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| Thread ID: 36830 | 2003-08-21 10:31:00 | USB/Serial/DOS | Jon* (4449) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 169282 | 2003-08-21 10:31:00 | My work involves Serial comms sessions with Control Systems using DOS based software. Up till now no problems, we have been using ancient notebooks with dedicated serial ports. Updating to a Celeron chipped notebook with no serial port, just USB ports is proving to be a problem. Just get a USB to Serial adaptor, install the drivers and all should be well. Not so.... Any Windows based software runs OK, just select the com port assigned to the USB/Serial adaptor and let the operating system resolve the IRQ issues and get on with it. Using the DOS software is a different matter. Manually assign the Comm port and the IRQ, and you can setup a comms session. It seems that you can read data from the system under test but making changes and saving them causes the notebook into either a no response mode requiring a complete re-start or some lesser state, sometimes it will save one line of code and then go to a no response state. Have tried Win 98se, 2k and XP pro with the same results. I would install a DOS partition if that would help, but DOS dosen't know what a USB port is ! On our desktop machines in the lab (with serial ports), our DOS software runs perfectly well no matter what the operating system. Rewriting the DOS software is not an option as it is a proprietary item. We have a need to use this software for at least the next 5 years, so if we want to update our field notebooks, we need to find a solution. Otherwise I'll be buying up old Compaqs off Trade-Me for spares !!! Can anyone suggest a Shell or Emulation prg that will allow us to work around this problem ? Any on-topic suggestions will be gratefully received. Thanks |
Jon* (4449) | ||
| 169283 | 2003-08-21 13:17:00 | This stuff is way over my head but this site has info about USB support for DOS - www.theinquirer.net HTH |
Robin S_ (86) | ||
| 169284 | 2003-08-21 13:39:00 | Thanks Robin but it looks like the Panasonic driver mentioned here is for mass storage devices, hard drives, cd writers etc. I'll still have a look for it and give it a try though. Cheers Jon |
Jon* (4449) | ||
| 169285 | 2003-08-21 23:57:00 | If running under XP try the compatability mode setting for the dos program. It has saved me with an old accounting program. | mikebartnz (21) | ||
| 169286 | 2003-08-22 01:06:00 | I presume the Celerons are "latest" celerons. Is it a option to purchase second hand laptops with serial ports (you presumably have thought of that). | Dolby Digital (160) | ||
| 169287 | 2003-08-24 04:41:00 | Mike, Have tried this, anyway the applications run OK under any version of Windows, it is the interface to the USB port/outside world that is the problem. Further investigation shows that you can connect to a system read the values but not exchange data. Sort of a one way (read only) session if you get my drift... Cheers Jon |
Jon* (4449) | ||
| 169288 | 2003-08-24 04:42:00 | DD, Yes they are late model Celerons and the option of using old notebooks was covered in the original post. Cheers Jon |
Jon* (4449) | ||
| 169289 | 2003-08-24 04:57:00 | Would a Cardbus to serial card do the job? www.pcmciagear.com | mark.p (383) | ||
| 169290 | 2003-08-24 06:05:00 | I think you have virtually answered your own question, since dos 'abhors' USB. :( As far as I know the USB serial adapters will work best under Windows when connected to specific devices, but I'm not at all sure whether there are general purpose com port emulation programs around. Just possibly the brand of USB/serial adapter may have some influence. I found this pdf on a Belkin (downloads.belkin.com) adapter that makes interesting reading, but doesnt answer your query. |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
| 169291 | 2003-08-24 06:28:00 | Just adding some confirmation that dos programs will not work, Ive just done a fairly extensive product search and not found any that support dos other than the Belkin "dos box support". This site (www.mutek.co.uk), if you scroll down is typical in that is says dos programs will not work. Other products only specify different windows flavours that the devices will work with. |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
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