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Laptop from Hell — Parallax Forums

Laptop from Hell

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2002-12-19 22:35 in General Discussion
Hi all,

I have been trying to get the editor version 1.33 or 1.33b to work on a
Toshiba 440 CDT laptop. I've tried '95 and '98. I can get the DOS editor to
work fine, but the "identify" command in the v1.33 can loop and feedback,
but doesn't see the device or program it. Any ideas? I thought putting '98
on it would do it. Dang.

Jonathan

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-18 05:31
    You got the cable hooked straight up or through a docking station? My Dell
    worked fine stand-alone, but not with the docking station. Other stuff like
    my Atmel board, Palm and modem work fine with the docking station.

    Have you confirmed the port checks OK in Winders with a modem or some other
    serial device?

    Are you sure not I/R or Palm device com drivers are loaded?

    There can be all sorts of headaches with laptops and serial ports due to I/R
    ports, PCMCIA stuff and power management, especially on a fresh Windows
    install. Sometimes stuff works in DOS, but not in Windows until you get
    things squared away.

    When you say the DOS editor works fine, are you running it from Windows or
    are you booting to DOS?

    First, I would check my CMOS setup to make sure the serial port has a hard
    address such as 02F8, and is not set to auto. This will make Windows mix up
    the port / com address.

    As a side note, all I heard from disgruntled laptop customers at AST was "it
    works on my Toshiba!" Now I can say "It runs on my AST!" (and my Dell)
    <grin>

    Original Message

    > I have been trying to get the editor version 1.33 or 1.33b to work on a
    > Toshiba 440 CDT laptop. I've tried '95 and '98. I can get the DOS editor
    to
    > work fine, but the "identify" command in the v1.33 can loop and feedback,
    > but doesn't see the device or program it. Any ideas? I thought putting '98
    > on it would do it. Dang.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-18 15:33
    I had the same problem also. If you are using a USB-Serial adapter, only
    certain ones work. Parallax suggests the BAFO Technologies adapter, and I
    found an IOGEAR USB to Serial adapter to work. I couldn't get my Belkin
    adapters to work.
    Lee


    Original Message
    From: "Jonathan Peakall" <jpeakall@m...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 11:59 PM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Laptop from Hell


    > Hi all,
    >
    > I have been trying to get the editor version 1.33 or 1.33b to work on a
    > Toshiba 440 CDT laptop. I've tried '95 and '98. I can get the DOS editor
    to
    > work fine, but the "identify" command in the v1.33 can loop and feedback,
    > but doesn't see the device or program it. Any ideas? I thought putting '98
    > on it would do it. Dang.
    >
    > Jonathan
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-18 18:01
    Not using USB, but thanks!

    Original Message
    From: "Lee Mairs" <lmairs@s...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 7:33 AM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Laptop from Hell


    > I had the same problem also. If you are using a USB-Serial adapter, only
    > certain ones work. Parallax suggests the BAFO Technologies adapter, and I
    > found an IOGEAR USB to Serial adapter to work. I couldn't get my Belkin
    > adapters to work.
    > Lee
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: "Jonathan Peakall" <jpeakall@m...>
    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 11:59 PM
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Laptop from Hell
    >
    >
    > > Hi all,
    > >
    > > I have been trying to get the editor version 1.33 or 1.33b to work on a
    > > Toshiba 440 CDT laptop. I've tried '95 and '98. I can get the DOS
    editor
    > to
    > > work fine, but the "identify" command in the v1.33 can loop and
    feedback,
    > > but doesn't see the device or program it. Any ideas? I thought putting
    '98
    > > on it would do it. Dang.
    > >
    > > Jonathan
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-18 18:04
    Rodent,

    Straight through on the cable hook up. I'll dig up another device to test,
    but I think it's somewhere in the port settings. I have removed the IR stuff
    and so on, and tried various port settings in the bios. Boy, this is turning
    into a WinBlows classic.

    Thnaks for the help,

    Jonathan
    Original Message
    From: "Rodent" <daweasel@s...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 9:31 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Laptop from Hell


    > You got the cable hooked straight up or through a docking station? My Dell
    > worked fine stand-alone, but not with the docking station. Other stuff
    like
    > my Atmel board, Palm and modem work fine with the docking station.
    >
    > Have you confirmed the port checks OK in Winders with a modem or some
    other
    > serial device?
    >
    > Are you sure not I/R or Palm device com drivers are loaded?
    >
    > There can be all sorts of headaches with laptops and serial ports due to
    I/R
    > ports, PCMCIA stuff and power management, especially on a fresh Windows
    > install. Sometimes stuff works in DOS, but not in Windows until you get
    > things squared away.
    >
    > When you say the DOS editor works fine, are you running it from Windows or
    > are you booting to DOS?
    >
    > First, I would check my CMOS setup to make sure the serial port has a hard
    > address such as 02F8, and is not set to auto. This will make Windows mix
    up
    > the port / com address.
    >
    > As a side note, all I heard from disgruntled laptop customers at AST was
    "it
    > works on my Toshiba!" Now I can say "It runs on my AST!" (and my Dell)
    > <grin>
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >
    > > I have been trying to get the editor version 1.33 or 1.33b to work on a
    > > Toshiba 440 CDT laptop. I've tried '95 and '98. I can get the DOS
    editor
    > to
    > > work fine, but the "identify" command in the v1.33 can loop and
    feedback,
    > > but doesn't see the device or program it. Any ideas? I thought putting
    '98
    > > on it would do it. Dang.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-18 22:55
    Keep in mind Windows will find the built-in I/R port even if its turned
    off -- so, what you want to do is set the serial port to COM1 or 03F8, and
    the I/R to COM2 or 02F8 in the BIOS. Let Winders detect the I/R port, then
    go in and disable it (don't delete it) in Windows. If you have an internal
    modem you may need to disable it as well.

    Reboot and go into Windows and do this:

    Click START, RUN and type COMMAND, then press ENTER. This will take you to a
    DOS prompt.

    Type DEBUG and press ENTER -- you will see a '-' prompt. Type D0:0400 and
    press ENTER. Make sure you use the number zero and not a letter O. This will
    display the ports as DOS sees them from Windows. The first line will look
    something like this:

    0000:0400 F8 03 00 00 00 00 00 00-78 03 00 00 00 00 80 9F
    ........x.......

    See the F8 03 -- this is COM1 -- it should be in this position. If you had a
    second port set up as COM2, it would have F8 02 in the next two pairs of
    digits. COM3 and COM4 would be after this. Anyhow, if you see something
    other than F8 03 in the first two pairs of digits, Windows has assigned the
    wrong address to COM1, and most likely this is because the BIOS setting for
    COM1 is set to auto.

    Type Q and press ENTER to quit and return to DOS.

    Original Message

    > Straight through on the cable hook up. I'll dig up another device to test,
    > but I think it's somewhere in the port settings. I have removed the IR
    stuff
    > and so on, and tried various port settings in the bios. Boy, this is
    turning
    > into a WinBlows classic.

    > > You got the cable hooked straight up or through a docking station? My
    Dell
    > > worked fine stand-alone, but not with the docking station. Other stuff
    > like
    > > my Atmel board, Palm and modem work fine with the docking station.
    > >
    > > Have you confirmed the port checks OK in Winders with a modem or some
    > other
    > > serial device?
    > >
    > > Are you sure not I/R or Palm device com drivers are loaded?
    > >
    > > There can be all sorts of headaches with laptops and serial ports due to
    > I/R
    > > ports, PCMCIA stuff and power management, especially on a fresh Windows
    > > install. Sometimes stuff works in DOS, but not in Windows until you get
    > > things squared away.
    > >
    > > When you say the DOS editor works fine, are you running it from Windows
    or
    > > are you booting to DOS?
    > >
    > > First, I would check my CMOS setup to make sure the serial port has a
    hard
    > > address such as 02F8, and is not set to auto. This will make Windows mix
    > up
    > > the port / com address.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-19 15:25
    Rodent,

    Smile! The first pair is as you say it should be. Thanks though! Just in
    case, here is the whole line:

    0000:0400 F8 03 F8 02 00 00 00 00-73 03 00 00 00 00 0B 02

    Jonathan

    Original Message
    From: "Rodent" <daweasel@s...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 2:55 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Laptop from Hell


    > Keep in mind Windows will find the built-in I/R port even if its turned
    > off -- so, what you want to do is set the serial port to COM1 or 03F8, and
    > the I/R to COM2 or 02F8 in the BIOS. Let Winders detect the I/R port, then
    > go in and disable it (don't delete it) in Windows. If you have an internal
    > modem you may need to disable it as well.
    >
    > Reboot and go into Windows and do this:
    >
    > Click START, RUN and type COMMAND, then press ENTER. This will take you to
    a
    > DOS prompt.
    >
    > Type DEBUG and press ENTER -- you will see a '-' prompt. Type D0:0400 and
    > press ENTER. Make sure you use the number zero and not a letter O. This
    will
    > display the ports as DOS sees them from Windows. The first line will look
    > something like this:
    >
    > 0000:0400 F8 03 00 00 00 00 00 00-78 03 00 00 00 00 80 9F
    > ........x.......
    >
    > See the F8 03 -- this is COM1 -- it should be in this position. If you had
    a
    > second port set up as COM2, it would have F8 02 in the next two pairs of
    > digits. COM3 and COM4 would be after this. Anyhow, if you see something
    > other than F8 03 in the first two pairs of digits, Windows has assigned
    the
    > wrong address to COM1, and most likely this is because the BIOS setting
    for
    > COM1 is set to auto.
    >
    > Type Q and press ENTER to quit and return to DOS.
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >
    > > Straight through on the cable hook up. I'll dig up another device to
    test,
    > > but I think it's somewhere in the port settings. I have removed the IR
    > stuff
    > > and so on, and tried various port settings in the bios. Boy, this is
    > turning
    > > into a WinBlows classic.
    >
    > > > You got the cable hooked straight up or through a docking station? My
    > Dell
    > > > worked fine stand-alone, but not with the docking station. Other stuff
    > > like
    > > > my Atmel board, Palm and modem work fine with the docking station.
    > > >
    > > > Have you confirmed the port checks OK in Winders with a modem or some
    > > other
    > > > serial device?
    > > >
    > > > Are you sure not I/R or Palm device com drivers are loaded?
    > > >
    > > > There can be all sorts of headaches with laptops and serial ports due
    to
    > > I/R
    > > > ports, PCMCIA stuff and power management, especially on a fresh
    Windows
    > > > install. Sometimes stuff works in DOS, but not in Windows until you
    get
    > > > things squared away.
    > > >
    > > > When you say the DOS editor works fine, are you running it from
    Windows
    > or
    > > > are you booting to DOS?
    > > >
    > > > First, I would check my CMOS setup to make sure the serial port has a
    > hard
    > > > address such as 02F8, and is not set to auto. This will make Windows
    mix
    > > up
    > > > the port / com address.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-12-19 22:35
    OK, so this tells us you have two COM ports and they are most likely set up
    OK. If I remember right, the model of laptop you have is older, but I don't
    think anyone asked -- you do have a 9-pin male connector on the back of the
    laptop labeled serial or 010101, and this is where the programming cable is
    connected, correct? Also, any idea what the second port is? Do you have an
    I/R port?

    Also, are you using a homemade cable or PC board for the Stamp, or are they
    Parallax items?


    In DEVICE MANAGER, under PORTS (COM & LPT), how many devices are listed? Do
    any have a red X or yellow exclamation point?

    Original Message

    > Smile! The first pair is as you say it should be. Thanks though! Just in
    > case, here is the whole line:
    >
    > 0000:0400 F8 03 F8 02 00 00 00 00-73 03 00 00 00 00 0B 02


    > > Keep in mind Windows will find the built-in I/R port even if its turned
    > > off -- so, what you want to do is set the serial port to COM1 or 03F8,
    and
    > > the I/R to COM2 or 02F8 in the BIOS. Let Winders detect the I/R port,
    then
    > > go in and disable it (don't delete it) in Windows. If you have an
    internal
    > > modem you may need to disable it as well.
    > >
    > > Reboot and go into Windows and do this:
    > >
    > > Click START, RUN and type COMMAND, then press ENTER. This will take you
    to
    > a
    > > DOS prompt.
    > >
    > > Type DEBUG and press ENTER -- you will see a '-' prompt. Type D0:0400
    and
    > > press ENTER. Make sure you use the number zero and not a letter O. This
    > will
    > > display the ports as DOS sees them from Windows. The first line will
    look
    > > something like this:
    > >
    > > 0000:0400 F8 03 00 00 00 00 00 00-78 03 00 00 00 00 80 9F
    > > ........x.......
    > >
    > > See the F8 03 -- this is COM1 -- it should be in this position. If you
    had
    > a
    > > second port set up as COM2, it would have F8 02 in the next two pairs of
    > > digits. COM3 and COM4 would be after this. Anyhow, if you see something
    > > other than F8 03 in the first two pairs of digits, Windows has assigned
    > the
    > > wrong address to COM1, and most likely this is because the BIOS setting
    > for
    > > COM1 is set to auto.
    > >
    > > Type Q and press ENTER to quit and return to DOS.
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