[WriteLog] LPT on 64 bit OS?

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Due to the hardware abstraction layer in "modern" versions of Windows
(Windows 2000 and later), a kernel mode  or "ring 0" driver is required
for memory/port mapped I/O. WriteLog has typically used direct-io but it
is 32 bit driver (Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003) and does
not work with later, 64 bit versions of the operating system (direct-io
will not run under SYSWOW3264 - the 32 to 64 bit emulator - in 64 bit
versions of Windows).

There are alternative 64 bit kernel mode drivers - this one:
    http://www.highrez.co.uk/scripts/download.asp?package=InpOutBinaries
is used by several other loggers and EXTFSK (MMTTY) for parallel port
FSK in 64 bit systems - but WriteLog can not use it.

I have not tried direct-io with Windows 7/32 (my Windows 7 installation
is 64 bit) to see if it still works there.  However, absent support for
a different (new) kernel mode driver that runs on 64 bit versions of
Windows (Vista/64, Windows 7/64, Windows 8/64), Writelog LPT support
is obsolete in 64 bit versions of Windows just as parallel ports have
generally become obsolete on most new hardware.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 5/3/2013 7:53 PM, Dan Karg wrote:
> I don't have this under Win7 however under WINXP I did find that even
> thought the LPT port looked like an normal LPT port to the OS, the real
> hardware address of the port was not at your normal address's 0x378/0x278
> etc. Instead I found my hardware at a much different address (look in
> device manager)
> Once I put the real hardware address into writelog.ini (LPT1=0xDCD8 in my
> case) , and setup a proper port pass thru driver (I use AllowIO) it worked
> like a champ.
> This had me stumbling for quite a while and I had tried a number of
> supposed 'real' LPT ports before figuring this out.
> Again this is under WinXP, not tried under Win7 but might be the same.
>
> Dan K0TI
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, May 3, 2013 at 5:48 PM, Mark Klocksin <mpklocksin at ameritech.net>wrote:
>
>> I think Steve has the right idea.  Parallel ports haven't been seen on new
>> computers in…what…10 years?  It seems time to let the technology go.  (That
>> said, I will try to hang on to serial ports as long as possible because so
>> much of our ham gear needs serial ports.)
>>
>> Back to your issue, I was surprised to see Steve's tale of woe.  My
>> limited experience would tell me an internal card would be recognized by
>> the OS as a legitimate LPT port.  And if that is the case, then Writelog
>> should just issue requests to the OS, which would instruct the card to
>> behave as we want it to.  So I think it should work.
>> And this link says Windows 7 does support LPT ports:
>>
>> http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/parallel-ports-and-windows-7/6b24de6f-6896-439a-8223-e59985907f68
>>
>> I said "limited experience" earlier because I have not used an internal
>> LPT port in a Windows 7 computer.  However, I DO have a PCMCIA dual-port
>> serial card adapter I use in my Windows 7 laptop.  That card works fine--in
>> Windows 7 and also in Windows 8 for that matter.  The OS does indeed see
>> that as two "real" COM ports.
>>
>> Best of luck,
>>
>> 73, Mark WA9IVH
>>
>>
>> On May 3, 2013, at 4:14 PM, VK3TDX at aol.com wrote:
>>
>>> Dave - I spent DAYS trying to get my Win 7 64 bit system to interface
>>   with
>>> a special LPT port card I purchased for my computer for  specifically CW
>>> operation.  Never could get it working even with the tech  supports guys
>> at
>>> the computer shop.  I even have the XP alternate operating  system
>> installed
>>> through Win 7 and still never could do it.
>>>
>>> Since I have 2 serial ports available I just gave up on LPT and just
>> wired
>>> up serial for RTTY and CW interface.  Please post your solution if you
>> find
>>> one.
>>> Thanks and good luck
>>> Steve VK3TDX
>>>
>>>
>>> In a message dated 4/05/2013 3:32:15 A.M. AUS Eastern Standard Time,
>>> k6ll at arrl.net writes:
>>>
>>> Does  Writelog support LPT port functions (specifically A/B focus
>>> and CW keying)  on Windows 7 x 64 Bit?
>>>
>>> I have a desktop computer running Windows 7 x 64  that I want to
>>> start using as my contest computer.  I have one of  these LPT
>>> thingies on  order:
>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815201049
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> Dave  Hachadorian, K6LL
>>> Yuma, Arizona
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> WriteLog at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/writelog
>>> WriteLog  on the web:   http://www.writelog.com/
>>>
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>>
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>>
>
>
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