I have an FMS sim that I got on Ebay and it came with the parallel port connector. I think it must have been intended for use with Windows 98 because it doesn't work with my XP. I seems that XP needs a USB connection. I was wondering if a parallel to USB adapter (like for a printer) would work to connect to the computer. Anybody familiar with these set ups?

Hi,

You can purchase a USB port replicator. The one I have is made by Targus and will make a USB port into a Parallel, serial, mouse, keyboard, additional USB ports, and a LAN connector, I use it with my laptop. You can also buy one for serial use only.

Check Radio Shack, Frys, Best Buy etc. for the replicatior.

Some of the newer computers do not have serial ports and so this is how you get a serial port without adding a card.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Wayne Miller

I can't help you with the hardware aspects but might be able to help you with the software/OS end of it. Windows XP has the ability to emulate previous Windows versions. To access this function go to the start button in the corner, tree out to the program in the list you want, right click to get a menu to pop up, then hit properties. Being an avid gamer I run in to this all the time and it works about 90-95% of the time all the way back to DOS based games. If it is a compatiblity problem XP also has a compatibility wizard that should tell you if that's the problem, but it's just quicker to change the OS being used and emulate Windows 98.

Thanks Golfer. I tried that after I read your post and it didn't work. It seemed to lock everything up. I get a message that reads "error while getting pros address for flat thunks" - whatever that means. (?) No typo, that's what it says. I noticed from you live not too far from me. I'm down here in Maple Valley. Thanks again, Rob

Sounds like it is a hardware issue as the other poster eluded to and doing the OS switching scrambled it's brains. Oh, well I always like trying the simple/free fix before buying stuff. Didn't notice when I originally posted that we were relatively close in distance from each other. Like the Maple Valley/Enumclaw/Black Diamond area, have friends down that way towards Mt. Rainier in Eatonville. Good luck with trying to get your sim up and running.

Thanks Golfer. Yea, we live across the street from the Black Diamond line.

This did the job for me on XP.

Joystick driver for 2000/XP not needed under Win95/98

http://www.geocities.com/deonvdw/Docs/PPJoyMain.htm

THanks Davidinmi. It still doesn't work. I downloaded the ppjoy package but there must be something wrong with the FMS software that I got. All it does is lock up my computer and make the screen go black. Hummmmmm...............

IF you want to try new software just download it from the web and try it. I have included the address for you below. Hope this helps, Fast!
http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html