Roland plotter cutting random numbers

[Pat Whatley]

I'm trying to install an old PNC-1000a on a computer running Windows 7 and Flexisign 8. We're connecting through the USB to PARALLEL connector we used on a Windows XP computer with no trouble.

On the new computer, though, when we send a job to the plotter it starts cutting a row of random numbers along the bottom of the vinyl.

This happened years ago and we found a solution for it but I can't remember what it is and Roland isn't helping with a plotter this old.

Anybody got any ideas?

 

[OldPaint]

i think you need to find a computer with 95 or 98 on it. and you might be getting a communication problem via USB. these old plotters wont work with all that new fangled stuff. or try working it outa corel.........with the roland/corel driver. that HPGL hasnt changed from WIN 3 to WIN 7.

 

[J Hill Designs]

PNC-1000 on windows XP no problem using omega 1.56

maybe yeah check if you are set to GPGL instead of HPGL - and you might need to hit rotate before setup on the plotter for it to work right in flexi

 

[Pat Whatley]

i think you need to find a computer with 95 or 98 on it. and you might be getting a communication problem via USB. these old plotters wont work with all that new fangled stuff. or try working it outa corel.........with the roland/corel driver. that HPGL hasnt changed from WIN 3 to WIN 7.

It's been working fine with the USB for years. Did they change something with USB ports in Windows 7?

 

[petesign]

We could set up a lottery on here, and use those random numbers... as long as it isnt ruining your jobs, hey... bonus

*as far as windows 7 and usb, I think there are some differences. I have computers that I can not boot with certain devices plugged into the usb port. I have to wait until windows is done and then plug it in, and they booted fine before I upgraded from XP.

 

[Pat Whatley]

Tried disconnecting, rebooting and reconnecting....no dice. Thanks though.

Any other thoughts?

 

[OldPaint]

i had a pnc-1000. worked fine on 95/98. when i went to XP, the window would show an error message........but it still worked properly. but then like i said i was cutting direct from corel and set the plotter up connected to the LPT-1 printer port.

 

[Signs 365]

Job id number in flexi?

Or maybe some strange buffer issue on the plotter?

I'm taking shots in the air here. I've never worked with flexi.

 

[round man]

It may very well be the type pf lpt port windows is loading for the adapter,...if I am not mistaken way back when we had to spec the type of lpt port used in bios to correct this issue when the standards changed just about the turn of the century(2000) there was a port setting for lpt ports in bios for most machines and we had to use a legacy port type to circumvent the issues with the older plotters that used parallel (lpt printer) ports

edited to add ,...I think the type port you had to use was ecp(extended capabilities port) so that the plotter could handshake with the host computer,....

 

[DigitalSolutions]

have you tried changing your compatibility mode for the program?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html