Old Ipac encoder and XP

[3NF]

I acquired an IPAC encoder about a year ago from a friend and didn't have any problems programming it then with Windows 98.  Since then, I've built a new cabinet and would like to use the same encoder.  However, I'm now using Windows XP and whenever I try to program the encoder from the DOS utility, I get a timeout error?  (The unit is connected to the PS/2 port).  Does that DOS utility not work in Windows XP for an IPAC encoder connected to a PS/2 port?

TIA

[SirPoonga]

right, it;s how winxp locks the keyboard to read only.

You will need to make a win98 boot disk with the ipacutil on it.

[Howard_Casto]

You can also use the new winipac utility, but only in ps2 mode and for most it's very sketchy support on the older encoders.  

[SirPoonga]

You can also use the new winipac utility, but only in ps2 mode and for most it's very sketchy support on the older encoders.  

No, he can't if it was purchased before August 15, 2002.  Which he did.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah he can... mine was purchased WAY before august 15 2002 and it works on it.  Your a bit confused usb mode programming is only supported on ipacs made after august 15 not the entire utility.  

[Tiger-Heli]

Yeah he can... mine was purchased WAY before august 15 2002 and it works on it.  Your a bit confused usb mode programming is only supported on ipacs made after august 15 not the entire utility.  

Howard is right!  (Did I say that? j/k)  Actually, the correct answer is PS/2 mode MAY work on older boards.  Quoting from http://www.ultimarc.com/winipac.html

***

IMPORTANT NOTE PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS BEFORE USING THIS SOFTWARE:

The development of this software was complicated by two restrictions that Microsoft placed on Windows XP/2000. One well-known problem is that no direct I/O port access is allowed under these OS'es. The second (less well-known) restriction is that these OS'es lock input devices such as keyboard/mouse for READ access only. Finding a way around this in USB mode without deviating from the I-PAC design principle that the board should appear as a keyboard to the OS has proved difficult! Many thanks are due to the author, Scott at Cybertech Design for sticking with this until we found a resolution!
To overcome the above problem we had to change the protocol that the I-PAC uses to receive code data from the PC. This means that if you are connected using USB, this program will only work on boards shipped after August 1 2002.
For boards shipped before this date, USB mode will not work. If you are connected via the PS/2 keyboard interface, boards shipped before Aug 1 2002 MAY work but there are some complex I-PAC and PC issues which may prevent operation. This software is fully supported with either connection method and all Windows versions for boards shipped after Aug 1 2002. If any problems are found please email us.

***

In any case, it can't hurt to try the Winipac utility!  (And if it doesn't work, e-mail Andy, and he may be able to "upgrade" your board for a reasonable fee.  Actually a new I-PAC is still pretty reasonable, but . . .)

[3NF]

Thanks all for your feedback

I did read the information on the ultimarc site and did try that new GUI program.  Unfortunately, I get the same timeout error.  I'll try booting from a floopy and running the util that way and see what happens.

thanks again

[Tiger-Heli]

Thanks all for your feedback

I did read the information on the ultimarc site and did try that new GUI program.  Unfortunately, I get the same timeout error.  I'll try booting from a floopy and running the util that way and see what happens.

thanks again

Also try increasing the time delay inside the Winipac program and see if that helps

[Bursar]

I had no end of problems getting the new software to work with my new IPAC under Win2K (the OS I'll be running on the PC in my cab).

I had a whole stream of email conversations with Andy, and we still didn't really get to the bottom of it.

My IPAC is kind of working at the mo, but when I hook up the sticks and buttons for a full 4 player control panel, I think I'm gonna have to do it via a Windows 98 PC.

[3NF]

right, it;s how winxp locks the keyboard to read only.

You will need to make a win98 boot disk with the ipacutil on it.

Alright, I accomplished booting from a boot disk (after about 10 tries - kept getting System Disc Error, but at any rate it finally booted from the boot disk).  I then ran ipacutil.exe and the GUI came up.  However, there is now mouse curson!!  I did Alt-P, and sure enough the programming worked, no time out errors.  

But how am I going to program the individual keys if I don't see a mouse cursor .  Maybe I should just by a new IPAC

[SirPoonga]

you need a dos mouse driver, there are some in the downloads section of arcadecontrols.com

[Howard_Casto]

Actually the easiet way to do it is program it in windows... save the configuration file and then reboot in dos and run batch mode and point to that config file.  

Btw for the winipac util this is what i had to do....

#1 make it slower on the timing

#2 The ipac has to be plugged in on power on and after you program once it will give you timeout errors unitl you restart.  As I said, it works with the older boards it's just flaky.  

[3NF]

Well, I added the mouse driver to the boot disk and had no luck there.  I issued the command "mouse.exe noini dual" and only 1/2 of what I expected happened.

When I ran IPAC util after this, the GUi would display with a mouse cursor.  However, after moving the mouse around, nothing would happen  The cursor was not accessible or movable

At any rate, I did not have any problems programming the ipac when I was using win98, now unfortunately, I can't program anything

Maybe I would have more luck progamming with the windows tool?  However, my keyboard is not connected to a USB port and additionally, I can't find any adapter like the one ultimarc sells (Female PS/2 to Male USB)

[Howard_Casto]

Read my post above.... do the setup in windows and save the cnfiguration file....
then make a boot disc and run ipacutil in batch mode from your dos boot and point it to the file you mame in xp... in batch mode the gui isn't even displayed so mouse drivers aren't necessary.  The ipac instructions explain the commands for batch mode better than i could so go over to the homepage... it's really quite simple.  

[3NF]

Thanks, I finally got the thing working.  I just booted into DOS and just programmed it using the keyboard and not the mouse