FIX FOR LPI/DSI WINDOWS 7 ISSUE Last updated: 28 August 2010

Subject:	Getting the LPI to run in a Windows 7 Home Premium XP Virtual Machine.
Sent:	Wednesday, August 25, 2010 09:43:09
From:	Ted Trostle (tctrostle@gmail.com)
I found a neat way to get the LPI to run in the Astro Suite when running
Windows 7 Home Premium without an upgrade to WIN 7 Pro or Ultimate. It
involves setting up a  Windows XP virtual machine. This link tells
all...go HERE

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/11060/create-an-xp-mode-for-windows7-home-versions-and-vista/

From within the virtual XP machine, I did a fresh install of Astro
Suite. Getting the LPI driver to load is not too tricky, but just watch
the prompts and commands needed. I have not yet taken photos, but I see
the LPI is connected and running. I hope this helps

P.S.  Basically the solution uses a free 3rd party program to build and
then run a virtual machine inside WIN 7 or Vista which then runs your
legal copy of WIndows XP. This NOT the Microsoft Virtual XP that
requires a WIN 7 Pro or Ultimate version. This works with Vista and WIN
7 Home Premium !!

Subject:	Re: How can I get the LPi to work with windows7?
Sent:	Friday, March 19, 2010 00:47:02
From:	James Beston (james_beston@sky.com)
There seems to be some doubts about wether or not Meade's LPI/DSI can be
made to work under windows 7. In a recent mail I refered to Ray
Tomilinson's excellent work-through to acheive this.
http://www.weasner.com/etx/astrophotography/2009/tomlinson/Installing_Meade_%20AS_in_a_Win%207_64_bit_environment.pdf
 
My PC operates Windows 7 Professional 64 bit. To get Windows XP
(Professional) mode and Windows virtual PC go to:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx As far as I
know, if you are using W7 Professional and above, you DO NOT need to buy
a copy of Windows XP. The installation is simplicity itself!
 
Although I haven't yet tested it in the field all the AS software and
Envisage looks fine the DSI & LPI display ok. In fact I am hugely
impressed with the whole set-up!

Before I found Ray's work through I did download Microsoft's Virtual PC
on its own and loaded my own copy of XP into it. I would certainly have
had to activate XP (ie buy another licence) so this route was abandoned.
As long as you have W7 Professional and above, XP is included in the
free download.

Two errors I made:

For some unaccountable reason, probably advanced senility, I had set
Envisage to work in Windows 95 compatibility mode. Don't do this 
Envisage wasn't around in those days.

In XP mode you have to "attach" your usb devices to the system (just a
matter a mouse click) I found that if I had "attached" my integral
webcam, although the system could see my LPI it couldn't see the DSI if
I "released" the webcam the DSI was found ok and thereafter I could also
"attach" the webcam. Exactly why I should want to use the web cam while
sitting ouside in the dark is a matter of conjecture!

Anyway, the whole thing works and works well for me but do read Ray's
work well and make sure you follow everything he says.

Good Luck and Clear Skies (Not many of them about in the UK at the
moment :-(  )


Jim

PS I have just seen that Microsoft have added a version of Windows XP
mode that does NOT require a processor that supports Hardware Assisted
Virtualisation Technology.

-- 
Keep it simple - only a few brain cells left!

Subject:	My Fix for LPI/DSI Windows 7 Issue
Sent:	Friday, January 22, 2010 21:45:47
From:	Doug Waymire (da_waymire@msn.com)
I bought a new HP Compaq laptop to replace my old laptop. It had Windows
7 Home Premium 64 bit loaded.

I found out that Meade does not provide 64 bit drivers so I could not
get my LPI or DSI working.

I first tried downloading VMWare and installed XP in the virtual machine
but still could not get the LPI or DSI working.

No help from HP after 3 phone calls.

Finally I bought the full version of Windows 7 Professional and
installed the 32 bit version on my laptop. The DSI started working but
still no luck with the LPI.

I downloaded the Microsoft Windows 7 virtual machine and XP and
installed them. Now the DSI, LPI, and USB to Serial adapter (for
telescope control) work in the XP virtual machine. If I just want to use
the DSI then I can run in Windows 7. For the LPI or both I run in the XP
virtual machine.
 
Doug 

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