& PC-Bruknet under WFWG
I just though I would share this with Bruker users of WINNMR on PCs who might
be using / thinking of using Windows for Workgroups 3.11.
Problem: When we upgraded to WfWG 3.11 from WfWG 3.1 we started having
problems with printing. Every now and again, whilst printing, Bruker's copy
protection system would fail to detect the parallel port and give a "WI-BU key
not found" message. Although a RETRY after printing had finished allows the
program to continue the output could be messed up. This occured on a whole
range of computers running WINNMR.
Solution: I tried all sorts of things with no success until recently
Microsoft admitted a problem with WfWG 3.11 and provided a solution. I have
copied the whole of their document at the end of this message. Note that
"Solution 1" is the only one to have worked for me.
** ALSO ** Bruker keep telling me that PC-Bruknet will not co-exist with
WfWG. Sorry, but I have been doing it for two years on six different
computers, If anyone needs some tips send me a message and I'll try and
help.
Regards,
Graham Barlow (gkb1@york.ac.uk - more details at end of file)
---------------------------------------------------------
DOCUMENT:Q116111 20-JUN-1994 [W_WFW]
TITLE :Parallel and Printing Problems After Upgrading to WFWG 3.11
PRODUCT :Windows For Workgroups
PROD/VER:3.11
OPER/SYS:WINDOWS
KEYWORDS:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SYMPTOMS
========
Some hardware may have problems with the Virtual Parallel Device (VPD)
used
by Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Symptoms include garbled printing,
hanging
print queues, and the inability to use fax drivers or parallel sound
devices.
Microsoft has received reports of printing problems on Gateway 2000
computers and reports of problems on parallel devices with software that
requires direct access to the parallel ports, such as Logitech Soundman
and
Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet Fax.
WORKAROUND
==========
Method 1:
If you do not use your LPT: port for local printing, you can disable
device-
contention checking by removing the following line from your Windows
SYSTEM.INI file:
DEVICE=*VPD
Disabling VPD does not affect the ability of Windows for Workgroups to
print over the network. However, if you are printing locally from an
MS-DOS-based application at the same time as Windows is trying to access
the parallel port, no warning appears and printouts may have garbled
characters, or you may experience network communication problems.
Method 2:
In Control Panel, choose the 386 Enhanced Mode icon. To turn off VPD
trapping for that port, choose the Never Warn option for the port in
question.
Additional reference words: wfw wfwg win31
=============================================================================
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS
PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO
EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF
MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION
OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES
SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.
+-----------------------===============================================+
| Dr. Graham Barlow | tower or VAX mail: gkb1 |
| NMR Service Manager | JANET mail: gkb1@UK.AC.YORK |
| Dept. of Chemistry | Internet mail: gkb1@york.ac.uk |
| University of York | Telephone: +44 (0)904 432506 DDI |
| Heslington, YORK, UK | FAX: +44 (0)904 432516 |
+-----------------------+==Mime OK ====================================+