Running a DOS Program with a PCMIA RS232c COM1 Port on WinXp

[Graham Brooker]

I posted earlier on a similar subject, but now have better information from
which to ask the question differently

I used to use my Panasonic PBX set-up DOS program on my Win98 PC.

I have been told by Panasonic that their DOS program for setting up their
PBX will also run on a WinXP laptop if it has a physical RS232c interface as
it relies on memory mapped io addresses for comms and handshaking that are
not present on USB to RS232c converters which simply rely on Win drivers for
their implementation.

Does anybody know whether I am likely to be able to use a PCMIA RS232c
adaptor card in my laptop to run a DOS program. Do these cards also use
drivers or have they got true memory mapped io locations that can be
accessed by the original DOS software in the same way.

Thanks

Graham Brooker

 

[RobertVA]

I posted earlier on a similar subject, but now have better information from
which to ask the question differently

I used to use my Panasonic PBX set-up DOS program on my Win98 PC.

I have been told by Panasonic that their DOS program for setting up their
PBX will also run on a WinXP laptop if it has a physical RS232c interface as
it relies on memory mapped io addresses for comms and handshaking that are
not present on USB to RS232c converters which simply rely on Win drivers for
their implementation.

Does anybody know whether I am likely to be able to use a PCMIA RS232c
adaptor card in my laptop to run a DOS program. Do these cards also use
drivers or have they got true memory mapped io locations that can be
accessed by the original DOS software in the same way.

Thanks

Graham Brooker

Windows XP blocks many implementations of command prompt applications
accessing memory mapped I/O locations as part of its system security and
stability functions. The basic purpose of an operating system is to be
an intermediary between the applications and the hardware to reduce
conflicts between applications. Applications that access the hardware
directly defeat that function.

You might not be able to utilize an application that directly accesses
memory mapped I/O without setting up a dual boot system with a 16 bit
DOS as one of the coices of operating system. Windows 9x implemented
that as a "DOS Mode" that renamed some of the system startup files
before rebooting.

 

[Guest]

Have you already tried any serial to USB adapter?
If yes, what exactly fails: the program does not find the COM port or fails
later?
There still are PCMCIA to serial adapters on sale, but these also
are not 100% like the real serial port, hence you may have same problem with
them.
I'd advice not to surrender early. Try several models.

Note that DOS apps under XP - unlike win98 - never ever see the real
hardware of any kind of serial port - only emulation. No wonder that
some apps feel the difference.

Regards,
--PA