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Thread: WTB: laptop computer

  1. #1
    Orange cones fear me. cone-cerned's Avatar
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    Default WTB: laptop computer

    My wife has a program that requires a dongle to work. We are looking for an old laptop that has a parallel port. We have already tried a USB to parallel adapter and it will not work. The program did not see the dongle in the USB port.

    If you don't have one, do you know of some models that we can look for?

    Thanks in advance.

    Doug

    PS: Yes, POS, it has to do with quilting.
    On the track, I am fearless.
    If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.

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  2. #2
    Prefers his T-Bones Deboned... jeff_man's Avatar
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    Default

    Google some more, you may have to jumper some pins to make it work with the usb converter.

  3. #3

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    Can you even get a computer with a parallel port anymore?

    Wife want to know what she got!

  4. #4
    Orange cones fear me. cone-cerned's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by POS Racing View Post
    Can you even get a computer with a parallel port anymore?
    No. That's why we are looking for an old laptop.

    Quote Originally Posted by POS Racing View Post
    Wife want to know what she got!
    She has a second Artista 180 with v3.1 software. You have to have a parallel dongle with v3.1. New v5 software uses a USB dongle, but it cost several times what the second machine cost. We would much rather buy a TCB old laptop than non-TCB new software.
    On the track, I am fearless.
    If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.

    1994 M Edition
    CSP 67

  5. #5
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    I just took three old laptops to my apartment in Marshall. One was a Thinkpad 560 series and the other a 600 series, and the third needs a fan, so it probably wouldn't work. Neither has Windows, both run Debian, but I could reformat the drive for Windows (you pick which version) and bring one back next weekend. Make an offer on either, if interested in antique hardware.
    Mike Walsted - Not an expert, just a data point.
    1999 Miata
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  6. #6

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    Talk to KenO, he can probably figure out the proper pins to jump to get the adapter working.
    Polished Turd Racing

    Mick wrote: "I think Jerrett is the best autocrosser I have ever seen naked."

  7. #7

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    shouldn't have to jumper pins to get it to work. the drivers are what does all the work. Some things just don't work with the adaptor.
    '94 Miata "M Edition" - sold
    '99 Miata w/td05

  8. #8

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    My guess is that the software is hard coded to look for LPT1. A USB to LPT convertor shows up as a USB device on the PC and not as an LPT port.
    M3 is always the answer.

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  11. #11
    Orange cones fear me. cone-cerned's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ken o View Post
    My guess is that the software is hard coded to look for LPT1. A USB to LPT convertor shows up as a USB device on the PC and not as an LPT port.
    This is what our research shows. Must have a real parallel port.

    Quote Originally Posted by ken o View Post
    I read that some will work, some will not. You have to try it to see.

    Quote Originally Posted by POS Racing View Post
    That would work, but SWMBO wants a laptop.

    Thanks guys.
    On the track, I am fearless.
    If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.

    1994 M Edition
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  12. #12
    Orange cones fear me. cone-cerned's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Walsted View Post
    I just took three old laptops to my apartment in Marshall. One was a Thinkpad 560 series and the other a 600 series, and the third needs a fan, so it probably wouldn't work. Neither has Windows, both run Debian, but I could reformat the drive for Windows (you pick which version) and bring one back next weekend. Make an offer on either, if interested in antique hardware.
    Let me do some research and get back to you.
    On the track, I am fearless.
    If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.

    1994 M Edition
    CSP 67

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by cone-cerned View Post
    That would work, but SWMBO wants a laptop.
    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...986&CatId=4947But not as TCB as my first suggestion.

    Didn't see you two at the Ft. Worth Quilt show this afternoon....

  14. #14
    Orange cones fear me. cone-cerned's Avatar
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    If we had been invited to the party, you would have met the four reasons we did not come to the quilt show. We will still have two of them until tomorrow night.

    The computer looks good, I'll show Herself.
    On the track, I am fearless.
    If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.

    1994 M Edition
    CSP 67

  15. #15

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    How about a parallel port from the express card slot or pcmcia slot on the computer?
    05 MX-5 Mazdaspeed #1024 Titanium Gray Mica

  16. #16
    Orange cones fear me. cone-cerned's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Radio-Active View Post
    How about a parallel port from the express card slot or pcmcia slot on the computer?
    From what I read on the related forums, that is a hit or miss. Some combinations will work, some won't. We may have to give that a try, though.

    Thanks,

    de KB5VKJ
    On the track, I am fearless.
    If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.

    1994 M Edition
    CSP 67

  17. #17

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    might have an older Dell latitude with a serial on it.. let me know if you still want one and I can look for it..

  18. #18
    Orange cones fear me. cone-cerned's Avatar
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    Thanks, hellaqwik but I think we have a solution in the works. What we need is both a serial and a parallel port, and I think you are right in that the Dell Latitudes do have both. I will keep you in mind in case what we are working on doesn't pan out.
    On the track, I am fearless.
    If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.

    1994 M Edition
    CSP 67

  19. #19

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    ok.. Like i said its sitting there collecting dust and has both ports.. happy to help out board members and I dont need it LOL

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