[Andlabs]

Hi. I want to get an MD Pro, however the site says its programmer needs an EPP parallel port. I have a Dell Precision M6400 laptop, and I want to be able to use the MD Pro with the laptop's dock. Windows tells me it's ECP, but my BIOS provides the options AT (selected), PS/2, and ECP. When I selected PS/2 after documents suggest that this is EPP, Windows still tells me it's ECP. So:
1) Who is right: the BIOS or Windows?
2) Will I still be able to use the MD Pro programmer?
Thanks.

[shana]

Well, you may never know until you try. I'd trust the BIOS.

[Andlabs]

That's the thing: I don't want to waste $60 on something that won't work. If there really is no way to make sure I'll go ahead and try it.

[emrabt]

Try setting it to EPP, booting up windows, going into device manager and uninstalling the printer port. It should reinstall its self when you reboot and hopefully see itself as EPP.

On a side note, from what I remember from my own experiences, ECP still worked with old printers and scanners, it just made the device 50 times slower.

[Conan Kudo]

In general, if you use Windows 9x, it doesn't really matter too much what Windows reports, just wipe out the driver and have it detect and configure it on reboot.

However, if you are using Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, then it DOES matter, because Windows nearly always ignores the BIOS, in favor of its own information. That can be a problem with stuff like parallel ports...

[Overlord]

As far as I remember, it will NEED to be EPP in BIOS for it to work. I have my Megacart flashcart hooked up to a Windows XP machine elsewhere now (it doesn't work with 7, at least so far with my testing despite having EPP set in BIOS), but on my original XP box it wasn't working at all - rebooted to BIOS, set to EPP, and as soon as Windows booted back up again the transfer software started working (though it takes an average of 3 or so times to actually go the whole way - I blame the fact the software is incredibly sensitive to having it's CPU time interrupted by some other app =P

[Chilly Willy]

One thing I recommend - don't use the "official" MD-Pro software; use ucon64 instead. If you don't like command line apps, they do have a front-end for it on the ucon64 page.

http://ucon64.sourceforge.net/

[Overlord]

That link intregues me, as my flashcart adaptor is an MD-pro/Megacart one. Does that work on Windows 7?

[Andlabs]

In general, if you use Windows 9x, it doesn't really matter too much what Windows reports, just wipe out the driver and have it detect and configure it on reboot.

However, if you are using Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, then it DOES matter, because Windows nearly always ignores the BIOS, in favor of its own information. That can be a problem with stuff like parallel ports...

Okay, I'll trust the BIOS then. So now to get the MD Pro; let's hope for the best!

One thing I recommend - don't use the "official" MD-Pro software; use ucon64 instead. If you don't like command line apps, they do have a front-end for it on the ucon64 page.

http://ucon64.sourceforge.net/

While I prefer the command line to a GUI 90% of the time, I can never remember even the simplest ucon64 syntax, and I usually spend a good five minutes looking up how to do something simple (like smd to bin or z64 to v64 conversion), so I will definitely look into this GUI. Thanks.

[Chilly Willy]

That link intregues me, as my flashcart adaptor is an MD-pro/Megacart one. Does that work on Windows 7?

I imagine it would as long as you had a port driver for W7 that worked. That's the key part that's system specific. Look at which port driver they use, then google for THAT and WIndows 7.

One thing I recommend - don't use the "official" MD-Pro software; use ucon64 instead. If you don't like command line apps, they do have a front-end for it on the ucon64 page.

http://ucon64.sourceforge.net/

While I prefer the command line to a GUI 90% of the time, I can never remember even the simplest ucon64 syntax, and I usually spend a good five minutes looking up how to do something simple (like smd to bin or z64 to v64 conversion), so I will definitely look into this GUI. Thanks.

I use the GUI as well. It's just so much easier that way.

[Andlabs]

Okay, so when I read a ROM it reads a 64 megabit ROM of all $FF. I also tried the Dreamwriter (as per JJ-Fox's suggestion) and none of the four port options worked — they all said that there wasn't a card. Does this mean I'm toast or am I doing something wrong?

[Oerg866]

Okay, so when I read a ROM it reads a 64 megabit ROM of all $FF. I also tried the Dreamwriter (as per JJ-Fox's suggestion) and none of the four port options worked — they all said that there wasn't a card. Does this mean I'm toast or am I doing something wrong?

Try this.

Oh and try EPP+ECP mode if you have an option for that in the BIOS...

That said, I am perfectly using my MDPro on an ASROCK eLiveSATAII or something like that (Can never remember ASROCK board names ) and windows 7...

Now even the stupid question: Did you flick the power switch? =P

[Bibin]

I got an MD Pro. I can't get the writer to work with anything I try. Not Windows 98, not 2000, not XP, not 7, on 5 different computers, ranging from 2006 to 1995.

Stupid rude paralell port.

[mdawgmike]

I've had the MegaCart as my first flash cartridge for quite awhile now without any major problems. I haven't tried the MD Pro software, but I know the MegaCart flasher is retardedly easy to use. It's as simple as hooking up the programmer, firing up the software, setting parallel port mode, selecting your ROM, and flash away! I was actually in the process of selecting a new motherboard around the same time I ordered my MegaCart, and got one of the few new ones with native parallel support for the single purpose of not having any headaches with this ! Gigabyte rocks for continuing to offer this an an option with their boards.

My only suggestion to anyone having issues with the programmer is to make sure you set EPP mode in the BIOS. Windows tends to be clumsy with parallel ports...and, well, just about any networking stuff. I would bank on the BIOS being the correct one of the two if they say different things. Is there any setting in Windows for it possibly?

The only issue I have is that the flashing software that comes with the MegaCart sometimes writes to the BIOS blocks when flashing instead of the ROM area. So...I just have to occasionally re-flash the BIOS and I'm good. No big deal I suppose. Anyone else ever get this?

[Andlabs]

I'm still getting $FF. I also tried dumping Sonic 2, but to no avail. Is there a way I can scan my parallel ports to find out which one to use without manually trying all $FFF ports?

This post has been edited by Andlabs: 05 March 2010 - 07:51 PM