We've got an old pc where i work that is connected to a testing machine via an ISA I/O card. This pc has died so we've tried replacing it with a new machine. Because the software on it was so old (20+ years) we had no disks to reinstall from and have had to use the hard drive / windows installation from the old computer. Windows starts up fine but we can't get it to detect the I/O card in the ISA slot however it did detect one of the other ISA cards from the old computer that wasn't moved across, although i've removed this entry now. Any ideas as to how we might get this card working again, we have no drivers for it and the manufacturer says the don't either. If it helps it is the PIO-48 from here, under data aquistion - end of life products.
Any Ideas? We're getting pretty desperate now as we've had an IT guy look at it and he had no idea what to do.
I found some (Demo, $58.94) software for controlling the card, so it's out there. This may get you running and enable you to glean off enough information to get it working. Make sure your Base Address is set via the jumpers on the card to an available Base Address on the machine.
"Controller software for relay boards and digital IO cards. Licht24 PRO gives you the control of arbitrary equipment, quick and comfortable with your PC. Ideal for discos, stage, partyrooms or home automation use. It's a universal control desk for your PC with various features. Supports Conrad Relay Board, ELV CSI 7002, ELV IO 88, Kemo B210, Kemo M125, Hygrotec Rel-T1, Weidner PC-REL, Velleman K8056, 8255 I/O card, TTL24IO, PIO24, PIO48. To control the outputs you will find these functions ready: Nonlocking key for tip-operation, Switch for ON/OFF-operation (Status-LED), Emergency-stop-function, Flash with variable speed, Randomizer optionally controls 1, 2, 3 or 4 outputs, 99 programs with up to 48 steps, free to program!, Weekly automatic-timer with 1 sec resolution = max. 86400 switching commands /day, Program- and random clock also music controlled. More Extras: Every channel can have it's individual marking, informative status-display, various skins selectable (12 different Surfaces), Engl"
We think we've got the cards working now by changinging the irq settings in the bios from pci/isa to legacy isa. The problem is the seriel ports don't seem to be working, when we try and load up the programs it can't find the copy-protection dongle and won't run. I'm going back and changing the settings back now but it isn't helping so far, is there any way to check if the serial ports are set up properly.
btw thanks for the suggestion above Dan but we can't afford to spend money on it unless we are certain it will fix it.
I had meant; "This (Demo = Free) may get you running and enable you to glean off enough information to get it working." Then if the demo works, and you verify the card is working, you could get it.
Ensure your serial ports are enabled in the machines bios. The O/S should find them on bootup and configure them with the appropriate resources. (I/O Address_Range, IRQ, speed, parity, etc) They can be checked/set through Device Manager.
Hi, sorry it's taken so long to reply, we've finally got the machine running again, it turned out that, as well as the computer going down, a fuse had also gone in the tester itself. Thankyou for your help. We know have a problem with another computer. We've got a program that converts our CAD files into testing programs for this machine, and it has a dongle connected to the serial port for copyright protection. When I start the program it says that it can't detect the dongle. The serial ports are enabled in the bios and seem to show up ok in windows but this program can't detect it. It's a windows 98 computer but the program runs in dos.
P.S. sorry dan, i missed the demo bit, i just saw the price.
" We know (now?) have a problem with another computer. We've got a program that converts our CAD files into testing programs for this machine, and it has a dongle connected to the serial port for copyright protection. When I start the program it says that it can't detect the dongle. The serial ports are enabled in the bios and seem to show up ok in windows but this program can't detect it. It's a windows 98 computer but the program runs in dos."
To run this (DOS) program, would booting the machine in DOS Mode help? (NOTE: This would be DOS 7.10, which is a FAT32 DOS.) Will the DOS program run in this environment, or is it designed for DOS 6.x, which is FAT16?
If it will run under FAT32 DOS, and you need a RAW DOS environment (as booting a Windows 98 machine in DOS Mode means; windows control files are still running) you can turn your 98 machine into a dual boot (Windows 98 & RAW DOS 7.1) by altering a couple of startup files.
I've tried running it in DOS mode (i.e. start -> shutdown -> restart in ms-dos) and it still doesn't work, how do I setup the RAW DOS dual boot? Do I need a DOS install disk or is it part of the windows 98 disc? Thanks for all your help, i'm the only one here who knows anything about computers so it's been left up to me to fix it.
I know the dongle and program work as they have been installed on another computer, however we've been told we can't use it on that particular computer for some reason.
autoexec.bat
--------------
@ECHO OFF
PATH \;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM;
::
SET TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET TMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
GOTO %CONFIG%
::
:WINDOWS
SET DIRCMD=/A/O/P/V
ECHO Loading Windows 98 Second Edition. Please Wait............
c:\windows\win
GOTO END
::
:DOS
ECHO Loading MSDOS 7.10A. Please Wait............
ECHO.
LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DOSKEY/INSERT/REINSTALL
LH C:\MOUSE\GMOUSE (<----- MOUSE Driver for DOS)
SET COMSPEC=C:\COMMAND\COMMAND.COM
SET DIRCMD=/A/O/P/V
SET COPYCMD=/V/-Y
GOTO END
:END
EXIT
When you've finished changing the three files;
Open a DOS Command Prompt window. Type in (Hit ENTER after each command)
The next time you boot you can choose DOS7.10a or Windows 98.
If you are unsure about where to enter any of the above lines in the above files, POST BACK BEFORE YOU MAKE CHANGES. Add the contents of your three files in your post and we'll work it from there.
I went to the link you provided in your #8 post. Not being a subscriber I didn't get very far. However, one thing caught my eye on the first page I could get to;
"Today's?? current versions of Windows (Win95 and Win98, collectively referred to as Win9x) no longer depend upon a DOS foundation."
This misconception still persists. MSDOS6.xx was indeed the last officially released DOS version (from MS) as an O/S.
With the release of Windows95(B,C), FAT32 MSDOS7.x was imbedded, and used to install, load, and operate the 9x O/S's. Try deleting the C:\Windows\Command directory and see how far the O/S boots, let alone runs. So how can it be stated that Win9x O/S's no longer depend upon a DOS foundation.
"Also, Windows' Startup diskette (the diskette you use to start up a PC in an emergency) doesn't really start Windows. It starts DOS."
Hmmmm The foundation of the O/S, used to repair the GUI. Just like Win 3.xx. Which needed MSDOS loaded in order to install and run the GUI.
So don't believe it.
OK, Rant over. I can't help saying something everytime I see a statement like the above. ;>)
