DESPERATE NEED OF HELP WITH WINDOWS 7 AND ECLIPSE/WRITER

[Kwanna Collins]

HELLO EVERYONE...I AM HAVING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TROUBLE WITH MY WRITER AND WINDOWS 7...LET ME START FROM THE BEGINNING.. I ORDERED MY CABLES FOR MY STENTURA 8000LX....WHEN I TRIED TO CONNECT IT TO MY WINDOWS 7 HP LAPTOP, I NOTICE THAT THE MALE OR FEMALE PINS DONT MATCH. THE ONE THAT SUPPOSE TO CONNECT TO MY LAPTOP HAS 9 PINS AND MY LAPTOP HAS 15 PINS. SO I WENT TO RADIO SHACK TODAY AND A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP RECOMMENDED THAT I PURCHASE A GIGAWARE USB SERIAL CABLE. SO I CAME HOME AND INSTALLED THE DISC AROUND 3PM....ITS 11:00 I CANT GET THIS THING TO WORK...I CALLED ECLIPSE AND THE REP SAID THAT THIS CABLE IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH MY COMPUTER....I DONT GET IT, WHY WOULD THEY COME OUT WITH WINDOWS 7 AND NOTHING IS COMPATIBLE. I GOOGLED WINDOWS 7 SERVERS AND DOWNLOADED THAT PROGRAM AND ITS STILL NOT WORKING....IT SO DEPRESSING TO COME THIS FAR AND GO THROUGH THIS MUCH TROUBLE...i HAVE SPENT SO MUCH UNNECESSARY MONEY, AND AT THIS POINT I AM TIRED AND FRUSTRATED AND JUST WANT A RESOLUTION....THANKS EVERYONE

[Janet]

Hi Kwanna,

I bought a CoolGear USB to serial adapter that has a driver for Windows 7. Did the Radio Shack rep. tell you that the Gigaware adapter had Windows 7 driver? You should return it if it doesn't have the Windows 7 driver. Here is a link to the one I bought:

http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=USBG-4&ca...

Don't panic. There is a solution. If you have any other questions, e-mail me at [e-mail]. I'm using Eclipse & Windows 7, and it's going great.

Janet

[Kwanna Collins]

Thanks a million Janet...And as far as the adapter, no its only compatible with Vista but the company claims it will work....I am taking it back ASAP...Its has given me a lot of trouble....Thanks

[Glen Warner]

Hi, Kwanna.

Sorry to read of the difficulties you're having!

Generally, the release of a new OS means that you should wait before adopting, to make sure that your peripherals will have drivers that will work with that OS.

As for the connections on the back of the computer, the one with the 15 holes is for an external monitor. If your computer is able to run Windows 7, that most likely means it's a newer computer, and it won't have the 9-pin (male) serial port that you need to connect your laptop directly to your writer.

Fortunately, Janet has most likely given you a solution that will work, so, as the saying goes, "Don't panic!"

(There will be plenty of time for that later.)

--gdw
------------------------
"For a Good (steno) Time ...."
http://www.cheapandsleazy.net

[Glen Warner]

Heh ... only when I get an e-mail invite! :o)

[Lisa Paige]

Why not buy the usb to serial adapter that Stenograph sells? They only sell stuff that they know works with their writers. Besides, if you need help with it, Stenograph will be able assist you, and they don't charge you for that.

[Janet]

I just looked on the Stenograph website. Windows 7 is not listed on their USB-to-serial adapter system requirements. Please check with them first if you decide to go that route to see if it's compatible. I am using the one in the link above, and it works perfectly with Windows 7.

[Glen Warner]

Laurie --

In your case, if you recall, Stenograph sold you the Keyspan adapter -- which is a good adapter -- as long as you're not using it with a Stenograph writer and digitalCAT. For those of you just tuning in, as it were, Laurie is responsible for this updated warning on ol' Cheap and Sleazy.

In this case, the adapter would be used with Eclipse and an 8000LX, so that should work just fine.

The problem Kwanna is having is that Keyspan has not written any drivers for Windows 7 yet ...! Just click the list of operating systems, and scroll all the way down to the bottom, and select Windows 7. You'll see an apology, but no explanation!

In their defense, they were recently either absorbed, merged with, or bought out by another company (TripLite), so now things like driver updates for Keyspan products are apparently no longer a high priority item these days ...!

I don't suppose there's any way you can wipe that drive and install Windows XP, is there ...?

[Kwanna Collins]

Glen, unfortunately i cant switch over to XP...This was an early Christmas Gift so i wasn't expecting this...Dont get me wrong though, i love my laptop and windows 7. Its very fast and much better than Vista....The only problem is the compatibility issue...Its driving me up the wall. I've been through at least 4 usb/cables....

[Glen Warner]

Hi, Kwanna.

Well, a free laptop is a free laptop! Congrats!

Did you find the adapter Janet recommended? Any luck with the Cool Gear adapter? You should be able to find a Radio Shack salesperson that knows how to check to see if there's a Windows 7 adapter available ... and if not, you can always bring your stuff to the store and have him/her demonstrate how compatible it is! :o)

[Janet]

Hi Kwanna,

Here's a link for the installation of the USB adapter. It's a great demo:

http://www.usb-serial-adapter.com/index.html

You'll be up & running in no time. Windows 7 is great. What an improvement over Vista.

Janet

[Lisa Paige]

How long ago was it that you had this problem, Laurie? Since they said it would work and it didn't, they did the honorable thing by taking it back and giving you a full refund.

Stenograph says that the usb to serial adapter they offer works with w7. Maybe their website just hasn't been updated. They must have customers using w7 with their writers.

I like to buy my stuff from Stenograph because I know that they make sure what they sell works with their writers AND they will help me if I run into trouble... or like what happened with Laurie, take if back if it doesn't (that is, if I return it soon after buying it and I have tried to get it to work with their support people)