HighWater HW9xx/HW77x PCI Interface Card PnP Device Driver
HW9xx/HW77x PCI PnP Driver Installation Instructions
Version: 5.2.6
Date: 15th February 2006
Contents
This folder contains the two files required to install the driver
for the HW9xx/HW77x range of HighWater PCI interface cards.
These two
files are:
- hwplot.sys - the driver
- hwplot.inf - the driver installation file.
Installing the device driver for the first time
Please read
these instructions in full before starting (print them if required) and proceed as follows:
- Switch off the PC.
- Install the HighWater PCI interface card(s) (taking precautions against
static).
- Restart the PC.
- The 'Found New Hardware' wizard should start automatically. When prompted
select 'Search locations'. Direct the wizard at the folder containing the two
files identified above.
- Select the 'hwplot.inf' file and continue to follow the wizard prompts. The
wizard may then request that you insert a floppy disk. If you are not
installing from a floppy disk click 'OK' and when prompted, browse to the
location of the 'hwplot.sys' file and select it.
You
will most likely be presented with a dialog stating that the driver has not been
Signed by Microsoft and asking you to confirm that you want to install the
driver. Click 'YES/OK' to continue with the installation.
Updating an existing HighWater PCI device driver
If you are updating
an existing HighWater PCI device driver proceed as follows:
- Right-click on 'My Computer' and select 'Manage'.
- In the Computer Management window select 'Device Manager'. An item named
'HighWater PCI devices' will be visible in the right hand pane.
- On systems with a version 4.x or earlier (non PnP) HighWater PCI device driver use
'View->Show Hidden Devices' to display the HWPLOT device.
- Open the list called 'Non-Plug and Play Drivers' (by clicking on the
associated '+' symbol) and right-click on the HWPLOT item and select
'Properties'.
- If the device status is 'Started' click the 'Stop' button.
- Click 'OK' on the HWPLOT Properties dialog.
- Open the 'HighWater PCI devices' item (by clicking on the associated '+'
symbol) to display the list of HighWater device type(s).
- Right-click on one of the devices and select 'Properties'. From the
Properties dialog select the 'Driver' pane and on this select the 'Update
driver' option. This will start the 'Upgrade Device Driver Wizard'.
- Proceed through the wizard. When prompted select 'Search for a suitable
driver...'. Direct the wizard at the folder containing the two files listed
above in Contents.
- Select the 'hwplot.inf' file and continue to follow the wizard prompts. The
wizard may then request that you insert a floppy disk. If you are not
installing from a floppy disk click 'OK' and when prompted browse to the
location of the 'hwplot.sys' file and select it.
You
will most likely be presented with a dialog stating that the driver has not been
Signed by Microsoft and asking you to confirm that you want to install the
driver. Click 'YES/OK' to continue with the installation.
Note: If updating a driver on Windows 2000 it is necessary to
copy the 'hwplot.inf' file to the system/inf folder before performing the update
otherwise the version information on the Device's Properties dialog will not be
updated correctly.
Revision History
Version: v5.2.6
Date: 15 February 2006
- Fixed occasional failure to begin output of image data affecting only HW9xx interface
cards. In some circumstances the software would reach the point where imaging would
normally begin, but imaging would never actually start. In these cases, the job
would typically fail after 3 minutes and report a 'Data Transfer Timeout' error.
The log file for the job would show a DMA status register value containing 0x...408.
This issue was caused by a timing flaw resulting in corruption of some critical
control registers in the interface firmware, thereby preventing image output.
Subsequent jobs may/may not have output normally.
Version: v5.2.5
Date: 24 January 2006
- Fixed returning of UART status, required only when analysing communication/output
failures. Normal operation was unaffected by this issue.
- Fixed returning PCI configuration space contents, required only when debugging PCI
related issues with the interface card(s). Normal operation was unaffected by this issue.
Version: v5.2.4
Date: 13 September 2005
- Added support for new HW980 interface card.
- Fixed failure to output image data affecting only the HW976 interface card. Output
of the first job from power on would complete normally, but all subsequent outputs would
reach the point where imaging would normally begin, but imaging would never actually
start. In these cases, the job would typically fail after 3 minutes with a 'Data Transfer
Timeout' error. No further output would be possible until a system restart.
Version: v5.2.3
Date: 14 April 2005
- Added support for 97X cards - hwplot.inf file change only.
- Fixed problem with 19200 baud serial communications affecting only Linotronic 630
connections via HW972 interface cards.
Version: v5.2.2
Date: 1 April 2005
- Fixed serial communications failure affecting LI2/LI5 devices configured to use CTS/RTS
flow control.
Version: v5.2.1
Date: 1 January 2005
- Fixed serial communications failure affecting all devices using serial communication.
Version: v5.2.0
Date: 13 December 2004
- Fixed issue causing corruption of incoming serial data from Linotronic 630 devices
(19200 baud with Xon/Xoff flow control).
Version: v5.1.9
Date: 2 August 2004
- First PnP driver release.
Document last updated 16th February 2006