Windows XP and older hardware????

[mikeyd]

Having trouble with some older hardware in XP. I have a parallel port scanner that I can't get to work. Does anyone know of anyway to get this type of device working?? Also I have an old Sharp digital camera that connects to a serial port that I also can't get to work. The software installed for both, but it won't recognize either.
Any comments would be appreciated..

Thanks.
Mikeyd

 

[mikeyd]

Does anyone have any ideas?????

 

[stingray2]

have you tired to go to the hardware/software manafactures web sites? I had many problems even finding a scanner that would work with Win2k (same as WinXP).. not all do, infact most do not work with XP. but if the guys who made the scanner software have a web page, and on that page they have an update version of the software (that works with your scanner) that works with Win2k, then it should work with WinXP. other then that, you are out of luck. you will have to either buy another scanner, or install both Win98 (i am assuming that is what you had before) and WinXP on your computer.. and when you want to use your scanner and camera you will have to boot to Win98.. all this applies to your camera software as well...
sorry for the bad news. but WinXP is much more strick on hardware then Win98 ever was, and most of the add on stuff was designed for Win98, because it was the 'HOME' OS of choice.. as compared to WinNT (win2k, winXp) which are 'OFFICE' OS's.. and not too many office workers using WinNT need to connect cameras or printers to their computers.. printers are almost always networked.. and they work with WinNT (win2k, winXp)...

 

[ckbone]

You do realize there is a compatability mode for installing older programs? Right-click on the setup file, click the compatability tab, then try the install in the Win98 mode, if you know it worked with Win98. This technique has worked well for me several times. Also if you can find a w2k version of a driver or prog, it will usually work.

 

[mikeyd]

Tried using win2k compat. mode on the setup file I downloaded off of mustek's site for the scanner. It gave me the same error - cannot run in other than win2k.