Hi All--

I am new to this site and new to Mach3 -- I purchased a Dyna 2400 mill--3 axis -- several months ago-
It came with upgraded motors and Gecko controllers etc--

The computer that came with it is a IBM Think Pad ( lap top) with some kind of cable adapter hooked to it-
and a Touch Screen to control Mach3 with --

The man I purchased it from had the system working and he demoed  the system before
I purchased it --when moving the system to my house I had to unhook the wiring - motors ect -

Once I set up the system at my home I could only get One axes to work --
I went threw all the Set Up Videos and I could not find the problem --

I took a break from messing with it for a couple of months and last night
I started trying to get it running --

About 3am last night the computer all of a sudden shut down and came up
with a  blue or gray screen that said something like the Memory is being Dumped ??

I messed around to see if I could get the computer to restart and One time
I was able to get a screen that said Windows XP and asked if I wanted to use

-- Default Bios  -- or a Custom Bios --?

I could not select ether choice --and have not been able to get the computer
to start up or anything at all  now --

I unplugged the computer and removed the battery ect.  and tried everything I could think of
but nothing worked--

I think the computer must have died--(Hard Drive??) -- But I really have no clue --
I am a Apple computer guy so I have little knowledge about Windows computers-

So my question is what is a Good computer for me to get and what operating system is best (XP )

I have a Touch Screen (NEC brand ) to control Mach3 with and I dont know
what the connection plug type is called--

Also I guess that I am going to have to purchase Mach3
because I did not get a software disc or any serial numbers
with the system ---

Thanks for your time and help -- and I am looking forward to getting
my CNC mill running--- Jay--

Desktop computers are preferred when using the parallel port as laptops can have issues due to the processor throttling for battery saving. Older laptops usually are fine but the newer stuff is hit or miss.
Its impossible to say a computer will definitely work but most desktops will be fine, if it doesnt have an onboard parallel port (some new ones dont) then you will also need to get a PCI parallel port.

XP is my choice but 2000, Vista (32) and Windows 7(32) all work with the parallel port, 64 bit versions dont.

If you contact the guy you got it from he may backup of the licence file or at least the name the licence was made out to and as long as he is not still using the same licence then Scott will likely give you another.

Hood

Thanks Hood for your time and reply --

I am off to the local PC store--Thanks--Jay--