[ifttinker]

Has anyone tried running Mach3 on the new Windows Vista? Just purchased a new laptop (with Vista installed) and cannot run the driver test. Computer shuts down complaining some one tried to write to read only. Will it work or do I take it back?

Tks

[ger21]

Yes it will work. Instructions here. http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php?board=58.0

[ifttinker]

Thanks, got download and will try it this evening. Reading replys brought up another question. Will Mach3 or the mill work from a parallel port extended from the USB port?? It's at home so naturally I don't have any model or numbers.

Tks
Rich

[ger21]

Will Mach3 or the mill work from a parallel port extended from the USB port?? It's at home so naturally I don't have any model or numbers.

Tks
Rich

No

[ifttinker]

Thanks, Gerry. Looks like I take it back anyway. Will keep trying.

Tks
Rich

[NC Cams]

Before the "but mine works" comments start, the GENERAL and common experience "consesus" seems to be that you do NOT want to use a laptop for Mach for the following reason(s):

1. The built in power management of a laptop can kick in and this can cause inordinate grief as in crashes when the O/S stops processing data to save precious battery power. Unless this can be deactivated, bizarre things can/will happen.

2. The LPT ports on some laptops are low voltage/low power and the Mach interface works more reliably with true 5vdc digital signals - this is a real common bugaboo with laptops and external machine control interfacing, especially when driving RF noisey steppers.

3. USB to LPT conversions are fine for printing a page of data (ala what a printer is doing) but when you are machine controlling, you want/need REAL TIME processing and/or data transfer. The extra conversion from/to the port via USB/LPT translation can get flakey or not work at all. Yes it has been done and yes, it has also NOT been accomplised after extensive effort. How lucky do you feel and how skilled are you at computer interfacing????

When you're controlling a machine that can hurt people if you lose control of it, sometimes it is better to use what is proven to work instead of trying to reinvent a wheel that shouldn't be used that way.

I wish I had a dollar for each time the "can I use MACH with a laptop?" question were posed and already answered on the 'Zone.... Perhaps the search engine must have quit working (he said, TIC).

[ifttinker]

Thank you, that is the answer I was looking for!!!! I am up and running off a desktop, and running well(I think), but the monitor got well splattered the first time I lit the mill off. I will move the monitor and take the laptop back.

Again, thanks
Rich