[The Borg]

Greetings.

I am having problems using QBasic's [remember those times :-)] OUT function. There is no output on my parallel port (LPT1). I'm running Windows XP and I tried the same thing on Windows 95 and it worked.

Any Suggestions?

Any help you can provide on this issue is appreciated.

[mrdinkel]

The best way to explain this, from what i can put together, is that windows 95 allowed real-mode access to hardware, meaning that it would let software have direct access to your hardware, bypassing OS and going through the kernel.

Windows XP, in the footsteps of NT, 98, ME and 2000, uses protected-mode drivers, which basically means that software has to address the Shell and the Kernel, and does not talk directly to the hardware. QBASIC would have had to have provisions to go through the print spooler in XP.

Basically, 95 is like a kid unsupervised turning the stove on(he has direct access to the stove). NT, 98(se), ME,2000 and XP, however, is like a parent saying, "Are you sure you want to turn on the stove? You could get burnt. "

Hope this explains roughly how it works. If not, then I'll try to explain it better

[The Borg]

I understand what you're saying... but how can I counter it?
Some driver, file or Registry Setting?

[Moses08]

By learning C++!

[mrdinkel]

Pretty much... or rewrite qbasic for XP

[The Borg]

Well, nothing that drastic it seems. I've found a far better solution:

>>> http://www.mattjustice.com/parport/par_nt.html <<<

Still have to test it a bit but it should work for now. Thanks anyway.