Windows Vista and DMX-512 interfaces + software - rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft

Message from discussion Windows Vista and DMX-512 interfaces + software

David McCall

More options May 9, 4:46 pm

Newsgroups: rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft

From: "David McCall" <mccallm...@verizon.net>

Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 20:46:00 GMT

Subject: Re: Windows Vista and DMX-512 interfaces + software

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"Jim Murray" <not.interes...@spam.dev.null> wrote in message

news:mr0Vj.808$DZ6.543@text.news.virginmedia.com...

> Tomi Holger Engdahl wrote:
>> I have eariler used DMXcontrol software ( http://www.dmxcontrol.de/)
>> and kristofnys parallel port to DMX-512 adapter (
>> http://www.epanorama.net/dmx512pp/index.html ) running on Windows 98 and
>> Windows 2000 PCs.
>> this has worked as expected.

>> Now when the old PC running that Windows 2000 has been replaced with a
>> new PC that runs Windows Vista and does not have a parallel port, the
>> question is what is the best software and hardware
>> combination to get it to control DMX-512 equipment. Prefereably
>> free/cheap designs.

> You will truly struggle to find ANY DMS software/dongle with Vista
> support. Vista's driver model is totally different to 2k and XP, requiring
> almost a total rewrite of some drivers to get them to work reliably with
> Vista.

Good point.
It is questionable that he would have Vista drivers for the interface.
I just briefly tried the software and it looked like that part would work.

> Add to that the general instability of Vista in use and it is not
> something I would want to be using in any kind of critical application at
> all.

> Load a copy of XP onto the machine and pop out to the local PC shop where
> you should be able to pick up a parallel port card for not much money.
> They are easy to install (shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes) and you
> should then be able to use your existing hardware/software on the new
> machine.

> Jim.

I wonder how easy it is to get XP drivers
for a new machine that was designed with Vista.
It would be about as much fun as building a computer from scratch.
I use to build all of my own computers and upgrade them as time went by.
After building a couple dozen computer I found it to be a real pain in the
ass.
Now I pretty much buy stock machines with a recover disk that will
return the machine to "like new". It works for me
because I don't really want to be a computer expert.

There are still a few XP machines out there
Microcenter has been advertizing son refurbished machine
as have Geeks.
Here are a couple examples.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=VM460-UD4500P-DT&cat=SYS

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=02...

David

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