Drafix CAD Ultra 4.20J

[Terry Gallant]

I have designed many products with this program and still do.  It is simple and still works under a Windows DOS Prompt.  I am unable to do so on a laptop when traveling.  The program stops loading when it can not find a Com. Port.  I have been unable to turn off these  Com. port Commands. Drafix loads and works from a USB Port, but only the Touch Pad is active.  It works well on a desktop with Com. Ports and USB Mouse controls.

[CyberAngel]

I'm not familiar with Drafix, but some of those old DOS programs would look for a dongle connected to a serial port. The dongle is nothing but a plug with a key inside. If the program doesn't find that key, it refuses to start. Primitive but effective security.

 

If that is the case, there's some mechanism on the desktop that spoofs the dongle, or maybe the dongle itself is still there. Maybe there's some way to do it on the laptop. Not really my specialty, back in the day I was making dongles, not getting around them.

[BIGAL]

There are many free or very inexpensive products out there now, and would have even more functions than what sounds like a older CAD program, and will work on laptops etc.

[SLW210]

I moved your thread to the Catch All Forum.