USB or PCIe Parallel port adaptor

[GreenStratus99]

Hello everyone, I'm looking for ideas/help with a somewhat unusual project. My aunt has an embroidery business and has pretty old machines. The software that runs them can only be installed on an OS as modern as XP and also requires USB security keys to operate. Her XP machine is getting to be on its last legs so I get the "privilege" of setting up a new system for her. So far fairly straightforward, Linux Mint 18.1 running a virtual machine of Windows 2K Professional with VMWare. The problem started when I found that the software, even when using the USB security key that it shipped with, also is looking for another security key that happens to plug into the DB25 parallel connector on the XP machine... I was hoping to recycle pc parts that I already own to build this system but nothing I have has a parallel port on it. Does anyone know or have experience using a parallel security key with one of those USB to parallel adaptor cables or possibly a better solution? 

 

Thanks for any ideas

 

Link to product page of key if any help: [Link removed]

Picture of key attached

Edited July 2, 2017 by TheRandomness
External links aren't allowed.

[it_dont_work]

14 minutes ago, GreenStratus99 said:

 

There's probably a parallel port on the system mobo. have you checked the manual? just buy a ribbon connector to port for the back panel and pass it through the to vm.

 

What motherboard do you have?

 

[mariushm]

There are lots of motherboards which still have the parallel port header on them... it's called LPT on the motherboard.

 

Look for motherboards with "business" / workstation chipsets, not budget series (lowest chips) and not high end (gaming) motherboards.

 

here's some examples ... starting with AMD because there's fewer sockets (FM2+ , AM3+, AM4) and I can see right away from the picture of the mb if they have lpt (long header)

 

fm2+ : https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157578&ignorebbr=1

am3+ but old chipset with integrated graphics, not recommended to pair with AMD FX series cpus : https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128565&ignorebbr=1

 

am4 

chipset a320 (light, no overclocking) : https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157767

same a320 chipset : https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813144045

 

chipset b350 (more sata, usb 3 , overclocking support) : https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157765&ignorebbr=1

 

Too many Intel sockets to show and honestly i'm a bit bored already.

 

Then, all you gotta do is go and buy a LPT header (bracket) from places like eBay or others... here's some examples ( i searched for "printer bracket LPT header" as these are the most common keywords):

 

1. http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCI-Slot-Header-Serial-DB9-Pin-COM-with-Parallel-DB25-Pin-LPT-Port-Cable-Bracket-/272401735190

2. http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCI-Slot-Header-Serial-DB9-Pin-COM-with-Parallel-DB25-Pin-LPT-Cable-Bracket-E0Xc-/371284726282

3. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motherboard-Parallel-LPT-Printer-Port-Cable-cord-Normal-Low-profile-Bracket-/311755677226

 

 

[Dabombinable]

Considering that my USB to parallel port adaptor works well with printers and scanners, just go with a USB adaptor.