Quick background: I'm setting up a new Windows 8.1 (64 bit) system for a client who has an old HP LaserJet 4 that's still doing excellent work. The new computer doesn't have a parallel port, so I purchased Lava single Parallel port PCIe card. I've confirmed the card works by getting it to run on a different computer under Linux:
Code:
[root@testing ~] modprobe parport_pc io=0xcc00 irq=10
[root@testing ~] modprobe lp
[root@testing ~] dmesg | tail
parport0: PC-style at 0xcc00, irq 10 [PCSPP,EPP]
parport0: Printer, Brother HL-1250 series
lp0: using parport0 (interrupt-driven).
When I attempt to install the card on the Windows 8.1 computer, the Device Manager finds the card and says it needs drivers. I start a manual setup process and point it to the root of the directory where I've extracted the Lava_2014_07_15.zip file. Windows the says "The system cannot find the path specified."
The card's properties match the following description in PCIePorts_CC.inf:
%PCIe.ParallelPort%=LptCard,PCI\VEN_1407&DEV_A000&SUBSYS_2000A000&REV_00
That INF file contains references to StnPPort.sys and PCIePorts.dll. A search of the file system turned up the PCIePorts.dll, which appears to be a Microsoft file because its Properties tab incluides a Microsoft copyright statement. The StnPPort.sys file is not found on the system.
Following a tip from a web search, I tired staging the driver:
Code:
cd C:\Users\<username>\Downloads\Lava Computer Mfg\Windows
pnputil.exe -a PCIePorts_CC.inf
I got a message the copy/installation was successful, but another attempt to install the driver failed.
I also tried the following, based on another web search:
Code:
pnputil.exe -i -a PCIePorts_CC.inf
Processing inf : PCIePorts_CC.inf
Failed to install the driver on any of the devices on the system : No more data is available.
Total attempted: 1
Number successfully imported: 0
Ideally I'd like to be able to install the device driver by following the proper Windows procedure. However, if all the installation does is copy a couple of files and update the registry, I suspect I could get the card going by knowing where to copy the StnPPort.sys file and importing the appropriate registry entries.
Any insights and assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated, and I'd have a happy customer.
Regards,
Brad