Cubase VST 5.0 on Windows 7 64-bit w/ parallel LPT PCI port

Poindexter · New Member Joined: 14 Oct 2010 Posts: 1

I am trying to get Cubase VST 5.0/5.1 to run on Windows 7 64-bit using an installed PCI 1x Express card parallel port and my old (blue) parallel port dongle for VST.

Other posts here at Cubase.net indicate Windows 7 64-bit will work with Cubase VST. Some users in those posts recommend a USB eLicensor upgrade, but they also implied that a pCI parallel port should work with the old blue Cubase VST dongle:

See posts

http://www.cubase.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=130047&sid=14b2eb2a40a50fdde6d273645250b8ba

and

http://www.cubase.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=68167&sid=14b2eb2a40a50fdde6d273645250b8ba

Although the other posts talk about using parallel port dongles, they ultimately lean toward upgrading the dongle to a newer Steinberg USB eLicensor dongle. I am terribly skeptical about going that route, and prefer to find a way to use the parallel port if it possible.

I want to keep the old dongle in use, because my old PC (Windows ME--hardware nearly obsolete) still records audio well. This way I can transfer the dongle betwen the old PC and the new Win7 PC until I am fully weaned off the old Windows Millenium Edition PC.
To decide whether to keep the new Windows 7 PC or return it, I need to get Cubase VST functioning on it with a PCI card parallel port.

Here is a description of the issue I am having:

I bought a brand new Windows 7 64-bit PC, and I had the service technician install a PCI parallel port.

Control panel sees the Express PCI device in Device Manager. I can apparently choose LPT1, LPT2, or LPT3. The card was set for LTP3. I've tried all three and still get the behavior reported below.

Cubase 5.0 installed no problem into "Program Files(x86)" folder as proposed by the Cubase installer.

I entered my serial number in the installer.

The dongle is plugged into the parallel port.

When I launch Cubase VST 5, I see these messages

-----
"Syncrosoft POS Error Message"
An error has been signaled by the Protected Object Server.
The driver for the Protection Device is not installed or activated. Please reinstall again.

(These message appears three times in a row.)
-----

Then a last prompt appears:
-----
"Cubase VST"
The copy protection key could not be found! Please make sure it is plugged into the printer port!
-----

Can anyone help advise me how to get Cubase to see the dongle? Have I bought the wrong kind of PCI card dongle, and if so, can anyone make a recommendation for a 1x PCI Express card dongle that can function as a software dongle?

Are there settings I need to make in the Express PCI driver software?

I see these options in the PCI card properties:

-----
Filter Resource Method (3 options):
- Try not to use an interrupt
- Never use an interrupt (radio button ticked)
- Use any interrupt assigned to the port

"Enable Legacy Plug and Ply detection" (unchecked)

LPT port selection (I have tried all 3)
- LPT1
- LPT2
- LPT3 (selected when I first checked the settings)
-----

Any advice to help me get the parallel port dongle recognized on Windows 7/Cubase VST is greatly appreciated.

I do not wish to use the USB upgrade because I fear I will lose my ability to use my old Windows PC machine or if the transition goes awry as it has for some users posting here.

My research indicates that many parallel port PCI cards on the market for Windows 7 are strictly printer ports, and my not be "bi-directional" and functional for dongles.

P.S. If you recommend the USB upgrade for VST, tell me how this works with 2 PCs. --Will ME still use a parallel port dongle, or switch to USB. Will a new USB key work on both PCs? What are the risks to my current (functioning) ME box and VST?

Thank you!!!

Georg Bruns · Administrative Moderator Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 1159

Sorry for the late reply!

First, PCI cards may work but this is not the recommended way - with good reason! LPT dongles in general were much more delicate and touchy than USB dongles. Using a PCI based LPT card makes the whole system even more "sensitive".
If it works it works, if not, it can be very difficult or even impossible to solve the problem. For example, the LPT card might bot harmonize with the motherboard even though you actually can use a LPT printer. The copy protection via LPT demands much more from this interface than printers do.

Here are a few general hints:

I remember the LPT mode in the BIOS (EPP, ECP etc) often were decisive on systems with an onboard LPT port. But I don't know the corresponding setting in a LPT card driver control panel.
Of course, the LPT card must operate bi-directional. The dongle will be called by the License Control Center. If it cannot answer he is considered missing.
Install the final LPT compatible LCC version 5.0.2.4 from here: http://download.elicenser.net/downloads/Archive/sLC/5024/SyncrosoftLicenseControlSetup.exe
Later versions do not include LPT drivers!
If you already have installed a later version of the LCC (or even the eLCC) you have to reinstall 5.0.2.4 in overwrite mode as described here: https://www.steinberg.net/en/support/knowledgebase_new/show_details/kb_show/usb-elicensersteinberg-key-details-tips-and-troubleshooting.html
You should try to give your card an own IRQ. I don't know if this is corresponding to the "Filter Resource Method" of the PCI card properties you mentioned.

But, again, I recommend the USB way. If your old computer has USB there's nothing that speaks against it. Even fitting it with an USB PCI card should be much less complicated than using a LPT card.
Of course, an USB dongle would work with 2 PCs - actually with as many as you like. That's the advantage of this copy protection scheme from the customer's view. Just use LCC 5.0.2.4 on your ME system and the latest eLCC version on your Windows 7 computer.
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