Help with eprom programmer

Hello,

I recently started looking into making repros for my personal collection, so I picked up a SIVAVA Universal Willem EPROM Programmer. It was the most widely recommended.
The problem is that it comes with a parallel port interface and I don't have a pc with parallel support. I've also heard that the parallel to usb cables are terribly unreliable.
Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
- John

 

I just use a crappy old laptop that has both a serial and parallel ports for my needs.

 

Get a parallel pci card or better yet stay away from Willem programmers.

http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16815166006

 

I JUST picked up a parallel pci card, thanks. Would you recommend another eprom programmer?

 

What are you planning to use the programmer for?

 

I want make some repros for my personal collection. Starfox 2, LoZ: Parallel Worlds, etc. I like to make my own stuff instead of buying.

 

I keep a few old laptops around just in case. A 1GHz AmD, 1GHz P3, Powerbook Duo 280c, and Wallstreet. Trying ti interface with older computer that are pre-USB can be a pain in the butt so a few laptops with PCMCIA slots and obsolete hardware support are handy.

re: EPROM programmer, I wouldn't bother with parallel port these day. Compared to decent USB burner, parallel port is slow. If you're running Windows XP or newer OS, direct access to port can be a problem too. If you already have one on hand and can't return it for full refund, you can still use it on modern PC but you may need to configure the parallel port to match legacy ports if the software doesn't have easy option to configure for whatever IRQ, DMA, and port # Windows assign. Also you may need to toss a file or 2 inside Windows directory to force Windows to let the software have direct access to parallel port and not through Windows layer. (all those hassle is why I quit parallel port when Windows Vista was released, too much hassle)

 

Get a Wellon ( I have the VP-496) maybe an entry level one like the VP-290 which supports all the Flash and eeprom you plan to use for repros and it's all USB and works rather well and none of those damn jumpers or address jumpers because of a small zip socket. Mine has a 48pin zif socket and the VP290 has a 40 pin which you can use for both the SNES and Genesis and even the NES, you just need an adapter for the flash memory chips and even universal ones work on them too so no need to get the ones they sell.

 

Ok, so I'm starting to see why the parallel eprom programmer I got was so much cheaper. I don't have the budget for a newer usb one at the moment. I got a parallel to usb cable with driver disc so hopefully that will work.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

x

 

i think its possible that the pci db25 card you first tried just isnt driver 'compatable' with ur eeprom burner. Its possible to try another cheapo and use the burner you were recommended, and have it work ^^

 

That's really weird because I just bought a pci db25 card hoping it would work. But i haven't actually tried it yet.

 

Ditch it and buy a GQ-4X. Works on Windows 7 x64 and I haven't tried it yet on my Windows 8.1 x64 laptop but I'll bet it'll work.

Why would you even consider buying something so depreciated? It only introduces problems into a setup where you're going to find a bunch of issues with especially if it's your first time programming EPROMs.

 

You sure it's actually a parallel interface and not just a DB-25 serial cable, in which case a cheapo USB-serial cable should do the job. Can you provide a link to the specific programmer you have?

GQ-4X's are OK, nothing special but then they don't exactly cost that much either.

 

Here is my programmer:
http://www.sivava.com/vie-willem-Eprom-pcb50b.html

And here's the parallel card I bought:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...gclid=CKfL7sTv-cUCFcQdgQodKFYAyw&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

I think that PCI parallel port is old hardware. Checked the lone review and there's a nasty con:

No W7 driver = no support for W8 or the upcoming W10 either. Hope you have an older Windows running.

 

I have a computer running vista, hopefully that will work.

 

Looks like I'm dead in the water. The converter cable doesn't work and all of my machines are win7 so that card doesn't work. Looks like my only options are to just buy a nicer usb programmer or get an old laptop with parallel(nope). Either way I'm out the $40 for this programmer.

Thanks for all the help.

 

Assuming you have some desktops, even many modern desktops actually do have parallel ports but the headers are on the motherboard (generally labelled LPT) and the ports aren't on the back of the PC.

Example:

 

If you're in USA, check craigslist. You might be able to snag an older laptop for a song. Or you can sell that burner (hopefully for the same amount you paid) and put that toward USB burner.