problem with com ports

[Guest]

At my job we have older software that communicates to controllers through com
ports. This will work fine with Windows 98 but not with XP. We have
VirtualPC to recreate a Windows 98 environment on a computer with XP, and
that still worked. I understand that XP has given the kernel priority to the
ports so that the user cannot interfere with anything that it is doing, but
there has to be a way to get through to the ports. One example is we are
running a file that is to be cut on a glass cutting machine. The table gets
the instructions from the computer one at a time (although at a very high
rate). This will work for a while, yet then the entire file is dumped into
the controller, instead of one at a time. Another example is just
communicating through the com port with a PLC. I have even tried a solution
called Porttalk. It is supposed to open the ports for an exe to use, yet
this still has not worked for me. I am hoping to get any information that
can help me solve this problem. Thanks in advance

 

[Nepatsfan]

Have you tried using the program compatability wizard in Windows XP? Open
the Help and Support center and search for "Getting older programs to run on
Windows XP".

Nepatsfan

 

[Guest]

Yes, I have tried the compatibility wizard, and that did not work.

 

[Nepatsfan]

Yes, I have tried the compatibility wizard, and that did not work.

So much for an easy fix. I'm guessing that you've already checked with the
software manufacturer about a workaround for this problem. It may simply be
a case that your company has to bite the bullet and shell out for new
software. You also might want to post this question to a newsgroup that
deals with hardware subjects.

Good luck finding a solution

Nepatsfan

 

[Guest]

Thanks, I was also wondering that I know that software writers have gotten
around this problem, and so I am going to re-write some of the software that
we use. I am looking to find information to be able to gain access to these
ports, or how others have done it in other software. Thanks in advance.

 

[Si Ballenger]

Have you tried using the program compatability wizard in Windows XP? Open
the Help and Support center and search for "Getting older programs to run on
Windows XP".

Nepatsfan

XP doesn't seem to like older programs that were made with things
like quickbasic where the com port was opened like a file. The
easiest thing to do probably is to get an old box with win98 on
it and dedicate it to running the old program. I use a program
called userport (google for userport.zip) which gives you
hardware access on XP. You can bitbang the parallel port and
such, but I don't think it will help with your program if the
issue is the way the program tries to open the com port.