Tech Arsenal 1

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Tech Arsenal 1 / Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO / tek-15 / pf271.zip / PFREVIEW.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1992-06-22 | 16KB | 374 lines

Reprinted Article From The Oct 17, 1989 PC Magazine Advisor Column By: Lori Grunin Title: Beyond COM2 LETTER: I've been stumped by IBM's design limit for serial ports. I'd like to add a COM3 and COM4 beyond the two already installed in my 386 clone. I put the new board in and properly set the jump- ers, but when I attempted to set the communications parameters via DOS's MODE command, I got "illegal device" error messages. I've looked for books to tell me how to get around this problem, but to no avail. Is there a software driver that I must install to effect valid operation of these ports? Thomas Emery Goleta, California RESPONSE: IBM's original PC architecture supported only two COM ports, and although compatible makers, and eventually IBM, added more serial capability, there are still no standard addresses or IRQ (Inter- rupt Request) lines for the additional ports. The addresses for COM1 and COM2 are 3F8h and 2F8h, respectively, with COM1 on IRQ4 and COM2 on IRQ3. When you install more serial ports, COM3 usually uses 3E8h and IRQ4, while COM4 uses 2E8h and IRQ3. Unfortunately, some I/O card makers like to blaze their own trails; IBM even added uncommon COM port addresses and IRQs to the long list of PS/2 eccentricities. The DOS MODE command doesn't work with serial ports above COM2 because DOS gets its I/O information from the BIOS, which finds out what's installed where in your system during the Power-On Self-Test (POST). The POST checks only for the first two in- stalled ports. To get around this problem, communications software and some serial peripherals (such as mice) will occasionally support higher COM ports by addressing them directly, rather than making DOS function calls. Of course, if your peripherals don't support these extra ports or you need to redirect data using the MODE command, that's where trouble arises. There are a couple of public-domain utilities that allow you to append your COM port information to the BIOS, making the ports DOS-accessible. COMSET (COMSET.ARC) and Port Finder (PF2.ARC) are available in the "general hardware" data library of the IBMHW forum on Compuserve; Port Finder can also be obtained from its author, mcTRONic Systems (7426 Cornwall Bridge Ln., Houston, TX 77041;(713)462-7687). Both packages activate COM3 and COM4 (if they're installed, of course), and require DOS 3.3 or later. They basically do two things: activate the extra ports by giving the BIOS the address- es, and provide utilities for swapping the addresses among the different ports. Address-swapping allows programs that don't support COM3 and COM4 to access them. Software that directly addresses the ports will usually be unaffected. Keep in mind, however, that you probably won't be able to swap two ports that share an IRQ (such as COM1 and COM3) if you've got a mouse attached to one of them, because the system will get confused when the interrupt triggers. Port Finder is the more flexible of the two. In addition to the aforementioned features, it provides the same capabilities for LPT3, including swapping among printer ports. Furthermore, it lets you easily restore all your original settings. Even if you think you've correctly configured the board, it can't hurt to double check a couple of things. If you've got a bus mouse, for instance, make sure that you're not stepping on its IRQ; although interrupt sharing is one of the touted features of the PS/2, PCs can't do it very well. Also, don't leave any port holes-if you've got three, they should be COM1,COM2, and COM3, not COM1,COM2, and COM4. [END] Excerpt from July 1990 issue of "Vulcan's Computer Monthly" 10 Indispensable Online Utilities Commentary by Ron Albright Heaven knows that the communication voyager has enough problems to deal with to find the jewels that await successful connections. Incompatible baud speeds, word length, and stop bits, noisy phone lines, busy signals, and other frustrations stand in our way almost at every turn. We battle on, however, knowing that once we succeed, a wealth of information and soft- ware awaits. Fortunately, there are several tools that every good commu- nications should be aware of and keep in their armamentarium. This article will examine 10 of these gems. Each handles a specific problem the electronic journeyman faces, and alleviates it to a large degree. Here are my picks. PORT FINDER ... As you are probably well aware, setting up a PC for communi- cations is not a walk in the park. The first battle you face is getting a modem to coexist with your current hardware. If you are like me, and have more hardware hanging from your computer than you can manage, you can run into problems right there. I for example, currently (it changes from week to week) have a Logitech ScanMan Plus and Trackman connected as Bus- devices (their own cards rather than using my serial ports), a voice mail board, and an internal modem configured as COM3. Since the PC handles any hardware device through an "interrupt" ("IRQ"), you can quickly run into conflicts that immobilize devices. You end up doing the "jumper shuffle," changing those little jumpers, replacing the boards, re-booting, and crossing your fingers- hoping to find a montage that works. Well with "Port Finder" (mcTRONic Systems, 7426 Cornwall Bridge Ln., Houston, TX 77041; (713) 462-7687; Shareware, $13.95), at least some of the guesswork is eliminated. PORT FINDER is a very versatile program. It will display your computer type, BIOS date, DOS version, display adapter type, total base memory , extended memory, expanded memory and EMS version. It will detect and display COM1 to COM4 and LPT1 to LPT3 ports that are responding with the actual HEX ad- dress. Because PORT FINDER displays the HEX port addresses you can also use PORT FINDER as a diagnostic tool. You can swap COM or LPT ports addresses instead of swapping cables. On AT systems Port Finder will check to see if a game port is present and if so it will be added to the equipment list. If you are using DOS 3.3 or higher and have COM3 and/or COM4, PORT FINDER will activate both COM3 and/or COM4. DOS will then recognize these ports and you will be able to use the DOS MODE command. Most system information type programs such as the Norton Utilities System Information (SI) program will correctly indicate the number of serial ports that you have including the COM3 and/or COM4 ports after you run PORT FINDER. Any other programs that operate through DOS should also accept COM3 and/or COM4 after you run PORT FINDER (if the program does not allow you to enter COM3 or COM4 then you will need to swap COM3 or COM4 with COM1 or COM2 before you run such a program then select either COM1 or COM2 in said program). If you have a new IBM PS/2 computer COM3 and/or COM4 will already be activated . You can use PORT FINDER to reset both COM and LPT port addresses in case you forget what addresses have been swapped. PORT FINDER can also be used in a BATCH file to detect which COM ports are present. An Errorlevel is set for all possible combinations. An example batch file COMMTEST.BAT is included. Port Finder will work under Microsoft Windows and a .PIF in now included with Port Finder. Due to the fact that Desqview moves the COM and LPT port addresses to a nonstandard location, Port Finder will not be able to properly work when Desqview is loaded. For those, like me, who find themselves swapping hardware in and out of a machine with great regularity, Port Finder is an indispensable tool for managing your ports. I couldn't live without it. PKZip ... TELEDISK ... PKware, Inc. Sydex 7545 N. Port Washington Rd. 153 North Murphy Ave. Glendale, WI 53217 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 414-352-3670 408-739-4866 Shareware, $47 Shareware, $25 LIST ... MSGVU ... Vernon Buerg Dave Briccetti and Associates 139 White Oak Circle P.O. Box 1713 Pateluma, CA 94952 Lafayette, CA 94549 $29.95 Shareware, $30 VDE ... Elsewhere ... Eric Meyer INTERLINK TECHNOLOGIES 401 12th Ave SE - # 139 1222 5th Street Norman, OK 73071 Sarasota, FL 34236 405-329-5777 Updates $20 Site Licenses $50 ZMODEM ... Checkup ... Omen Technology Incorporated's Levine & Associates 17505-V 9405 Bustleton Ave. Northwest Sauvie Island Road P.O. Box 14546 Portland, Oregon 97231 Phila., PA 19115 Shareware, $20 215-333-8274 $24.94 Procomm 4.2 ... DataStorm Technologies P.O. Box 1471 Columbia, MO 65205 Reprinted From PC Computing January 1991, Prime Time Section Going Fishing For Shareware? Pack an Online Tackle Box by: Wendy Taylor . . . Some communications programs let you use only COM1 or 2, Port Finder, a utility from mcTRONic Systems ($13.95; 7426 Cornwall Bridge Lane, Houston, Texas; 713-462-7687) lets your software address COM3 and 4 as well. It saves you the hassle of reconfiguring your software or swapping cables. . . . Reprinted From The Power User's Tool Kit 1.0 - August 1990 MicroWAREHOUSE Presents The Power Users's Tool Kit 1.0 Compiled by: Rick Ayre . . . PORT FINDER James McDaniel's Port Finder is one of my favorite Shareware pro- grams. Couple my love for communications with this easy to use program and its ability to solve port conflicts on almost any PC, and you can see why. This is one of those programs that was ori- ginally written because the author needed a tool, and couldn't find it. Today, I'm happy for all the frustration that drove him to create Port Finder. In this recent release, it not only sniffs out ports, both serial and parallel, but allows the initialization of com 3 and 4 if available. It will also let you swap any legal ports. This version comes with a device driver that can be loaded into your config.sys file to configure your ports as you like. . . . Reprinted From The CPC Newsletter - New Canaan, CT - January 1991 The PC Chronicles by: Edward L. Kivell . . . One of the most useful shareware programs that I've run across in quite some time is Port Finder. This is a Comm (serial) and LPT (parallel) port utility program. It will activate Comm 3 or 4 on those computers with those ports and DOS 3.3 or higher. Additionally, it allows all possible Comm to Comm and LPT to LPT port swaps. The program works flawlessly. Through this program, I have been able to activate Comm 3 on my PC and assign my fax / modem to that port. By placing a single command in my "AUTOEXEC. BAT" file, Comm 3 is turned on without my worrying about it. Rather than pull and switch serial cables because several serial devices have to share Comm 1 or 2, you can use Port Finder to swap the ports. The shareware fee is only $13.95 so you don't want to be without this utility. . . . Reprinted From PC SOURCES - FEBRUARY 1992 ISSUE FORUM By: Barry Brenesal . . . Port Finder is one of those utilities that you seldom need, but when you do , it's a godsend. It overcomes the IBM's design limitations, which prevent the use of all but COM1 and COM2 serial ports. If these ports in your system are already assigned, and your peripherals or programs won't address higher ports directly, Port Finder actvates your COM3 and COM4 ports. It also performs all possible COM and LPT port swaps, and displays port addresses and basic system information. Port Finder: mcTRONic Systems, James D. McDaniel, 7426 Cornwall Bridge Ln., Houston, TX 77041, 713-462-7687. . . . Reprinted From PC Computing's Guide to SHAREWARE - (C) 1992 by ZD APPENDIX B By : Preston Gralla . . . If you have a complicated hardware setup, you may run into problems using your COM ports. For instance, what do you do when you need to use COM3 for communications, and your communications software can only use COM1 or COM2? The answer is to get Port Finder, which will let you use COM3 and COM4. . . . Port Finder Registration fee: $ mcTRONic Systems 7426 ornwall Bridge Lane Houston, TX 77041 (713) 462-7687 ***************************************************************** NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE NOTICE ***************************************************************** All Port Finder articles are unmodified except for their price reference, which will be the latest price including shipping in the USA. The prices were changed to avoid confusion. Most articles included information about other programs which has been left out here. Only that portion about Port Finder is included.