Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

USB for NT...challenging the impossible.

0 helpful
3 replies

by jt_technicalservices

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hello all,
Having a problem with the USB for NT software from Bsquare.I have a UPS that must be connected to my NT 4.0 server,the Bsquare software is designed for USB functionality on NT 4.0 for mice,keyboards,printers,etc.My logical assumption was that if the software provided for I/O devices and printers,then bi-directional flow was available,thus the UPS would be able to communicate with the server.So far,we haven't been able to get the two to talk.If anyone has any suggestions,we would much appreciate it.

3 replies

by toivo talikka

A few years ago I purchased a dozen Compaq small form factor desktops with no serial port. The RAM was 128MB and the sales info insisted on W2K 'because of performance reasons'. Compaq relented and kindly gave me the NT recovery CD. Surely NT ran faster, and I found the Bsquare software to support USB.

You'd need to talk to Bsquare about protocols like UPS. I'm sure they have had many enquiries before.

by thechas

A year or so back, someone from BSquare posed a question on the forum here about USB for NT.

They were looking for options for adding support for more devices to their USB software.
Their problem was that they lost contact with the original programmer of the USB solution and could not find anyone able to improve upon what they had to add support for more devices.

(I also suspect that with the dwindling NT market, they could not justify the development cost to start over.)

If I recall, and understand things correctly, the BSquare software is not providing an I/O interface for USB devices as much as it is translating the USB device communications into commands that NT can understand.

If you have a required device that the BSquare software does not work with, you have no option other than to upgrade your OS.

Sorry, Chas

by jdgretz

The short and not very kind answer is to get off of NT - it is completely non-supported at this point.

I do contract support work for a very large law firm - recently they lost their SQL server that was running on an NT platform. We called Microsoft and, even though they have a support contract and were willing to pay any additional cost for emergency support, we were told Microsoft no longer supported NT under any circumstances, have a nice day and good luck.

The only other option I can think of would be to get a UPS that still supports Serial communication. Usually you do not get all the features of USB communication, but you can at least get status and automated shutdown.

Good luck,

jdg

This discussion is closed to new replies.