Honored Contributor
Frequent ContributorRunning WinXP in VirtualBox will get you a running version of MaxPlusII but it does not help the LPT port access issue.
Even if you have a VirtualBox LPT port it still needs to be connected to a real physical LPT port for the ByteBlaster programmer dongle.
I think WinXP on a legacy motherboard with an LPT port is the best option.
Maybe a PCI card LPT adapter will work, IDK first hand; it depends if the MaxPlusII driver can handle other port addresses besides the standard ones on a motherboard.
I don't think a PCIe parallel port will work, nor a USB parallel port adapter either.
A MasterBlaster serial interface cable would seem to be the most amenable to using on more recent hardware, but I have never used one of these and don't know if it is supported by MaxPlusII. The MasterBlaster user guide (attached) only references early versions of QuartusII (prior to 8.1) as being supported and does not mention MaxPlusII at all. So it might be a dead end.
From the documentation:
Occasional ContributorHi Gents/All,
Thank you for helping me along in this project of mine, and it is sincerely appreciated.
I can see the merit in every thought expressed in each of the responses received so far.
I also have to add that I am running MAX+PLUS II version 10.2 on Windows 11, and it has compiled and simulated very well so far; the only issue left now is for me to configure the EPF81500AQC240-2 by using a ByteBlaster, and ultimately burn the Configuration data in the EEPROM (EPC1PC8, or EPC1441PC8, EPC1213PC8 or EPC1064PC8); and this is where the Parallel Port (LPT) issue has surfaced. As I understand all the response received thus far, the Programmer and the ByteBlaster will not work unless I return to an old machine running Windows 2K or XP the latest or earlier. Also, the MasterBlaster documentation kindly provided seems to refer to Quartus; would this apply to MAX+PLUS II version 10.2 as well?
Please, kindly confirm if my understanding here is in line with your response.
Gratefully appreciative.
Savvy Eagle
P.S. The USB to LPT adaptor arrived yesterday, and as some of you advised, it has not worked sadly!!!
Thank you.
