virtualbox.org

I set the baud rate as recommended in Sign Tools. 9600, no parity, 1 stop bit, hardware control. I set it on both the cutter and the port.

As for configuring the LPT port? I followed the instructions. applied the changes to the HOST root. If you recall I initially couldn't get to the correct root as was evidenced by the virtualbox designator which indicated the first try (which was unsuccessful) was in the root of the GUEST. Once I got the correct (--) added to the LPT designation in the root directory of the HOST - it seemed the commands worked since I didn't get any error messages.

Sign Tools specified 232-C. they reiterated that if that particular cable was not used, then it wouldn't send the commands. apparently there is a difference in cables, although I agree with you - it would seem that if the connections were OK, the cable should work. It would seem now that - similar to a blackberry phone charger - even though the cable may look the same as another cable - the pins are in fact configured differently.

Not all micro USB cables work. I ran into that issue with my hubby's camera. He lost his cable and in my search to locate another one - it was a micro USB but designated by U-8. A USB cable made specifically for his camera. A standard micro USB wouldn't work. Too many mfgs trying to protect their own little markets by making something unique. Good for them - sucks for us.

I have another serial cable on order. guess I'll wait for that one. meanwhile I plan to hook up the old computer and see if the parallel connection will work (as it used to) using my old Software that started this whole mess in the first place.

I did change the LPT port from an ECC port to a standard port before I gave up last night. I don't know if that will make a difference.........It's an old cutter and old software (vintage 2002) I have to do some reading on printer designations. RAW vs other. another area I'm not clear on.

The one thing I did notice was that when I would send a cut command to the cutter - it would show processing (sending, cutting) etc - but nothing would happen on the cutter. That would indicate it is sending, but the cutter is NOT receiving.
-susie

The applicable standard for serial ports has been misnamed RS232C for as long as I've been doing it, which is a long time - so there's no need to emphasize the 'C' [*]. The official standard designates two kinds of equipment that uses serial: data terminal equipment (DTE), e.g. your PC, and data communicatons equipment (DCE), originally modems, but you can think of it as a master end and a slave end. These two types use complementary pinouts so that a straight through cable can connect the two (connect pin1 to pin1, pin2 to pin2 etc). If however you wanted to connect PC to PC (DTE to DTE) then you would need a cross-over cable. Since your plotter (cutter) is clearly slave equipment I would be quite confident that it has a female 9 pin serial connector and that you use a straight through cable to connect this to a PC. Straight through cables have opposite gender connectors at the two ends, and if that's what you have then IMHO it is almost certainly the correct cable.

USB has nothing really in common with RS232, USB is more like a networking protocol over balanced pair wires (half duplex), and connector standards are much less mature. An entirely different era in technology. It would be a mistake to draw naive comparisons.

avatrx wrote:The one thing I did notice was that when I would send a cut command to the cutter - it would show processing (sending, cutting) etc - but nothing would happen on the cutter. That would indicate it is sending, but the cutter is NOT receiving.

Is this with serial or the parallel? Anyway it sounds like it is receiving garbled commands.

ps. I am uncomfortably aware that we have deviated from the OPs topic. If you want to continue discussing serial ports then perhaps you should start a new topic.

[*] Edit: I just checked, and the RS232C standard was published in 1969. So, it's safe to say that it's no longer considered novel...

AS for USB, I could only wish this cutter had a USB connection. It has a female 25 pin receptacle serial port. The OUT on my PC is male. That is the extent of my knowledge on serial ports. based on your info - the cable should be fine. Actually it has a USB connection, which I'm told is basically useless and is NOT used for communication. I can't verify that. I tried it and it didn't work. It also has a parallel port which is what I've always used in the past. I've been told the serial port, which I've never used but have been told, is probably the best port to use -- I'm trying and not having any success. so far. using COM1. I vaguely remember com ports conflicting with other things but don't know how to check that.

As much as I would like to learn more about VBox, I'll have to save that for a later time. Yes, you're correct - I seem to have changed this topic on the use of VBox to that of printer ports.

Thank you again for all of your assistance. If I choose to pursue this on this forum, I'll start a thread on printers using VBox.

-susie

A 25-pin connector is quite old fashioned, it raises a doubt that the makers had PC users convenience in mind, which is odd in something young enough to have a USB port (probably for firmware updates or prepared tasks). However it remains true that a female connector typically means DCE, so I expect all it needs is a 25pin to 9pin adapter... I'm looking at a molded plastic one right now. And a standard straight-through serial cable of course. If the serial cable you have is labelled as straight through (or DTE-DCE) then it's probably ok.

A 25-pin connector is quite old fashioned,

I told ya it was OLD

back in those days, most people did their graphics work on MAC computers. maybe that's it? I've never used a MAC so I can't speak to that. I really couldn't understand why the USB printer port was there if it couldn't be used. Maybe the company gets paid on a 'per call' basis. That would encourage lots of calls.

Would you suggest that rather than use the DB9 to DB25, that an adapter would be a better choice? I know NOTHING about this, so don't be too hard on me if I come across as an idiot. I have no idea how this cable is labelled. I relied on the computer guy. It's a used cable with no marking that I can find.

BUT - on the positive side - I fired up the WIN7 computer after having cleaned and defragged. Checked to make sure the printer port did not have any conflicts (I had changed it from ECP to a Standard port before doing that). The Corel Sign Tools software once again works. Too early in the day to celebrate with a marguerita, so I guess coffee will have to suffice.

I really want to figure out this whole thing at some point, but for now - I'm going to concentrate on getting my jobs cut out. Once works stops again (which it no-doubt will) I'll have an opportunity to work with VBox again. I did set a manual restore point of "vinyl software is working" - so as long as WIN7 lets me keep that restore point - I can at least go back to that.

On the topic of VBox - it seems like there is still alot of disk space taken up by that even though I did an uninstall. Is there a good way to remove the remnants of VBox and software contained within - without having to go piece-by-piece thru the registry? I checked the filed extension VBI and there were many entries.

-susie

avatrx wrote:Would you suggest that rather than use the DB9 to DB25, that an adapter would be a better choice?

No, I'm not suggesting that. Your special cable should amount to the same thing, I just prefer to use standard, easily obtained cables when possible, which means I personally prefer to adapt the "unusual" connector.

avatrx wrote:On the topic of VBox - it seems like there is still alot of disk space taken up by that even though I did an uninstall. Is there a good way to remove the remnants of VBox and software contained within - without having to go piece-by-piece thru the registry? I checked the filed extension VBI and there were many entries.

Uninstalling VirtualBox does not delete the VMs, in the same way that uninstalling Office does not delete your Word and Excel documents. I imagine you'd be rather upset if it did...

Anyhoo... you can delete the files yourself: find the <userdoc>\.VirtualBox and <userdoc>\"VirtualBox VMs" folders and delete them entirely, and empty the recycle bin.

Thanks. I do that. I have a program on my OTHER computer that does a complete uninstall of the software but leaves the files if you choose that option. takes a while but is extremely thorough. I just don't know if it works in 7

-susie

Also share the log file when you get error on printer.

Anshul Makkar

Where would I find the log file? I'd be happy to post.

wanted to post that I received my serial cable from EBAY today. installed it and it works great!

Question: I plan to reinstall XP pro on Vbox providing someone can assure me that the VBox software will allow me to access the serial port? I believe I saw in the install that it has provisions for that?

YAY! the cable works. now to get VBox up and running again (hopefully).

-susie

I'm setting up a new virtual machine. on the 'serial port' tab - it is asking for a PATH. Can someone tell me how I set that up to access my serial port?

thanks,
-ss

COM1: ?

See section 3.9 in your VirtualBox users guide.

I remind you that this thread was set up to discuss the OPs problem. Now that you have departed from the OPs problem please start another thread if you wish to ask more questions.

thank you. yes I will look thru the already posted topics and if I can't find a solution I'll will post a new thread.