nesdev.org

Hey guys,
I have got a GD7, a Standard Bi-Directional 10ft Parallel Cable, and an old Toshiba Laptop.
The laptop is running Windows 98SE with all the drivers for it.
I have followed everything here for the guide:
http://gamedoctor-sf6.blogspot.com
When I go to use it, I never get the screen on my GD7 that says "Linked".
I hold down R, it goes to the main menu. I do nothing, it loads the game cart. I hold anything else, nothing happens.
I went into the BIOS of the laptop and changed it from EDP to SBD (Standard Bi-Directional), and back again. Windows noticed the difference, but my GD7 still just does the same thing.
Any ideas, since I just put 80 bucks into this old piece of crap, and it's not doing anything I need it to?
Thanks

I'm changing over to Windows XP and trying again. If this doesn't work, i'm just gonna build an old computer to use XP with.

Is the parallel cable cross-wired, or straight through? I imagine it needs to be straight through. I can't confirm much for you though, because the GD7 I have is in a "Gamestation", which unfortunately has neither a cart slot or parallel port.

I think you are supposed to hold either L or L&R. But I think it's L. Holding R brings up the menu as you discovered.

I'm not too sure. The packaging just says "Moulded 10ft. Bi-directional Parallel Link cable (Interlink)".
I just turned it on holding down different combinations. Either I get the 3-2-1 countdown and it plays the cart, or anything involving R just gives me that menu.
According to the manual it pretty much just says when there's a parallel cable connected, that it's supposed to automatically show with the linked status...which doesn't happen.

It's likely either the cable or the Parallel Port Mode which you configure in your BIOS. Try each setting.

I'm not sure what mode you are using. It should be something like ECP, or EPP, maybe SPP. Bi-directional isn't the right thing I'm pretty sure.

According to here, Interlink is program that uses a cross-wired cable to link 2 computers. So that may be the wrong type of cable, you might try a "straight through" type.

You definitely need a straight through cable. EPP setting would work fine. ECP causes problems in 99% cases and SPP is usually too plain for most such programs.

Awesome, thanks everyone for the information. I ordered a new cable from monoprice.com since they have the ones i'm looking for, for a good price.
Hopefully this time it works

Straight-through cables are also commonly known as Parallel Switchbox Cables (if you're uncertain).

I finally received the new cable. Everything works fine now