Date: 7/3/09 4:56 AM

I just got my Pfaff Creative 2144. Wow! They really pack a lot of stuff into that little sewing machine package. But there appear to be a few things missing. At least when I review the FAQs in the disk marked 4D.

And boy do I have questions!

I want to download embroidery patterns, but cannot figure out how to do this crucial step, and it looks like I am missing something.

I'm probably missing a lot, but that's a known fact in my life lately.

Is there a site that provides clear instructions for idiots?

I was an honor student in higher math, understand mechanics, have a good idea what I am doing on a computer and am totally awash and at sea when it comes to figuring out how to do any of "whatever" to accomplish even the most mundane of things.

I've got an idea on how to stabilize, how to hoop, and how to get the right needle into the machine, put the proper foot on and connect the embroidery unit. I'm not expert, but I am catching on to the principles of many things. I put the card in, and went to town on a couple of designs, even running out of bobbin thread and going back to the stitch that was the last good one, and getting the design to finish in a respectable fashion.

But....

I've got all this material called FAQs, with not one of my questions in the FAQ category. Plus, everything is "dongle this" and "dongle that".

What dongle?

And if I "dongle" in public, can I be arrested?

Do I need to "dongle" in private?

Do I need to "dongle" to embroider anything that didn't come in the box with the machine?

Wherefore art thou, Dongle?

Any helpful sites out there? Remember, you'll be answering that idiot every village is missing. Thanks.

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Date: 7/3/09 5:55 AM

Scroll down here... do you have anything that looks like that?

You stick it in the USB slot. That's all I can tell you. But I thought the picture might help a little.

Mel
-- Edited on 7/3/09 5:56 AM --

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The only place where housework comes before sewing is in the dictionary. ~Mary Kurtz

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Date: 7/3/09 6:48 AM

LOl, you will not have a dongle if you have purchased the 2144 machine only. the Dongle - I don't know the exact origin of the phrase but I'm betting a man invented it - would only come with the software. The dongle activates or verifies the 4D software. It goes into your computer not your sewing machine. With your 2144 there should be a CD that goes on your computer either 3D file assistant or perhaps now 4D file assistant this disk allows your computer to see your sewing machine as an external device (once you plug in the cable with the card at one end and the USB at the other) and you can then download designs and transfer them to the computer. Pfaff 2144 has an older style directory look and you will see your designs on your machine (which you have transferred to the computer via the cable) under the root directory when you go to the file open command in your machine once you are in embroidery mode. I have a 2170 it is for all practical purposes the same machine.

A dongle looks like a micro thumb drive mine is red and my 4D program doesn't effectively launch if its not in but my I the file assistant and the organiser will run if you have the CD.

hope that helps

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Date: 7/3/09 8:21 AM

LOL - yep, a dongle is not an 'R' rated body part. It is like an ignition key to start a car. Car won't run without it.

Did you buy software? If you have purchased the separate Pfaff 4D software and have no dongle, then the software will not open up on your computer. You probably can't even load it properly on to your computer, without the dongle.
If a very basic software program comes with the embroidery module package, probably no dongle is necessary for it.

When one spends big buck$ for the software, then a dongle comes with it. If one loses it, you have to buy the software all over again. It's a seller/mfr. protection issue and I totally understand about that. Keeps people from sharing the software with hundreds of other people. Copyright protection, IP, and all that.

If you bought this machine from a dealer, they can help you. If you bought it from eBay or private seller, and there is software package, they should have given you the dongle.

Hope this helps.

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Reply to FiddlingLizzie
Date: 7/3/09 11:23 AM

If you zoom in on this picture, I believe the "card" attached to the cord in the center of the picture is the "dongle".

Some software only allows you to move downloaded designs from the computer to the EM via the "dongle".

When software states "dongle", I go the other way. There are many software programs that do not require a key in order to use them.

This may help you with the steps for downloading designs from the Internet.

If you do not have catalog software (allows viewing and minor editing) this one is not too expensive.

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"Trying to save the world before bedtime"---PowerPuff Girls

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Date: 7/3/09 6:01 PM

The dealer called, and new software is on the way. This should make my card with a cord attached (thank you aslinnd), into a dongle-ette. Or not.

My fear that I'll be stopped on the street, and have to admit I am not carrying, wearing or bearing a dongle, because I guess I am destined to be dongle free. I'm certain to get into trouble sometime though, just for wearing something with neat embroidery on it.

The good news is that once I get the real software, I'll also keep my hair, which was dangerously close to being pulled out at the roots from frustration.

Now if I could only get the computer to stay online for more than five minutes straight...

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Date: 7/4/09 9:48 AM

Independence Day, Happy Birthday USA!

Happier still, I have finally gotten the dongle dilemma solved, thanks to everyone here!

Now, I am still without my very own dongle, but am not nearly as fearful of being pulled over by Embroidery Enforcement for wearing a lovely flower or flag on my shirt without the proof that my software was licensed, my download properly dongled, and my thread selection appropriate to the day.

On to the next question, which is one of about a million. Thanks everyone for helping me dissect the dongle dilemma, without of course dissecting the dongle. I understand that can actually hurt if done without proper adult supervision.

And, trust me on this, there aren't many proper adults around me this red-white-and blue hot minute!

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Date: 7/4/09 1:39 PM

Not a helpful reply, but anyway: Thanks, FiddlingLizzie, for this thread ... you really made my day with you question and comments

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Date: 7/6/09 4:59 AM

Thanks StitchBuddy. As you're in Germany, could you find out what is supposed to be going on, or rather where exactly, my dongle is dangling, if in fact it should be dangling around here? I don't think it made it to this side of the pond.

And yes, I ask this because I read through a ton of FAQs, and every third one seems to concern a Dongle.

Dangling or not.

ARRRGH!

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Reply to FiddlingLizzie
Date: 7/6/09 9:54 AM

Lizzie,
I hope the Fiddling part of your name is for a musical instrument and not the "dongle."

Just a comment in this thread---I have a dongle for my digitizing software, but I commented to my dh when I got my first dongle that they should not have named it that. You plug it in and it lights up (very fun for kids to take and play with---then your software won't work!) I always said it looked like a part from a male dog that glowed! And just mention in public that you have a dongle!!! You can really get some looks!

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"Sewing should be fun; make it that way!" Margaret Islander

Flying through life by the seat of my pants and hoping I get my crotch curve right.


"No humiliation is too great for a well fitting pair of pants!" Heidi Cooper

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