Newbie here.  

When i start my computer the led on the BOB lights up until i open mach 3.  When i open mach3 the BOB light turns off and won't turn on again until i restart my computer.  I believe it could be my setting in mach3 because even if i disconnect the BOB and use a voltmeter to watch the parallel port pins i see the power turn off when starting mach 3.

Have a longs kit (bob db25-1205, 3 axis, dm860a drivers) wired up according to the included schematic.  Running a 32bit machine with an onboard parallel port.  Parallel port is set to lpt1, hex 378, bios for the port is set on ecp mode.

I have tried with "motor outputs" and "input signals" selected as enabled and also turned off.  I have tried all combinations of enabled and active high/low for the estop setting.

Inputs greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

even if i disconnect the BOB and use a voltmeter to watch the parallel port pins i see the power turn off when starting mach 3.

Are you trying to power the BOB from your parallel port ??

Tweakie.

I was.  The longs diagram doesnt show an additional 5v power supply so i thought the parallel port must power the board.  Since figured out that i need an external supply.  I hooked one up and the board is working.    Thank you for your reply.  Now my issue is that i only get one motor pulse when jogging before the driver faults.