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newbie93
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Laptop + LPT (on Docking station) == work???

Setup:

Host: 6.5.3 on Windows XP SP3 (laptop + docking station)

Guest: Debian 5.03 (doesn't really matter)...

After I add the parallel port(with the laptop docked, obviously), and start the VM, I get the error:

Jan 04 09:58:53.723: vmx| parallel0: Using auto detect backend LPT1.

Jan 04 09:58:53.723: vmx| parallel0: FAIL to open the parallel port driver
.\Global\VMparport1 error 0x2 in ParallelHost_DeviceConnect()

Jan 04 09:58:53.723: vmx| Msg_Post: Error

Jan 04 09:58:53.723: vmx| Cannot open VMparport driver for LPT1: The operation completed successfully

Jan 04 09:58:53.723: vmx| Failed to connect virtual device parallel0.

I did a search on LPT, parallel port, found very little.

Questions:

1). When I installed VMWare, I did not have the docking station attached. Does this cause a problem? I will reinstall with it docked, if somebody thinks that will help

2). I understand about the limitations of peripherals being on the "motherboard". Does a docking station constitute a motherboard or an external peripheral?

The properties (on the host), lists it as:

"on Intel(R) ICH9M-E LPC Interface Controller - 2917" so, I think it is considered part of the motherboard.

Also, the driver installed is the standard XP OS driver:

"C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\parport.sys"

I tried both autodetect and specifying the existing port (LPT1).

3) vmware tools are NOT installed in any of the guests. - Is this required?

4) Also tried logging into host with admin privileges (Normally I run as a user on the host). Didn't seem to make any difference.

Any suggestions?

Workstation 7.x isn't an option right now (way too many bugs for me right now)

Thanks.

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continuum
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check existance of this files in systemroot\system32

vnetinst.dll

vnetlib.dll

check existance of this file in systemroot\system32\drivers

vmparport.sys

if they are present it really would be best to clean up everything and re-install.

Read knowledgebase 1308




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continuum
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as far as I know only admins can use parports

also I believe that VMware scans for existing parallel ports each time it starts - so you may need to restart Workstation.

Try if restarting the vmparport service helps

net stop vmparport

net start vmparport




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newbie93
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hmm. Tried the following:

Microsoft Windows XP \[Version 5.1.2600\]

(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\bjohnson>net stop vmparport

System error 1060 has occurred.

The specified service does not exist as an installed service.

It doesn't look like the service is even installed. I don't see it listed as a service either. I wonder if reinstalling Workstation might actually be needed.

as far as I know only admins can use parports

also I believe that VMware scans for existing parallel ports each time it starts - so you may need to restart Workstation.

Try if restarting the vmparport service helps

net stop vmparport

</div>

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continuum
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please check if this key exists:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VMparport




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Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...

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newbie93
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No registry entry by that name.

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continuum
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then I would first try to re-install the vmparport service

to do that open a cmd and change directory to the Workstation install directory - close Workstation before you try this and make sure the docking station is active

vnetlib.exe -- install vmparport

this command will not output anything - then reboot and try to start the service again.

Please don't use *.rtf format for screenshots or whatever the content is ???




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VMX-parameters- VMware-liveCD - VM-Sickbay


________________________________________________
Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...

newbie93
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Ok, service is now installed, shows up in the registry.

-


C:\&gt;net start vmparport

System error 2 has occurred.

The system cannot find the file specified.

-


Tried running as admin, tried changing the port from ECP to BiDir (PS/2) - no difference.

Attached is the log file, but the error still looks the same, IIRC.

I think at this point I am going to do a complete uninstall and re-install.

It's the /c option to completely clean everything - correct?

Thanks.

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continuum
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check existance of this files in systemroot\system32

vnetinst.dll

vnetlib.dll

check existance of this file in systemroot\system32\drivers

vmparport.sys

if they are present it really would be best to clean up everything and re-install.

Read knowledgebase 1308




___________________________________

VMX-parameters- VMware-liveCD - VM-Sickbay


________________________________________________
Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...

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newbie93
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check existance of this file in systemroot\system32\drivers

vmparport.sys

</div>

This was missing. I copied it from the Workstation directory - service now starts and no error messages during vm startup. Now onto testing the application. Should be fun..

Thanks.

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newbie93
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As a final FYI,

I am able to read/write the parallel port within the VM (debian 5.03) without having to run with admin rights on the XP SP3 host.

Very cool.

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