Dual boot wont work. It is not a format problem. The
problem is that XP hides the COM ports from the
application programs.
When you boot XP, it does a hardware poll to see what's
connected to it. Because XP does not get a response from
my external hardware on the COM port ('cause my external
hardware doesn't sync to the XP poll), XP says there's
nothing there and takes the COM port off the "active
devices list". When the application program tries to
communicate with the external hardware, XP won't allow the
communication because XP doesn't think there is anything
connected. For this reason, a dual boot will not work
because XP must be installed LAST and that tells me XP
will continue to try to "manage" the hardware ports.
It is exactly the same problem as XP un-installing your
external modem if you forget to turn it on before booting
your computer.
This is what Microsoft calls a "feature" - since the
didn't allow the Administrator to "freeze" a hardware
configuration, I'd call it a "bug"!
Older versions of Windows didn't have this problem - at
least up to and including 95. I need to make sure XP is
the only version that has this PITA "feature".
Calam
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