Transfer Windows 2000 POS To New Desktop

[scandalist]

Hey guys,

My girlfriends step dad owns a restaruant that is running a DINOSAUR POS system. I did some work on this thing before and everything about it is old, (Windows 2000)

Today he purchased a new computer and asked me if I could transfer the POS to it. (Not sure if it's 8 or 7) I know for a fact that they do not have contact information for the POS software and I'm wondering if its going to be at all possible to do this.

Have you guys ever transferred a POS over to a new machine? I would like to attack this thing with some tips from you guys if you have experience with this kind of thing.

 

[Go-To Gordon]

The only POS systems I've worked on were Revention systems and they are locked down hard! You have to buy from them. Not as simple as installing the software on whatever you want. If the drive failed they (the restaurant) had to buy a drive from Revention with an image already on it. Hell even adding a stick of ram made windows say it wasn't activated due to hardware change! Ram not mobo or cpu

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Have you guys ever transferred a POS over to a new machine?.

Yup..plenty of times. It's typical network software...1x rig will be the "server"..others are client/workstations.

The steps on installing/configuring it of course vary widely, some brands of POS software are easily done, others can be clunky/archaic, others middle of the road.

Typically you want to check into supported hardware....especially if this client runs a lot of peripheral hardware (receipt printers, barcode scanners, CC swipes, pole displays, barcode printers, whatever).

You have difference in hardware of course with todays peripherals (such as USB based), versus way back then when they were parallel and serial port based. POS software often has a limited list of what hardware it works with.

To support newer hardware and newer peripherals...(and host operating system since we're 64 bit OS now, unlike the 32 bit OS back then) the point of sale software typically needs to be upgraded to a current supported version. Which of course requires re-upping the support contract with the POS software company. <===which of course should be a primary concern for you..this can be a big migration, you should insist of the client getting support for at least this year...and have the help of the POS software company in doing this upgrade/migration.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I doubt that this is doable. 15 year old software and OS on modern hardware. Doubtful you will be able to get drivers for anything and as Stonecat pointed out the hardware that was common then isn't on systems now. I've not seen a LPT port in 7 or 8 years and if you can find add cards for them I doubt they will have drivers for a OS that was discontinued in 2004.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I've not seen a LPT port in 7 or 8 years and if you can find add cards for them I doubt they will have drivers for a OS that was discontinued in 2004.

Most biz grade workstations (HP Elite or Dell Optiplex) can still get them...sometimes standard. Even still get models with old 9 pin serial...we have a bunch of HP Elites that came in for a client that have the old 9 pin COM port on the back. See lots of pink LPT ports common too. BUT..we try to do ultra small form factor PCs for POS systems now...which don't have those, all USB.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Most biz grade workstations (HP Elite or Dell Optiplex) can still get them...sometimes standard. Even still get models with old 9 pin serial...we have a bunch of HP Elites that came in for a client that have the old 9 pin COM port on the back. See lots of pink LPT ports common too. BUT..we try to do ultra small form factor PCs for POS systems now...which don't have those, all USB.

true but they will not have win2k drivers.

 

[Mercenary Roadie]

The biggest question is do they have they disks required for the install or are you trying to just copy the POS system over to the new machine.

Without the disks, this is a non question in my book.

Any idea what the brand of the POS system is?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

true but they will not have win2k drivers.

Don't need 'em for legacy ports...you can install DOS on it and do a dir > lpt1 and have it spit out.

 

[Markverhyden]

I would make an image prior to doing anything. Then, as a test, do a P2V and load it up as a VM. Try them all. If it's that old they probably only used ps2,parallel, serial, and nic. You may be able to get those mapped though.

But, as mentioned, just bite the bullet and get a new one. Maybe Square might work just fine for them.