I'm trying to get my plotter up and running again. Now more than ever - as I just found out the guy that's been doing the vinyl junk (I mean junk!) for our shelter, sold his business. He had signed up to sponser a kennel, so he owed the shelter the signage in trade.
Saga continues... neither com port will work and I only have one parallel (which the software key is in!).
I get a board, set up the jumper-thingies, go to put it in the computer... physically doesn't fit.
I got another board, this one has 2 coms and 1 parallel (made sure the coms on the computer were disabled in the bios), put the board in, followed the installation instructions, removed the disc, hit YES to restart the computer...
... I'm left staring at a black screen with a little freakin' blinkin' cursor in the corner!!!
OK fine... so I call tech support for the board, he talks me through a few things...
is him saying "I'm really sorry, but you've got worse problems than I can help with over the phone" a bad thing?!?!???
AARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!
So now when I get home from work tonite, I'm gonna call my daughter's father Jon, the computer whiz in MN, to help me figure this out... I hope...
Ummm... is there anyway to run my VE plotter through VEMaster without a computer?!?!????
Posted by Dan (Member # 85) on :
Dana, I am not familiar with the VE plotters, but it may be possible to run it by plugging into the software key. PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS without consulting the manufacturer. My Roland PC-60 has run flawlessly for over 4 years this way. OTH this is a big no no on my Gerber Edge.They say it will fry the key. Sorry I could'nt be more helpful.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
dana..you got a blinkin cursor.....in the upper left corner..it aint the plotter or com port problem...you have no O/S operating system .....did you ever get the computer to work 1st?
Posted by Richard Bustamante (Member # 370) on :
Dana, Sounds like you have a LPT port address conflect. The onboard LPT is assigned the 378 address, if you try to add an additional LPT port, and if the port address for the second LPT is 378; you'll get the black screen. The PC card, which has the additional LPT ports must be configured; using the jumpers, to port address 278 Restart your machine, and it should be alright. If the problem persists; remove the port PC card, then try to use the onboard LPT port through a different device like a printer, one you know that works, and run a bi-directional test. Once you've established that the port is working, hook the security key to the LPT port. Since I do not have all the facts on what type of plotter your going to run, I hesitate with further instructions. The normal procedure would be to plug the plotter directly into the "Dongol". Another small item is the "EPP" (enhanced parellel port) setting. Some plotters and printers require this setting to be active. This can be found in the BIOS. It could also be as simple as replacing a faulty printer cable. In closing, it is sure nice to have the additional ports for a scanner or Zip drive. I believe the BIOS allows for three additional LPT ports. In the future, buy components that use USB to free up conventional ports. The communications between these ports are faster and more computer friendly. With technalogical grouth being so fast its not so much user friendly anymore, but computer friendly. Oh! I forgot; now that you have your computer's skin removed, blow off all the dust from the components, fans, and power supply. It is the number one killer.
Well I do not understand why you would have to disable ports in your BIOS the whole purpose of adding in the new card would be to add more ports?
As for no software operating system well to me I would think you have a conflicting driver that has stopped your computers boot up. Sometimes this can be hard to undo (I have had to in the past reinstall Windows) Lets hope you will not have to do this yet.
I run my plotter through the hardware dongle that is on my parrell port it should just be a simple straight through dongle and I have never heard of one being damaged if used.
Personally I would try undoing what you have done and then see if you can get up and running again.
Also we will need more info what operating system what type of card you added etc......
Another thought PC's are cheep and plotters do not need the newest PC to run maybe you should think about buying a used second PC just for your vinyl cutter. Something like a Pentium II 300 would be really cheep to pick up second hand.
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
Tell Bruce to fix it. or you could use his. Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
She just better leave mine the hell alone! LOL!
Posted by TransLab (Member # 470) on :
Before computers ... I used to think women were the most frustrating things in life .... Posted by Steve Aycock (Member # 3612) on :
The problem you describe is most likely too complicated to be talked through over the phone.
However I don't think it would be too difficult or time consuming to remedied by a computer tech.
You most likely have a conflicting resource, or you have disabled the port in either the bios or your o/s...
The variables are many !
Make sure you back up all your valuable data and then call a professional.
That is the best advice I can give you.
Hope it helps !
Steve
P.s. my most sagely advice for use of any computer by anyone..."Save often, when in doubt reboot !"
Posted by Dana Bowers (Member # 780) on :
OK... to make a VERY long story short... considering I called Jon the first time at 9:30, and it's now midnight... (oh, by the way - Win98, all my stuff worked in MN when I had my shop, this is a different computer - but the com ports never did work for me on this one).
I got the board in and all 3 ports are recognized com3, com4 and LPT2. Along with everything else we tried, like changing IRQ and DMA stuff, I ended up just completely pulling out the modem card and the audio card.
I hooked the plotter back up parallel, since that's how it was running fine the last time.
I left the key in the LPT1 port and plugged the plotter in LPT2.
Double clicked on the VEMaster icon... computer froze.
Tried a bunch of things, including switching the key into LPT2 and plotter in LPT1... same thing. Uninstalled and reinstalled VEMaster... still froze up when trying to open the program. With the plotter on. With the plotter off.
All my other programs open fine... just totally locks up when I try to open VE. From the desktop icon and the program file.
Jon is confused... says he'll try to come up with some more ideas. I'm beyond frustrated. I swear this thing HATES me.
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