My Diacom won't connect with my Compaq Lte5300.
I'm using Diacom version 2.85

It does connect with my old SX-33 mhz laptop.

Does anybody have the patch from Diacom to fix this???
Can SOMEBODY email the patch to me, PLEASE????

My battery is only good for about 10 minutes of use on my old laptop.
I need to fix Diacomor get a lonnnggg extension cord. :(

 

Just to double check...you are rebooting to dos? Not a dos window inside of win? And what ver. of windows?

 

why dont you pick up a pwer invertor to plug your laptop into in the car? I got one from bestbuy for $40 and it can power up to a 25 inch TV!! :yesnod:

 

I'm running in DOS mode.

I did it just like the Diacom instructions said.
Started with Win 95.
RESTARTED in DOS mode.

It connected once last night but while I was watching the TPS voltage and % change with throttle position it lost connection.
Wouldn't connect back up.
It looks like it's right on the verge of working but just can't make/keep the connection through the parallel port.

It connects every time with my old pos 33 mhz laptop.
But I want to use it with my old pos 133 mhz laptop. :(

I have tried the /N and the /F command line switches. No joy.

Someone on another post said they called Diacom and received a patch for the program that fixes this.

I bought this from a member off the forum here a couple years ago so I am NOT the registered owner.

It's Diacom Version 2.85 btw.

Anybody have that patch they can email me?

 

ttt

 

Jim,
I got a newer version (2.87) from Ed at Rinda Technologies and it still won't communicate. I also have a Compaq. I believe it is in the way the port is configured. Which is not configurable on mine. I am thinking about buying a PCMCIA card with a bi-directional parallel port. I believe the handshaking protocol is different and thats why it wont work. I know you emailed me looking for a copy of the patch and I'm sorry that I didn't send you a copy. I figured it wouldn't work for you either. The newer version wouldn't even turn on my fans in diagnostic mode.
John :confused:

 

John,


I talked to Bogdon at Rinda and he gave me the heads up on this problem.
At least for my Compaq LTE5300.

The deal is you CANNOT use the instructions supplied by Rinda to get into DOS mode.
(They advocate starting windows and then RESTARTING in DOS mode)
THIS WILL NOT WORK.
The trick is to Press F8 (I think) during the boot procedure.
This will show a menu when you can select starting in DOS mode.

THey didn't tell me this but since I am a software engineer (and know a little about hardware and OSs), here's is what happens if you don't do this:

Diacom must communicate DIRECTLY with the parallel port.
When you start Windows and allow it to come up the OS goes thru what is called 'HAL'. That's the Hardware Abstractiob Layer where it looks at all the equipment that is installed on the machine.
There is a procedure in the OS 'kernel' that is invoked that calls for the intercept of calls to the individual ports on the machine by the OS.
Once Windows is started these intercepts are made and cannot be changed.
So, when you 'shell out' to DOS mode from WIndows the Parallel Port communications is STILL routed through the Windows OS. This effectively stops Diacom from working.

So, the solution (at least for me) is to press the F8 key during boot up and have the OS selection menu pop up where you can go DIRECTLY to DOS.
This circumvents Windows from intercepting communication calls through the Parallel port and VOILA, Diacom will work.

Try it and I hope it works for you as well as any of you others out there having this problem

 

Is this for the 91?

If so do you have the TPI specific ODBI connector?

 

Diacom comes with a 'TPI" specific cable adapter.
It is for the 86 to 89 Vettes.
It's the one I use on my buddies 87 Vert.

I have used it for the 91 and it 'has' worked in the past.
Sometimes it seems a little temperamental.
The "GM 82 Up" cable is the one that is supposed to be used on the 90-91 Vette. It is the one I used last week.
There is another cable adapter that Diacom supplies that has a couple 'gator clips to connect to the ALDL.

I didn't have any problems with my old "DOS" laptop.

Diacom was responsive to the problem and customer service was good.

 

Diacom 2.87 is latest version and has been for years. People at Rinda did not develop program and know very little about it. It was written for slow speed processor DOS applications. It has trouble with high processor speed Windows PC's The ALDL serial port data rate is VERY slow by comparison. I have mine hooked up to a 90 using a 12mhz!!!! Toshiba laptop. The program gives me false timing readings. The relative timing reading plus the assumed 6 degree static advance never matches the total advance. When I mean its off I mean its off by up to 10 degrees or more. Every time I hook it up it sets an ESC error that isn't there without the Diacom. I've called Rinda several times and have been blown off. No one there knows anything about the program. FWIW.
Larry