help with new laser cutter

[shellglen69]

i have just set up my new laser cutter and installed a parallel port to pc but when i try to engrave there is no controll panel available and the engrave button is shaded out can i download drivers for the rabbbit 40a from anywhere as i dont seem to have any with my set up i only have the newly draw disc and dongle. can someone please help me with this as i have been trying all day.
laser, pump, software all installed ok cannot find the problem software comes on etc, just cannot send info to laser.

thank
michelle

[StarLoc]

What version of windows are you using,
you need to use certain types or it cant access the parralel port, i think we use XE , i think i was told it was to be windows 98 or xe , vista will not work, i could not get another windows to work it could have been windows ME (did them make a windows ME?), it was something like that , it wouldnt access the paralel port either, only 98 or XE

the other thing, you need to click on what you want to cut before you try and cut it wont automaticaly cut the whole lot unless you select the area of objects to be cut that is on the screen

[shellglen69]

thank you for the quick response i am using windows vista so i take it i need to use an older version of windows. i can move the arm things on the machine from the newly draw software so a connection is there. i am usuall quite good with computers and machines i own lots of different plotters etc but this is like something from mars i just cannot figure it out.
im not sure if we still have a pc in the house with windows 98. i just put a new parallel card in my vista comp today and had to cut away loads of the brackets and housing, this laser is costing me a fortune in computer bits by the looks of it.
anyway thanks for the info on the windows systems if all else fails i will have to buy a new win 98 computer system.
hugs
Michelle.

[Huahahahahaha]

just using XP.
it's ok

[shellglen69]

i think it is a driver issue i dont think they sent me the control panel drivers i will email hpc today and ask them for help directly.
or maybe the machine is a dud that would be just my luck.
hugs
michelle

[grzegorz1965]

Try to change Parallel Port Mode(SPP/ECP) in BIOS
But I think it could be Vista problem

[shellglen69]

i will try changing the bios and will let you now if it works.
just waiting for laser supplier to get back to me too. i'll probably having working before i hear from them
thanks for the info
hugs
michelle

[StarLoc]

I asked hpc before i bought it as i hoped it would work on my vista pc, it needed xp or 98 , the day he was delivering it for me i went to comet and got a new computer, the cheapest one i could find, i had to wipe windows from it and install xp , it works fine, i have tried on my other operating system computers and it will not work without the old operating system

[shellglen69]

i have spoken to chris at hpc today and he said it should work on vista i will try it on my sons pc as that is running xp. thanks for the info. hope this does the trick.
hugs
michelle