It is alive again! Thanks to an Ethernet Smoothstepper!
No more OS limitations, mach driver issues, or parallel port card! I am using 64 Bit Win7.
I mounted the smoothstepper in the computer case and used some computer case mount parallel ports. This way I did not have to do any changes to the rest of my machine and the breakout board hooks up the same as before. The board is also powered off the computers power supply (500W so plenty to spare since I am using CPU/MB video).
My whole machine is designed to power up off one button press on the front panel. This button hooks to the power pins on the computers motherboard. Once the computer powers up, the rest of the system is activated by the computers power supply using relays etc. Works great. I also have a USB port on the front panel, HDD indicator LED, and power indicator LED. So, you can load your programs with a thumb drive etc. and there is no reason to get inside the cabinet or mess with the computer seperatly to run the machine.
Now I just have go through and double check all the settings and stuff and I am back to where I left off a year and half ago when the computer crapped out and I lost interest. I have a good feeling I will cut something soon!
Thanks to those that offered up suggestions even though the mach driver just would not work with my setup. The smoothstepper is the way to go (from what I see so far).