How to configure an AST Four Port serial card for Windows XP

[Jack E. Wilkinson]

Windows XP Pro (patched to the current levels)
ASUS CUV4X motherboard
Pentium Coppermine 667-mhz processor
512mb ram

ancient, but working, AST Four Port serial card outfitted with
16550A UARTS. card is set to IRQ 5, ports 1A0h, 1A8h, 1B0h & 1B8h.
interrupt sharing is disabled.

this machine dual-boots XP & linux (fedora core 1). i had to
disable PCI sharing in the BIOS for irq 5 for linux to be able
to "see" the AST card. under linux, the AST card performs with
no problems.

but i want to use it under XP as well. and thats the problem.

so far i've used the Add Hardware Wizard to add the card as a
Multiport Communications Port (from the Ports (COM&LPT)->Standard
menu) with NO luck whatsoever. i've tried the same menu using
the standard Communications Port driver and adding four ports.
this -kind of- worked. when i use a terminal program to open
the port i can see the control lines go active on a breakout box,
but no data is transmitted. sending a BREAK does show on the
breakout as the appropriate xmit data signal transition.

i have not been able to find drivers anywhere for the card for XP
(if they're even needed).

*ANY* input/help would be greatly appreciated!

thanks,
jack

 

[Jim Macklin]

It probably won't work under XP without a driver. If AST
doesn't have one for the "ancient ... serial card" see if
you can find a modern PCI version.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message
| Windows XP Pro (patched to the current levels)
| ASUS CUV4X motherboard
| Pentium Coppermine 667-mhz processor
| 512mb ram
|
| ancient, but working, AST Four Port serial card outfitted
with
| 16550A UARTS. card is set to IRQ 5, ports 1A0h, 1A8h,
1B0h & 1B8h.
| interrupt sharing is disabled.
|
| this machine dual-boots XP & linux (fedora core 1). i had
to
| disable PCI sharing in the BIOS for irq 5 for linux to be
able
| to "see" the AST card. under linux, the AST card performs
with
| no problems.
|
| but i want to use it under XP as well. and thats the
problem.
|
| so far i've used the Add Hardware Wizard to add the card
as a
| Multiport Communications Port (from the Ports
(COM&LPT)->Standard
| menu) with NO luck whatsoever. i've tried the same menu
using
| the standard Communications Port driver and adding four
ports.
| this -kind of- worked. when i use a terminal program to
open
| the port i can see the control lines go active on a
breakout box,
| but no data is transmitted. sending a BREAK does show on
the
| breakout as the appropriate xmit data signal transition.
|
| i have not been able to find drivers anywhere for the card
for XP
| (if they're even needed).
|
| *ANY* input/help would be greatly appreciated!
|
| thanks,
| jack
|