#Help! with SentinelPro
7 messages in this thread
I could use some help!
Out of the blue, my Gateway 2000 486DX266 stopped recognising the SentinelPro
when it is plugged into the parallel port. I am able to print to that port,
from both DOS and Windows, but whenever I launch 3DS – I get a message that the
SentinelPro must be plugged into parallel port. MSD and QAPlus report no
problems with the parallel port or printer.
The dongle works, because I've tested it on my other machine. Even tried
re-installing 3D Studio, to no avail.
Help!!! Anyone have any ideas on what the problem might be?
rw
Bob,
In your 3D Studio manual, it does talk about some faster machines having
potential "unrecognized" dongle messages. Have you tried connecting a printer
to the dongle and turning the printer on? I seem to remember that as a
possible remedy. Otherwise, mail one of the Adesk guys, and they'll get right
back to you.
-Glen
Robert,
<< Dongle Blues.. >>
Download hwlock.txt from the 3D Studio Library section. Also, here is a posting
regarding dongles.
This is a repost from Gus.
>> Also, check that your parallel port is set for bi- directional data
>> flow, as opposed to unidirectional data flow. (A few parallel ports can
>> only SEND data. 3D Studio requires a parallel port to be able to both
>> SEND and RECEIVE data. If your systems CMOS allows different settings,
>> try other settings. The description could be confusing. For example,
>> DELL systems CMOS describes AT mode as uni- directional, and PS/2 mode as
>> bi-directional. )
Sorry for making this even messier than it is but… What makes a parallel
port "enhanced" is exactly the opposite of what is stated above. A "normal"
parallel only sends information in one direction. Out. That's being
"uni-directional". That's what the Sentinel things wants.
Along with the 8 data ports going OUT, you have 4 data ports coming back
in. Those are the status ports such as "Out of Paper", "Printer Busy", etc.
When you use a software that transfers data through the parallel port, such
as LapLink, Parallel -> SCSI adapters, Parallel LAN Adapters, etc. a hack is
done in order to receive data in a "write only" port. Those "status" lines
are used instead. That's, by the way, how the Sentinel reads back its thing.
That's why you cannot use any of the above products with the Sentinel
installed.
Now come the "enhanced" ports. These are ports where the 8 bit data lines
can be used for both read and write operations. Data goes in either direction
and that's what's called "bi-directional" parallel port. The Sentinel dongle
does not like that. Some of the status lines are used differently (for data
flow control for instance) and the Sentinel gets confused when it sees data
coming back from places it "normally" doesn't.
This is the single most common reason for 3D Studio's dongle not working with
newer machines. Newer and faster in this context is redundant. The "fast
machine" has nothing to do with the problem. It is not a timing issue. It's
just that "normally", faster machines are newer and come with these "enhanced"
parallel ports. The great majority of them have an option of disabling this
"enhancement" and leave the parallel port alone. In fact, I don't know of any
machine or adapter that offers "enhanced mode" and does not give you a way of
disabling it.
Thanks for the good ideas –
however – I couldn't get any of the options to work! Since the installation has
functioned before, and I'm not having any printer problems (still LPT1, etc.),
I don't know what to do next. Have tried to reinstall to see if I have some
corrupt file, and have combed through the 3DS.SET file, but to no avail. 🙁
Any other ideas?
TIA
rw
Robert,
Have you downloaded HWLOCK.TXT? It goes through a couple options.
If it used to work, what changed? Did you install any new hardware? A SCSI
card/sound card/printer card/etc… that might have set up a conflict with the
paralell port? Also, have there been any power surges or the like? Your
paralell port could have been damaged somehow. Do you have diagnostic utlities
for the controller card?
-brian
Brian –
Downloaded HWLOCK.TXT and tried those options.
Installed the DPS PAR drive and board and a 16 MB SIMM module, but the
SentinelPro worked after those installations. In fact, all other programs can
print to/use the parallel port. (I can also do DIR > PRN and get dos to print
the current directory). Studio seems to be the ONLY program that does not
realize I have a serial port.
I do have an unusual software combination with Netroom 3.02 memory manager and
Stacker 4, although this has never caused a problem before.
What type of utilities were you thinking of with which I could evaluate my
printer port?
TIA
rw
>> Studio seems to be the ONLY program that does not realize I have a serial
port.
PMJI- I assume you meant parallel port, eh? Have you tried booting clean by
hitting F5 key durring the boot cycle? (DOS 6.0 feature) Then start 3DS and see
if the problem persists.
* If 3DS doesn't fail, there's some something you're loading during boot that's
taking over or conflicting with your LPT port. So, reboot -holding down the F8
key. You'll be prompted Y/N to load items from your Config.sys. Load and test
each item, one by one, until the problem occurs and that's your culprit.
* If 3DS does fail, and if the lock works on another computer, then the port IS
acting flakey. Are you familiar with changing the CMOS settings? If so, you
should try disabling the interrupt for LPT1 (most software/systems don't really
need to use this INT for LPT1.)
NOTE: Don't disable the port, only the interrupt. If that fails to make it
work, perhaps then you should consider purchasing a cheapo parallel port (I
think they cost $20.00 or so) and try that.
Hope this helps,
J-me