Decoder Pro setup

[motopac]

I am 74 in march which means I am an anlog mind trying to fuction in the digital age.

The programing of the decoders is difficult for me. I am attempting to set up Decoder  Pro on an old computer. It has 500 MHz of speed and about 500 mega bytes of open memory. I could uninstall more stuff to increase the available memory. It has a Windows 98 operating system. It is not connected to the internet.

I replaced my Digitrax DB 150 with a DCS 100 which will read back from the decoders. I purchased the MS 100. I downloaded Java ,for windows 98, and Decoder Pro on my new computer and burned them on a CD-RW.

I am stymied at two points:

1) The MS 100 will not fit any plug on the computer.

2) When I insert the disk the titles of both Java and Decoder Pro come up on the screen but there everything stops. They will not install or run.

Any advice?

[retsignalmtr]

You probably bought the Digitrax PR3 which is for newer computors with a USB port to connect it to. They have another unit that connects to older computors. I bought a PR3 a few weeks ago and I could have just as easily done most of the things it does with a pencil and paper and saved the cost of it. I downloaded Decoder Pro also. I found that it is just easier to use my controller to program addresses and keep track of and change CV values and to write them down in a notebook with a page for each loco. 

[CSX Robert]

Since you are using an older computer that is only 500 MHZ, I'll assume that it has at least one serial port. The MS100 uses a 25 pin connector and your computer probably uses a 9 pin connector(the MS100 uses the bigger connector so that it's electronics will fit inside the connector). You will need to get a DB9 female to DB25 male adapter, like this one.

I have never had any trouble installing Decoder Pro, so I'm not sure how to help here. Maybe if you could give us a better description of what actually comes up on the screen, one of us might be able to help.

[motopac]

Thanks for the info

The adapter you mentioned is close to what I need. But I do need an adapter with a male plug on the 25 pin end. I have two 9 pin ports one female and one male so I should be OK on that end..

[motopac]

Sorry I didn't look closely enough! That connector looks to be exactly what I need. Thanks again.

[maxman]

motopac

Decoder Pro on my new computer and burned them on a CD-RW.

I don't know if this is relevant or not, or if it was something I did incorrectly.  But I tried to do the same thing you did.  I copied DecoderPro fror my new computer to a CD-RW and took it to the basement where I have an older computer with Windows 98.  I could not get the program to open on the old computer.  When I tried to read what was on the disk, it acted like the disk was blank.

I brought the disk back to the new computer and was able to see that the program had been copied.  I then copied the program to a CD-R.  This time it worked okay on the old computer.  I don't know if this was because the CD reader on the old computer could not "understand" the CD-RW format, or something else.  I suggest you try a CD-R disk instead of the CD-RW to see if that helps you out.

[RF&Prr]

Motopac,

  I think the problem with your CD is Windows 98 uses Fat32 files types and your new computer is probably using NTFS file types.   There is no easy solution to convert the file from NTFS to Fat32 without converting your whole NTFS disk to a Fat32 Disk.  Only solution I can see is to connect your Win98 to the web and then download the program.

RF&PRR

[ericofmaine]

 Motopac,

 

Like Maxman said, its most likely a CD-RW problem.  Either "close" the writing session, which  basically turns the disc into a CD-R, or use a CD-R from the get go.  Last I checked, all CD's are written in a format called CDFS (Not FAT or NTFS) so they can be read on multiple machines.  HTH

Eric

[jamnest]

Until recently I ran Decoder Pro with a Digitrax MS100 and an old 550MZ desk top computer with Windows 98.  As suggested above I had to purchase an adapter for the MS100.  You need to download Decoder Pro and Java directly to the Windows 98 computer.

I also have a Windows Vista Laptop running Decoder Pro and using a PR3.  One of the upgades for Decoder Pro is to save programing files and move them to another computer.  The Windows 98 computer could not read the Vista Decoder Pro files.

I recently purchased a second laptop for work use and moved my old Windows XP 2.8GHZ Desktop to the layout and junked the Windows 98 Desktop.  I was going to toss the MS100 and just use the PR3, however it still works great with the Windows XP Desktop. (Digitrax Chief DCS 100 command station.)

I take the laptop and PR3 with me on the road as I am upgrading my locomotive fleet to DCC and Sound.  I have a small test track on the road. (I took one of my DB150 Boosters with me to run the test track.  Using the PR3 as a stand alone programer allows me to read back CVs.)   I have not tried moving Decoder Pro files between the Windows XP computer and Windows Vista Computer.

[motopac]

Thanks to Jim and all who wrote. I will test out the various ideas. It seems the solution must lie in there somewhere.

[gondola1988]

Try burning your programs as a data disc then maybe your older computer will reconize the info.

[rxanand]

I would also suggest joining the JMRI (Java Model Railroad Interface) users mailing list if you plan to use DecoderPro on an ongoing basis. This is a friendly mailing list that is always ready to lend a helping hand to newcomers. You can find the group here (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jmriusers/)).

JMRI is the umbrella project that includes DecoderPro. You can use JMRI for many aspects of model railroading including CTC-like control and layout automation.

Anand