VolksLogger data retrieval on post Windows 98 PCs

I unable to run the DOS-based software that came with my VolksLogger (VL.exe) since upgrading to Windows Millenium Edition (ME). I have been told by the VolksLogger folks that they are aware of this problem and that the only solution is to purchase a copy of Strepla.

Has anyone else run into this problem and have you found a way around this? Right now, the only way I can get data from my VolksLogger is via WinPilot which saves data as it is generated. This is fine but I would also like to access other functions within the VolksLogger (like adding/changing turnpoints).

TIA,

Jens Peter Aarnaes

How about making a bootable floppy and boot with DOS from the floppy. Also you could ask Volsklogger (Garrecht) to send you a copy of Strepla OEM, which is delivered with the VL now. I they have any sense of customer service, that's what they should do

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, booting to DOS this way is no help. I agree that the 'right' thing for Garrecht to do would be to provide Strepla OEM but Garrecht disagrees. They say that the current price of the VolksLogger includes the cost of Strepla so it wouldn't be 'fair' to provide me with a copy. I wonder how it is 'fair' to leave me with no choice but to spend still more money to compensate for their inability to tweek their code to run under

I thought they asked you to get a full version of Strepla. I they are willing to supply the OEM version at a fair price, that's sounds fine to me.

Actually, one could argue that Microsoft DID cause your problem with the changes they made from Windows98 to WindowsME.

Did the Volkslogger people represent to you at the time of purchase that their machine/software was compatible with WindowsME?

I cannot find any indication in the VolksLogger manual as to compatibility. As I have said, I am in the process of buying Strepla because I have no other choice. While this does not present a financial hardship for me, I still resent having to do this so soon. I still maintain that, while this may my only legal recourse, I think that the VolksLogger folks have an ethical obligation to provide another solution other than forcing users to purchase new software. In fact, they seem to realize this as well since they are in the process of creating just such a solution. Perhaps the question I/we should be asking is why is it taking so long to create an alternative

Georg Garrech's message states there is a solition for 98 or Me: A short time ago, we found a solution against the serial port problem with a registry patch which is available on our homepage. About 10 of our german customers who tried it also did get it to work, either on Win98 or Win-ME. Only one of them had problems at the beginning, because he forgot to boot his computer after applying the patch.

Have you tried that?

The registry solution should work, at least it did in the past few months. But I heard that Jens had problems with it. We wanted to guide him through the problem via telephone, but somehow it seems not possible to call us at german daytime - perhaps the US phone system has a problem...

anyway, if the patch wouldn't work, there is a solution which has always helped - from the beginning of the problems under Win-98SE until today - but now, that the DOS-mode has officially died under Win-ME (but it is still there), it should be some more complicated

1) Install the software from the DOS-box (under ME, you get the DOS-box by executing the program 'command' from the commandline in the startmenu).

2) Make yourself a bootable floppy-disk with Win95 or 98 on it (if you have no old computer anymore, please ask a friend) The disk should contain a config.sys which gives enough FILES to the operating system (FILES=20 or so). If you are not able to do this, we can provide you such a disk

2) Alternatively, boot Win-ME in DOS-mode. From Microsoft's point of view this shouldn't be possible anymore, because they don't want it, but a few months ago some computer magazines provided a patch which makes Win-ME able to boot in DOS-mode (don't know how, I don't use Win-ME, so I have never tried it).

3) Boot the PC from this disk and run the VL-DOS program from this

I will try these suggestions - Thanks.

I have WinMe. Will try do do some testing.

Let's move to Linux ! Georg, what did you write the code with (C, Pascal, ...) ? If it is Pascal, you can port easily to Linux with Borland's Kylix

After reading posts offering solutions to my Windows-ME/Volkslogger communication problem, I decided to seek out a Windows-98 DOS Boot Disk. This presented a bit of a problem as none of the computers I have access to are running this operating system any longer. A search using 'Google' found the following link:
http://www.danville.k12.ky.us/technet/techtools.htm

This site has a number of tools and utilities available, including Windows-98 DOS Boot Disk code. I tried this and it worked!

Thanks to all for your suggestions.