byteblaster not showing up in hardware

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Now my Byteblaster2 is running with my PCI parallel port adapter. The problem was during QuartusII installation the field "DependIOnService" of AlteraByteBlaster (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AlteraByteBlaster) in Windows registry was filled in to be dependent from service "parport". When I installed my PCI parallel port adapter (MosChip chipset) the service installed to take care of parallel port was NmPar. Since I pointed "DependIOnService" of AlteraByteBlaster to "NmPar I dont have problem using Byteblaster2 anymore.

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Thanks wmrsouza, you just saved my tearing my hair out in frustration. I have Parallel port PCI add in card based on a MosChip device.

For reference:

My port is LPT1.

Is NOT at any of the old standard addresses (278, 378 or 3BC).

I do have 'Enable Legacy Plug and Play detection' ticked in device manager but I have not tested if that is necessary yet.

I have ‘Never use an Interrupt’ ticked in device manager.

I changed the reg key as you suggested, rebooted and the byteblaster became usable :-)

Regards, Mark Leman

The "DependOnService=parport" issue revealed by wmrsouza explains, why ByteBlaster is working with non-legacy parports in some cases and fails in others. In my case, I have an additional legacy port connected to a printer. So the parport service is also started and AlteraByteBlaster can run without editing registry keys.

The problem must be regarded as a ByteBlaster driver bug, that should be reported to Altera support.

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The "DependOnService=parport" issue revealed by wmrsouza explains, why ByteBlaster is working with non-legacy parports in some cases and fails in others. In my case, I have an additional legacy port connected to a printer. So the parport service is also started and AlteraByteBlaster can run without editing registry keys.

The problem must be regarded as a ByteBlaster driver bug, that should be reported to Altera support.

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I think this problem is not exactly a ByteBlaster driver bug. The default windows service that takes care of parallel port is called "parport", so Altera ByteBlaster installer uses this "default" service name in the field "DependOnService". If our cards use a service/driver with another "name" is very fair we have to fill in that field ("DependOnService") with the correct nname. Thinking this way the bug isn't in the driver but in absence of information regarding to this fact from Altera quartus_pgm docs.

I didn't examine the driver details. You're most likely right, that it's difficult to make the ByteBlaster driver recognize the available parport low level drivers, so manual registry edit may be the most easy way.

I see, that the NetMos *.inf file also installs the windows LptPort driver automaticly. So, to automate the ByteBlaster installation, it had to identify the existing LptPorts and it's underlying low level drivers. Considering the fact, that ByteBlaster is a kind of legacy anyway, this possibly means expecting too much.

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Hi, I know this is not a new thread, but I have the same problem,

I already changed LPT3 to LPT1, and reinstall the drivers but it's still not working, keep giving the same kernel error,

what else could be??

by the way which *.dll file is missing?

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Hi I've been reading the same threads as well and experiencing the same problems--Not detecting ByteBlaster cable!

However, one of the threads mentioned about going into the regEdit and changing the dependOnService value from "parport" to "NmPar". This did work and now my Quartus see's ByteBlaster But dont hold your breath too long, because now Quartus is reporting "Kernal Mode driver not installed" ???

Obviously, there's a driver which needs to be installed. So now I going to google it, and if its out there, then I'm going to down load it.

I will post my findings soon.

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Hi I've been reading the same threads as well and experiencing the same problems--Not detecting ByteBlaster cable!

However, one of the threads mentioned about going into the regEdit and changing the dependOnService value from "parport" to "NmPar". This did work and now my Quartus see's ByteBlaster But dont hold your breath too long, because now Quartus is reporting "Kernal Mode driver not installed" ???

Obviously, there's a driver which needs to be installed. So now I going to google it, and if its out there, then I'm going to down load it.

I will post my findings soon.

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Hi

Tried to Google this 'Kernal Mode driver', but apparantely the 'kernal Mode driver,' controls quite alot of things your PC needs to run, and if you get the wrong one, then it could damage your PC!

The good news is that Ive now got Quartus/BytBlaster fully working. However, thats because Quartus is now running on an old Laptop running windows98 16bit. The only thing I done was changed 'parport' to 'NmPar' in the windows redistry on the old Laptop. The old Laptop with it's the standard legacy parallel printer port as configured to LPT, so there was no need to change any of that.

The only conclusion I can come up with, is that Windows98 runs on 16bit, where as Windows XP runs on 32bit. Now, even though my new Laptop is running Windows-XP - 32bit, Quartus manages to see BytBlaster-II but report's 'Kernal Mode drive error'. I thinks its because these 'Kernal Mode drivers' source codes are specific as per 16bit or 32bit. And if you have purchased the MAX plus II 9.2 and Quartus Ver6.0, then you are more likely to be sucessful in running those legacy programs on Wndows98. However, If you've installed these legacy programs on WindowsXP, Vista ect... then you will get problems getting them to run.

As I said above, this only my conclusions and Quartus/BytBlaster are working fine on Windows98.

I hope this helps.

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Hi I've been reading the same threads as well and experiencing the same problems--Not detecting ByteBlaster cable!

However, one of the threads mentioned about going into the regEdit and changing the dependOnService value from "parport" to "NmPar". This did work and now my Quartus see's ByteBlaster But dont hold your breath too long, because now Quartus is reporting "Kernal Mode driver not installed" ???

Obviously, there's a driver which needs to be installed. So now I going to google it, and if its out there, then I'm going to down load it.

I will post my findings soon.

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Hi,

NmPar was the driver came with my PCI parallel port card. I recommend you try to discover your PCI parallel port card driver, install it and supply its name to the "dependOnService" on ByteBlaster registry entry.

One more thing: All times I intend to use my card I have to start Windows with my card plugged on my notebook. I bilieve this is because the byte blaster service/driver doenst try to load parallel port card driver again after machine start up.

Feel free to get in touch if ou need some more explanations.

(skype: wmrsouza, msn: [email protected])

Regards,

Márcio

Hi wmrsouza (http://www.alteraforum.com/forum/member.php?u=26760),I am facing problem as yours. I use a PCIe Parallel port card, Installed it's driver and also the byteblaster's but when i program the PFGA it shows that "kernel mode driver not installed".I've changed the regedit follow as your suggest,but it still does not work now.

My PCIe Parallel port card's type is MM-PCEMM9901 which powered by MOSCHIP .

it phsical I/O adrress is D000-D007.

I do not understand why Quartus2 can't find the LPT1 port,and how can i save problem,please?:confused:

Hi

Firstly, I hope you've read the forum trails to get the low down with this issue!

This is how I got over this problem and I'll try to be very brief.

1/. install PCI card making sure youve powered up your kit before hand.

2/. In control panel under coms, sometimes PCI will assign a different port. In mine, PCI assigned was LPT3? - so note what PCI allowcate the port? From the the threads, it appears Alera assume legacy assignement of the ports? Apparently, its too much bother for Altera to write out new scripts to address this issue, so they have left it as it is.

3/. Depending on what version you are running, in my case it's Quartus II ver 6.0, which was produced around 2000. So run your Quatus as 98, 2000, xp ect..

4/. make your adjustment in your regedit file, dont forget Altera is also listed in your regedit oringinally in ControlSet001 and also ControlSet002, sometimes, maybe Controlset003? - Just check and make adjustments.

5/. Make sure your PCI card is inserted before you start your PC, this is so that your system should recognise all drivers at the start, otherwise your system will assume the default legacy LPT1.

6/. Warning, dont mess about with finding and loading Kernal drivers! This is important and you will mess up your PC. This is for experts only.

One thing I cant understand is that my version 6.0 runs happily on my old laptop of windows 98 with no adjustments?

I hope this helps