Unable to Access Com Port

[Chuck in Maine]

I have a DUATS program for accessing Pilot Weather and
Flight planning. Worked fine with Win ME, but with XP, it
fails to access the modem com port for dialing. I've set
compatibility to Win 98, and turned off Services. Doesn't
seem to work. Any ideas?

 

[Malke]

I have a DUATS program for accessing Pilot Weather and
Flight planning. Worked fine with Win ME, but with XP, it
fails to access the modem com port for dialing. I've set
compatibility to Win 98, and turned off Services. Doesn't
seem to work. Any ideas?

You should check with the program mftr. to be sure, but unlike earlier
operating systems, XP will not allow a program to interact directly
with the hardware. You may not be able to run this program in XP. Since
compatibility mode doesn't work, you will need to 1) see if there is a
more current version and/or patch for the original program; 2) find
another program that works in XP that will do what you want; 3) or keep
an older computer around running Win9x/ME for this program.

Good luck,

Malke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Both Win2K and WinXP, like WinNT before them, do not allow any
software applications to directly address hardware resources, such as
serial or parallel ports. This behavior is by design and is one of
the reasons the WinNT family of operating systems is so much more
stable than Win9x.

If the application's manufacturer will not (or cannot because they
no longer exist) provide you with a patch, new device driver, or
product to render this legacy application Win2K/XP-compatible, you
have little choice other than to replace it, or continue using Win98.
You'll need to acquire a version of your application that is designed
specifically for Win2K/XP. Contact the manufacturer of the application
to see if any updates, patches, or upgrades are available.


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH

 

[SteveL]

Could you explain a little more please, you have 2
programs that use a modem to dial out to let's say xxx and
it does not see the MODEM? DOES not dial? if so can you
get into the program and check if the modem is listed, if
it has the correct com port listed? or more info.
I respect Bruce's answer but can not believe that NT/2K/XP
would prevent such a thing. Unless I misunderstood the
question.

Thanks.

 

[SteveL]

Bruce could you explain a little more about what he is
asking, is it a special modem that he is using? or just a
plain 56K. The reason I ask is that I have a digital
camera that uses a comm port and it works fine in XP. I
guess I am not understanding the question.

Thanks

 

[Chuck In Maine]

Bruce, Steve and Malke, thanks...looks like I'll need to
get a patch or new program. Odd that XP doesn't have
an "exception rule" for an older program. /Chuck
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Malke]

Bruce, Steve and Malke, thanks...looks like I'll need to
get a patch or new program. Odd that XP doesn't have
an "exception rule" for an older program. /Chuck
(e-mail address removed)

No, it's not odd at all. It isn't the operating system mftr.'s job to
support all programs - it's the other way round. The program mftr. has
to change the program code if they want their product to run on a
different operating system. XP already has an emulation mode; the fact
that it doesn't work for all programs extant is hardly surprising.

Good luck in your search for a program that will meet your needs.

Malke