somewhat ME look at the BIOS on how and what to do  with the IO
>ports, NT systems look at the BIOS and say ok these are the PORTS I have to work
>with, to hell with how they work I am just gonna take over and do whatever the
>hell I want with them.  This is what causes NT, 2000 and XP to have problems with
>the IO ports.
>
>radionut wrote:
>
>  
>
>>---> My  reply to what Bill Seward wrote 9/19/2004 5:43:46 PM
>>
>>a couple of things, first make sure of the settings you have (switch) on the
>>opto board for com ports, speed and parity. Make sure you have your software
>>set for the same. Second, what OS are you using? I know guys have had trouble
>>with Windows 2000 and XP. I use XP but use a small utility called direct IO to
>>get it to work. If you have a Windows 3.1 machine around or a dos machine try
>>that. Let me know if it helps any
>>
>>Mike
>>
>>----------------------- Original Message ------------------------------
>>
>>OK, I'm kicking myself.  A year and a half ago, I picked up an Opto
>>board for my PRO-2006, but never seemed to get time to install it.  This
>>weekend, I finally had time, and I can't get it to work.
>>
>>I've followed the instructions carefully, and
>>checked/re-checked/re-re-re-re-checked everything.  The board isn't
>>shorting to the chasis, the cables are all pin 1-to-pin 1.  The scanner
>>will work normally, but if you try to attach to it with either the Opto
>>test program or Probe, you get a message the scanner isn't available.
>>The scanner contiues running in this case--it notices nothing.
>>
>>I've also tested the PC serial port by attaching to a modem.  I can talk
>>to the modem OK.  A gross inspection of the board doens't show any
>>problems.  I'm down to a bad serial cable or a bad internal cable, as
>>far as thing I can troubleshoot.
>>
>>Does anyone have any other ideas of things I can look at?
>>
>>-------------------------------------
>>Bill Seward, Kg4SAQ
>>http://thefreehold.blogspot.com/
>>http://web.northstate.net/~seward
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Pro2006 mailing list
>>Pro2006 at mailman.qth.net
>>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/pro2006
>>
>>[Some portions of this message may have been removed]
>>
>>--------------------- Original Message Ends ------------------------
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Pro2006 mailing list
>>Pro2006 at mailman.qth.net
>>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/pro2006
>>    
>>
>
>--
>If Fed Ex merged with UPS, the resulting company would be Fed UPS.
>What would they call the merger of Cunningham Air Freight and Aer Lingus?
>
>Bumper sticker of the year: If you can read this, thank a
>teacher....and since it's in English, thank a soldier."
>
>Thought for the day....
>
>"Never hold your farts in, they travel up your spine, into your brain
>and that's where you get crappy ideas from".
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Pro2006 mailing list
>Pro2006 at mailman.qth.net
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/pro2006
>
>  
>


-- 

-------------------------------------
Bill Seward, Kg4SAQ
http://thefreehold.blogspot.com/
http://web.northstate.net/~seward