OT: Small / light NOT expensive PC with RS-232 port

[Robert Baer]

Dave M wrote:

Robert,
I don't know if anybody has offered this suggestion before, but here is
mine. If you could use a laptop PC, I have an old AST laptop that has Win
3.11 or Win 98 on it (don't remember which). The battery is probably dead
as a doornail, but you might be able to find one It has a real serial port
on it, and a CDROM drive (don't remember if it's a read-only drive or if it
can write a CDROM).
I have no need for it anymore. Just need a day or two to dig it up and see
if it will still power up. Hopefully, the power supply still works.
If all is well, I'll clean the hard drive of all my old stuff and it's yours
for the cost of postage.

Can't get much cheaper than that! Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Dave M


Robert Baer wrote:
josephkk wrote:
On Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:55:28 -0800, Robert
Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote:


I think your real problem is that you have something else
assigned to a comport on a machine and your software isn't seeing
it..
* NOPE; i SAID it works - and on COM1.


Also, the comport assignment number the OS gives your port,
after it has seen other devices like modems, faxes etc, maybe to
high..
* i SAID *no* modem(s), which implies NO fax; in fact i said
NOTHING connected to the com port(s) in the symple-minded
initial-from-scratch case - and the printer worked on COM1.


Lots of older software only understood up to COM4 some only up
to COM2..

You can re'assign these numbers..
Maybe in the OS; no way of telling about repercussions regarding
the printer.

If you get the same serial bit stream the printer can't tell.

?-)
BUT the software only allows COM1 or COM2.


Thanks! Answered e-mail with a semi-qualified YES!

 

[Martin Brown]

On 06/02/2014 04:48, Robert Baer wrote:

Martin Brown wrote:
On 05/02/2014 04:00, Robert Baer wrote:
Martin Brown wrote:
On 04/02/2014 18:55, Robert Baer wrote:
josephkk wrote:

The software runs in Win98SE, Win2K, WinXP and Win7 (prolly runs in
Win95 and in Win3.11) and the printer handles a number of label sizes.
The minor part is that the computer must have a physical COM1 (or
COM2) port, and i was trying ideas to solve that by use of a cheap,
light (inexpensive to ship) computer.

Why? If it runs on anything WinXP or later then it must handle some
level of abstraction of the prehistoric IBM XT standard addresses and
IRQs. Either that or you have to install some crude IOPL level
driver to
permit direct peeky poke access to protected hardware registers.

My recollection (which may be faulty it is so long ago) is that Win98SE
was the last version with archaic direct RS232 peeky pokey support.

Provided the device COM1 exists then it should be happy (but with
potentially hardwired IRQ legacy software this can never be
guaranteed).

My client has an old (age, vintage, etc unknown) computer that does
not have RS-232 ports and USB-to-RS232 adapters do not work with the
software.
I bought a RS-232 PCI board for him to install, but that did not
happen; seems he does not know how to do that and knows nobody nearby
that could help.

Do you specialise in having educationally subnormal clients?
Provided he can use a screwdriver it is a five minute job!

Any teenage gamer will know how to swap a graphics card out of a PC or
fit a new PCI card into one (provided there is a free slot).

Recently i found out he has a laptop which would materially reduce
cost of shipping both ways.
Told him to look for a RS232 port and to see if it could read a
home-made CD or DVD (older laptop CD drives were notorious failures in
that aspect).
If it passes those tests, we are good to go.

Again you are making no sense at all. Perhaps you know what you mean.

No, YOU seem to not know how to think.
ANY computer with Windoze, COM1 and a "functional" CD/DVD drive would
work - by definition. That is to say, "functional" means the drive can
read the program CD/DVD which is NOT a normal or common OEM/retail
(pressed?) disk.
It is a fact that older laptop CD drives were notorious for NOT
reading disks one created.

I suspect we have finally got down to the root cause of your problem.

The disk is one that is only compatible with later versions of Windows
but there is a shim driver somewhere that allows older Windows versions
to read them. Or you could close the session on another RW drive.

http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-xp/read-unclosed-multisession-disc/137383.html

But if the PC has USB send him the software on a throwaway memory stick!

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

 

[Martin Brown]

On 06/02/2014 08:30, Martin Brown wrote:

On 06/02/2014 04:48, Robert Baer wrote:
Martin Brown wrote:
On 05/02/2014 04:00, Robert Baer wrote:

Told him to look for a RS232 port and to see if it could read a
home-made CD or DVD (older laptop CD drives were notorious failures in
that aspect).
If it passes those tests, we are good to go.

The blind leading the blind!

Again you are making no sense at all. Perhaps you know what you mean.

No, YOU seem to not know how to think.

Very funny. You can't even *describe* your problem unambigously!

ANY computer with Windoze, COM1 and a "functional" CD/DVD drive would
work - by definition. That is to say, "functional" means the drive can
read the program CD/DVD which is NOT a normal or common OEM/retail
(pressed?) disk.
It is a fact that older laptop CD drives were notorious for NOT
reading disks one created.

I suspect we have finally got down to the root cause of your problem.

The disk is one that is only compatible with later versions of Windows
but there is a shim driver somewhere that allows older Windows versions
to read them. Or you could close the session on another RW drive.

http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-xp/read-unclosed-multisession-disc/137383.html


But if the PC has USB send him the software on a throwaway memory stick!

Try this one from Adaptec which is free.

http://download.cnet.com/Adaptec-UDF-Reader-Driver/3000-2100_4-10021086.html

No guarantee that it will work for you but I have used it in the dim and
distant past ( pre Y2k ).

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

 

[josephkk]

On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:51:22 -0800, Robert Baer <robertbaer@localnet.com>
wrote:

Dave M wrote:
Robert,
I don't know if anybody has offered this suggestion before, but here is
mine. If you could use a laptop PC, I have an old AST laptop that has Win
3.11 or Win 98 on it (don't remember which). The battery is probably dead
as a doornail, but you might be able to find one It has a real serial port
on it, and a CDROM drive (don't remember if it's a read-only drive or if it
can write a CDROM).
I have no need for it anymore. Just need a day or two to dig it up and see
if it will still power up. Hopefully, the power supply still works.
If all is well, I'll clean the hard drive of all my old stuff and it's yours
for the cost of postage.

Can't get much cheaper than that! Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Dave M


Robert Baer wrote:
josephkk wrote:
On Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:55:28 -0800, Robert
Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote:


I think your real problem is that you have something else
assigned to a comport on a machine and your software isn't seeing
it..
* NOPE; i SAID it works - and on COM1.


Also, the comport assignment number the OS gives your port,
after it has seen other devices like modems, faxes etc, maybe to
high..
* i SAID *no* modem(s), which implies NO fax; in fact i said
NOTHING connected to the com port(s) in the symple-minded
initial-from-scratch case - and the printer worked on COM1.


Lots of older software only understood up to COM4 some only up
to COM2..

You can re'assign these numbers..
Maybe in the OS; no way of telling about repercussions regarding
the printer.

If you get the same serial bit stream the printer can't tell.

?-)
BUT the software only allows COM1 or COM2.


Thanks! Answered e-mail with a semi-qualified YES!

If that does not work out i can about match the offer. 15+ yo lappie,
maximally buffed up, win98 with original install disk.

?-)

 

[Robert Baer]

josephkk wrote:

On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:51:22 -0800, Robert Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com
wrote:

Dave M wrote:
Robert,
I don't know if anybody has offered this suggestion before, but here is
mine. If you could use a laptop PC, I have an old AST laptop that has Win
3.11 or Win 98 on it (don't remember which). The battery is probably dead
as a doornail, but you might be able to find one It has a real serial port
on it, and a CDROM drive (don't remember if it's a read-only drive or if it
can write a CDROM).
I have no need for it anymore. Just need a day or two to dig it up and see
if it will still power up. Hopefully, the power supply still works.
If all is well, I'll clean the hard drive of all my old stuff and it's yours
for the cost of postage.

Can't get much cheaper than that! Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Dave M


Robert Baer wrote:
josephkk wrote:
On Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:55:28 -0800, Robert
Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote:


I think your real problem is that you have something else
assigned to a comport on a machine and your software isn't seeing
it..
* NOPE; i SAID it works - and on COM1.


Also, the comport assignment number the OS gives your port,
after it has seen other devices like modems, faxes etc, maybe to
high..
* i SAID *no* modem(s), which implies NO fax; in fact i said
NOTHING connected to the com port(s) in the symple-minded
initial-from-scratch case - and the printer worked on COM1.


Lots of older software only understood up to COM4 some only up
to COM2..

You can re'assign these numbers..
Maybe in the OS; no way of telling about repercussions regarding
the printer.

If you get the same serial bit stream the printer can't tell.

?-)
BUT the software only allows COM1 or COM2.


Thanks! Answered e-mail with a semi-qualified YES!


If that does not work out i can about match the offer. 15+ yo lappie,
maximally buffed up, win98 with original install disk.

?-)

Thanks; will keep you in mind.
Dave is chasing the spiders away (well, it WAS used on the web...

 

[Robert Baer]

josephkk wrote:

On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:51:22 -0800, Robert Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com
wrote:

Dave M wrote:
Robert,
I don't know if anybody has offered this suggestion before, but here is
mine. If you could use a laptop PC, I have an old AST laptop that has Win
3.11 or Win 98 on it (don't remember which). The battery is probably dead
as a doornail, but you might be able to find one It has a real serial port
on it, and a CDROM drive (don't remember if it's a read-only drive or if it
can write a CDROM).
I have no need for it anymore. Just need a day or two to dig it up and see
if it will still power up. Hopefully, the power supply still works.
If all is well, I'll clean the hard drive of all my old stuff and it's yours
for the cost of postage.

Can't get much cheaper than that! Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Dave M


Robert Baer wrote:
josephkk wrote:
On Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:55:28 -0800, Robert
Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote:


I think your real problem is that you have something else
assigned to a comport on a machine and your software isn't seeing
it..
* NOPE; i SAID it works - and on COM1.


Also, the comport assignment number the OS gives your port,
after it has seen other devices like modems, faxes etc, maybe to
high..
* i SAID *no* modem(s), which implies NO fax; in fact i said
NOTHING connected to the com port(s) in the symple-minded
initial-from-scratch case - and the printer worked on COM1.


Lots of older software only understood up to COM4 some only up
to COM2..

You can re'assign these numbers..
Maybe in the OS; no way of telling about repercussions regarding
the printer.

If you get the same serial bit stream the printer can't tell.

?-)
BUT the software only allows COM1 or COM2.


Thanks! Answered e-mail with a semi-qualified YES!


If that does not work out i can about match the offer. 15+ yo lappie,
maximally buffed up, win98 with original install disk.

?-)

Not doing so good on the AST; my zip is 98503. Willing to pay
reasonable amount for yours.
Please pass on particulars in e-mail to me.
Thanks.

 

[Robert Baer]

josephkk wrote:

On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:51:22 -0800, Robert Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com
wrote:

Dave M wrote:
Robert,
I don't know if anybody has offered this suggestion before, but here is
mine. If you could use a laptop PC, I have an old AST laptop that has Win
3.11 or Win 98 on it (don't remember which). The battery is probably dead
as a doornail, but you might be able to find one It has a real serial port
on it, and a CDROM drive (don't remember if it's a read-only drive or if it
can write a CDROM).
I have no need for it anymore. Just need a day or two to dig it up and see
if it will still power up. Hopefully, the power supply still works.
If all is well, I'll clean the hard drive of all my old stuff and it's yours
for the cost of postage.

Can't get much cheaper than that! Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Dave M


Robert Baer wrote:
josephkk wrote:
On Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:55:28 -0800, Robert
Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote:


I think your real problem is that you have something else
assigned to a comport on a machine and your software isn't seeing
it..
* NOPE; i SAID it works - and on COM1.


Also, the comport assignment number the OS gives your port,
after it has seen other devices like modems, faxes etc, maybe to
high..
* i SAID *no* modem(s), which implies NO fax; in fact i said
NOTHING connected to the com port(s) in the symple-minded
initial-from-scratch case - and the printer worked on COM1.


Lots of older software only understood up to COM4 some only up
to COM2..

You can re'assign these numbers..
Maybe in the OS; no way of telling about repercussions regarding
the printer.

If you get the same serial bit stream the printer can't tell.

?-)
BUT the software only allows COM1 or COM2.


Thanks! Answered e-mail with a semi-qualified YES!


If that does not work out i can about match the offer. 15+ yo lappie,
maximally buffed up, win98 with original install disk.

?-)
Is that old laptop still available?

 

[josephkk]

On Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:28:33 -0800, Robert Baer <robertbaer@localnet.com>
wrote:

josephkk wrote:
On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:51:22 -0800, Robert Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com
wrote:

Dave M wrote:
Robert,
I don't know if anybody has offered this suggestion before, but here is
mine. If you could use a laptop PC, I have an old AST laptop that has Win
3.11 or Win 98 on it (don't remember which). The battery is probably dead
as a doornail, but you might be able to find one It has a real serial port
on it, and a CDROM drive (don't remember if it's a read-only drive or if it
can write a CDROM).
I have no need for it anymore. Just need a day or two to dig it up and see
if it will still power up. Hopefully, the power supply still works.
If all is well, I'll clean the hard drive of all my old stuff and it's yours
for the cost of postage.

Can't get much cheaper than that! Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Dave M


Robert Baer wrote:
josephkk wrote:
On Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:55:28 -0800, Robert
Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote:


I think your real problem is that you have something else
assigned to a comport on a machine and your software isn't seeing
it..
* NOPE; i SAID it works - and on COM1.


Also, the comport assignment number the OS gives your port,
after it has seen other devices like modems, faxes etc, maybe to
high..
* i SAID *no* modem(s), which implies NO fax; in fact i said
NOTHING connected to the com port(s) in the symple-minded
initial-from-scratch case - and the printer worked on COM1.


Lots of older software only understood up to COM4 some only up
to COM2..

You can re'assign these numbers..
Maybe in the OS; no way of telling about repercussions regarding
the printer.

If you get the same serial bit stream the printer can't tell.

?-)
BUT the software only allows COM1 or COM2.


Thanks! Answered e-mail with a semi-qualified YES!


If that does not work out i can about match the offer. 15+ yo lappie,
maximally buffed up, win98 with original install disk.

?-)
Is that old laptop still available?

Why yes, it is. Sorry about not getting back to you with the particulars.
You kind of got crowded out. I'll have to find a mutually agreeable way
to ship. If you have a loose licence it will run Win2K as well.

?-)

 

[Robert Baer]

josephkk wrote:

On Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:28:33 -0800, Robert Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com
wrote:

josephkk wrote:
On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:51:22 -0800, Robert Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com
wrote:

Dave M wrote:
Robert,
I don't know if anybody has offered this suggestion before, but here is
mine. If you could use a laptop PC, I have an old AST laptop that has Win
3.11 or Win 98 on it (don't remember which). The battery is probably dead
as a doornail, but you might be able to find one It has a real serial port
on it, and a CDROM drive (don't remember if it's a read-only drive or if it
can write a CDROM).
I have no need for it anymore. Just need a day or two to dig it up and see
if it will still power up. Hopefully, the power supply still works.
If all is well, I'll clean the hard drive of all my old stuff and it's yours
for the cost of postage.

Can't get much cheaper than that! Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Dave M


Robert Baer wrote:
josephkk wrote:
On Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:55:28 -0800, Robert
Baer<robertbaer@localnet.com> wrote:


I think your real problem is that you have something else
assigned to a comport on a machine and your software isn't seeing
it..
* NOPE; i SAID it works - and on COM1.


Also, the comport assignment number the OS gives your port,
after it has seen other devices like modems, faxes etc, maybe to
high..
* i SAID *no* modem(s), which implies NO fax; in fact i said
NOTHING connected to the com port(s) in the symple-minded
initial-from-scratch case - and the printer worked on COM1.


Lots of older software only understood up to COM4 some only up
to COM2..

You can re'assign these numbers..
Maybe in the OS; no way of telling about repercussions regarding
the printer.

If you get the same serial bit stream the printer can't tell.

?-)
BUT the software only allows COM1 or COM2.


Thanks! Answered e-mail with a semi-qualified YES!


If that does not work out i can about match the offer. 15+ yo lappie,
maximally buffed up, win98 with original install disk.

?-)
Is that old laptop still available?

Why yes, it is. Sorry about not getting back to you with the particulars.
You kind of got crowded out. I'll have to find a mutually agreeable way
to ship. If you have a loose licence it will run Win2K as well.

?-)

I would suggest either Snail or FedEx (prolly best way), *NOT* UPS as
they may damage it and even if it is "insured",they have a bad habit of
refusing to pay.
Willing to pay shipping in advance.