I have smartcam ver11.5 running on windows98 with a "dongle" (security device) in the parrallel port. I wanted to install the software on a windows xp computer, it looks like the software installed but the computer is not reckanizing the dongle--anybody have any ideas--My only idea is trying to reinstall windows 98 in place of windows xp.

You might try running compatibility mode in XP for that application.
It might become smarter then. How is their product support?

Got an email back pretty fast basically telling me to upgrade the software and contact their sales dept. They said my version of software will not work on XP I really do not want or need to upgrade as long as
I can get the software installed on another PC. Running the software as you suggested doesn't change the hardware for the security device--thanks for the idea

I have an old copy of windows98. I'm going to try to install on a Windowsxp machine. The original pc is still working but it is old and just trying to be pro-active

After sales support is like a vacuum cleaner. It sucks. Gotcha money. Want more.
If the XP PC has a similar port to what the original was operating on, you should still be able to make it work. It is just a bit (no pun intended) harder.
If they can make Mach3 run on XP then the ports are still usable.
Stuff I have written using ports has been upgraded from Win98 even to Vista and it still can be made to work. See some Windows forums for good help.

Try installing dongle drivers from http://www.safenet-inc.com/

I know this is a late post, but smartcam v 11.5 I don't think used a dongle, they use a software code read off your CPU.
if you have to change pcs then you call them up and they will give you the code that matchs your software.

I know there was dongles used in the dos versions back in the early nineties. I thought version 10 or 9 is when they quit using dongles.
I like the dongles much better personally that way when I went home and wanted to work I could just take the dongle with me.

version 11.5 works fine off of xp, it will lock up from time to time unless you turn off a certain perameter in windows language pack on xp.

hopefully in the real near future I am upgrading to freeform ver15+ its suppose to be awsum.

thanks for the replay---the original version I purchase was 10.something, and I just kept upgrading to the final version 11.5 but still need the dongle. I donot want or need to upgrade to the current version--I will probably just install windows 98 on a new computer

thanks for your thoughts