windows took over my parallel port

[scaryjeff]

Hi

As part of a university module, we are developing systems using the 6502 microprocessor, and for the testing out of software for the systems, we use ROM emulators which plug into the PC parallel port and the ROM socket on the 6502 board. This emulator works fine in DOS, but when I try and upload a binary to it in windows 2k, nothing happens, and a minute or two later, I get a message (from windows) telling me that there was a problem printing my document. So I uninstalled my printer, and it still doesn't do anything, only now there is no 'failed to print' message. Can anybody think of a way to stop windows thinking it is in charge of my printer port?

Thanks

 

[DaveSimmons]

Boot to DOS with a diskette or bootable CD. www.bootdisk.com and search "boot" in Software forum (current and archived threads).

Windows 2K / XP control all hardware, you'd need to write a device driver to get low-level port access, though I vaguely recall Windows Dev Journal discussing hacks for also using a normal (WIndows) C++ app.

 

[scaryjeff]

OK thanks. I already tried booting into DOS, and it does work properly having done this. I just don't see why it is impossible to write a byte of your choice to the parallel port (which the software for the emulator is doing) in windows

 

[DaveSimmons]

I just don't see why it is impossible to write a byte of your choice to the parallel port

because modern operating systems don't let arbitrary applications write directly to the hardware under their control.

Why? take an OS class , but some reasons are security, stability, and hardware abstraction.

 

[scaryjeff]

OK, so is there such a thing as a universal parallel port driver? A driver that lets you use the port as if windows wasn't there... somehow? This is almost as annoying as when windows tells you 'sorry, you can't delete that file', or 'sorry, microsoft won't let you end that process'

 

[DaveSimmons]

Or "sorry, you can't use a normal login and just give yourself admin rights 'cuz you really want them"

Like I said above, WDJ had a parallel-port article of some sort a couple of years back, if you have the WDJ CD you can search. Or check www.wd-mag.com it might be archived.

Other than that, google. Unfortunately sample code you find might require you to have the Device Driver Kit tools from MSDN. I do application development not drivers, so I've never looked into it.

 

[scaryjeff]

Thankyou for the help