Sounds fine

I bought an older laptop for $100 and downloaded the latest JMRI. We had an old router so was able to connect to my NCE with the USB adapter and run trains from the phone as well. I would like to automate some trains while I run a local. Lots to learn. 

. . .

Sorry but your question is not all that clear. Win7  for Win7 ?  Did you mean Windows XP for Win7 ?

I have a Lenovo T60 laptop that has run WinXP, Win7, Win10 and now is back to Win XP. as of three weeks. runs fine.  Microsoft even applied all the updates for XP when I registered it.  This T60 is now running JAVA 1.8.0_152 and JMRI 4.17.5

WinXP still runs JMRI. There is nothing to stop it from running JMRI.  Just keep it on WEB sites you know and trust (like JMRI Downloads). Keep it OFF any  Email service. 

I ran Win7/32 bit for quite sometime. no issue and that was JMRI 4.17.5 Jenkins build.  I also ran Win10/32B for a while. no issue.

Windows 7 mainstream support ended in 2015, extended ends Jan 2020. But your computer will not implode : - )

Marc

Still running Windows ME

It runs fine.  No issues.  As Marc states, just stick to trusted websites. 

Hooking up JMRI, then larger screen??

Quite a number of years ago when I first learned of JMRI along with my acquisition of a NCE system, I vaguely recall the need to get a 'special cable' to connect the two. I bought one of those cables (that I am currently trying to locate) so I could eventually rig this all up on my future layout (that layout is currently under construction).

I have several older laptops with serial ports on them. Does that connection of the computer and the NCE simply involve connecting those 2 serial ports together?

If that's the case (above), how would one connect up a larger screen display to the laptop? I've picked up a few of those at really cheap prices at my local flea market. Just always thought that a larger screen would be nice in the layout room.

That larger screen might also come in handy to monitor train movement in my 'external helix' ?

PS: I made a mistake, my older laptops do NOT have serial ports, but rather they are VGA ports,...similar shape.

Marc, Windows 7 Home Premium

Marc,

Windows 7 Home Premium from 2009; not sure if that helps.

Lou

. . .

I am still confused as to what you are looking for.  Win7 update to Win7 ? 

windows 7 will run JMRI without issue.

Marc

. . .

Brian,  If your older l;laptop has a 9 pin serial port, yes you can attache your Ph Pro to he laptop serial port.  The RRCitKits cable is usually a USB to Serial adater/cable  in case laptop does not have any DB-9 serial port.

As to the large screen,, are we talking computer screen or standard TV type screen ?  If TV type screen it depends on the connectivity options it has and what your laptop supports.

Marc

Updates to XP?

Why did you return to XP on that laptop?.....and are you saying that mircosoft up dated it??

I was looking back thru several of my laptops, and my oldest one is a Dell that gave me real good service,...I think it was my first laptop? It is running XP service pk 3. It has been cleaned off except for a few photos of several of my trips to Thailand,...and it turns out I loaded JMRI on it in anticipation of the future. Of course that older version of JMRI will certainly need updating.
 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it does NOT require a lot of computer power or speed the run JMRI?? So my old Dell with XP on it will do just fine?
 

I found that cable I had been looking for. Its a USB2 to RS232 connector,..
http://www.hexin-technology.com/USB_2.0_To_RS-232_Serial_Converter-Product-254.html   
Since all of my older laptops have serial port outlets, I don't think I will need this cable, and I think I recall your mentioning it would be better not to involve a usb to serial connection??

The bigger screen I was referring to is just a bigger computer monitor, not a TV screen, so it has a serial port input as well.

PS: I made a mistake, my older laptops do NOT have serial ports, but rather they are VGA ports,...similar shape.

So I guess I am going to have to make use of the USB to Serial port connector. It also came supplied with a mini installation/driver disc?

. . .

Blown hard disk on the Lenovo T60 . Disk I had on hand was smaller. Win10 would have left me little space.  Since the only use it gets is decoder programming, I did not care

Yes Microsoft went thru the update steps once I installed WinXP on the T60 and REGISTERED it with Microsoft.  I was surprised but pleased. it update XP up to SP3 level with a long list of KB's.

If all you will be doing is decoder programming, then older laptop and WinXP  will do fine. It does not require that much computing power.  If on the other hand you plan to use other JMRI features, then it can slow down dramatically.

Read me again, never said " not to involve a USB to serial connection ".. If that is what you have, use it.  The problem with hoarding like you did is the hardware you have dates from 2008. That cable from Hexin, it's driver package covers Windows ME/Win98/Vista/Win7.  Best of luck with it.  it may work for you, or it may not.  Getting a more current driver will probably be a problem.

Your PH Pro has DB-9 serial PC connection. If older laptop has DB-9 serial, you can use a DB-9 to DB-9 cable.

If older laptop has USB ports only, you need USB to serial cable /adapter.

The port on the PC screen is not serial.. it is either VGA or DVI. just plug the display to the laptop.

Marc

You can buy upgrades...

You can buy upgrades for your computer to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 directly from Microsoft. Cost for me is $199 as I have Windows 7 Pro. I have a desktop and 2 laptops. Cheaper for me to drop $600 than thousands...

Neal

The old laptop you have with

One experience with upgrades

I'll relate one of my experiences with upgrades. I had an HP desktop with XP and all the latest service packs on it. It worked GREAT. I thought why not just upgrade it to Windows 7. I bought the Windows 7, but when I put it on that HP machine it would NOT run properly. Apparently Windows 7 needed more capacity than my older computer could handle. I don't believe I read anything about this possible conflict before I purchased that software.

I'm not a big fan of that Microsoft company that keeps coming out with new operating systems even BEFORE they are thoroughly developed.

It should work fine on Windows 7.

If you old laptop is dedicated to JMRI only with web access to update JMRI, there should be no problem.  Keep antivirus software updated to keep out viruses.  

Marc,That's all I was

Marc,

That's all I was wondering.

I'll look for a budget laptop on Black Friday ($400 or so) and then dedicate this Win7 machine to JMRI.

Thanks all

Read me again, never said "

As I have corrected above, I made a mistake identifying the outlet ports on my laptops. So I suspect I will have to use that older connector cable , USB to RS232.  

If I connect it to the laptop running XP I probably have a better chance that it will work correctly? That mini-disk that came with the cable is some sort of driver??

. . .

" That mini-disk that came with the cable is some sort of driver?? " 

Yes the mini disk provided usually contains device drivers.

The link you provided to HEXIN  also has the Driver & Software  if you scroll down the page. I downloaded and looked inside.. very OLD.. and worse the device uses the PROLIFIC chip set and they got reveng, hacked and copied to the point the driver refuses to load if the chip is counterfeit.

http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=155&pcid=41

Good luck

Marc

So what is your advice Marc,

So what is your advice Marc, ....should I just trash this cable and get something better?
 

Last thing I need is some sort troubling electronic device. I just sort of wonder how some cable converter (different ends on the same cable) can be so complicated as to require a 'driver'. I guess I'm just an electronic-computer dinosaur....ha...ha

. . .

Try it, you have little to loose.. I was just giving you a heads up that those devices with the PROLIFIC chip set (USB to RS-232)  can cause problems and leave you scratching your head.

This cable takes the USB signal and converts it to an RS-232 signal. The voltages between the two are at different levels. There is a PIC in the flat portion of cable and that requires drivers to speak with the operating system.

If you want a  cable that is guaranteed to work between your PC and the PH Pro  get one from RRCIRKITS.

http://www.rr-cirkits.com/description/index.html

Look for UN8-BE  - $25.16..  ($23.76 if you are a confirmed NMRA member discount)

Marc