New laptop/Old serial cable to CNC: How best to connect?

[JScoten]

I am new to this forum and fairly new to CNC (and many may say new to computers, based on my question). I have been told different things, by no one with conviction, about the best(and cheapest) way to download files from a new laptop with no serial printing port and running XP to my school's CNC which receives on a serial cable. I have heard of USB-Serial converters, but that each has specific applications. Can changes be made in BIOS to change the parallel port to run as serial? Would the Mastercam Hasp then still work?

I would appreciate any help. Thanks

[Keith Graydon]

Hello JS,

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

I've been told , on good authority, that you should follow this link to LAPLINK They may have the solution that you require

 

HTH

-KLG

[gstephens]

I've got a USB to serial cable for my laptop. Works bitchin once you figure out how to install serial drivers for a port that doesn't exist yet. $25-$30 or so.

 

You cannot "reconfigure" the parallel port to act as serial.