I'm maintaining a Windows 10 workstation that uses Bill Redirect Serial to Keyboard to capture weights from an attached scale and enter them directly into a sales website. The software searches for a keyboard buffer file when Windows starts, but the required file is missing, so the scale integration does not work. Management cannot upgrade or migrate the system right now. I've searched for documentation and examples but haven't found a clear explanation of which file is required or how it should be created. The error may refer to an MSI installer file or an INI configuration file, so I'm also trying to determine which one is actually missing. What is the correct way to repair or recreate this configuration?
3 Answers
A keyboard-wedge setup is old, but replacing the hardware may not solve a missing software configuration. Start by checking Windows Event Viewer, the application’s own logs, and antivirus quarantine. Also compare the broken workstation with another machine that has a working installation; differences in the program folder, startup command, and configuration files should reveal what is missing.
First confirm the exact filename and extension from the startup error. An MSI file is an installer package, while an INI file is a text-based configuration file; they are not interchangeable. Check the application’s installation folder, startup shortcut, and registry run entry to see whether the program is being launched with a specific configuration-file path. If the file was deleted or quarantined, reinstalling the same version of the software or restoring the original installation backup is safer than creating a blank file.
Look for an in-program setup or configuration option that creates the keyboard buffer settings. Some versions may generate the file after the serial port, baud rate, scale format, and output behavior are configured. Copy the installation directory and export any relevant settings before experimenting, then run the program with the permissions it normally uses at startup.
The available product documentation may help identify the expected configuration, but it does not appear to clearly document an INI file. I’d verify the exact error text and version before changing anything.