RS232 Serial Communications via FreeDOS is not working

[Bob_ii]

Hi Tim, is running FreeDOS a requirement? If not linux might be your best bet. I think your serial ports require Windows to configure them. The other option is running FreeDOS under Win10 but without VMware (if this is even possible?). Running standalone FreeDOS would probably require a piece of driver software -- if one is even available? Bob

[CF4]

Hi

The freedos program is...  terminal.zip (57K)   a tiny vt100/ansi terminal for every pc.

With 5 files inside it, is that what you are using?

[Bob_ii]

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@CF4 wrote:

Hi

The freedos program is...  terminal.zip (57K)   a tiny vt100/ansi terminal for every pc.

With 5 files inside it, is that what you are using?

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CF4: will that program run under CMD.EXE in Win 7-64? Thanks.

Edit:

Did a test run and it's no go. 16-bit DOS programs under 64-bit Win just isn't going to fly. Oh well.

[timatboston]

CF4 and Bob ii,

Thank you both for your responses. 

My key requirement is to run an HP Protocol Analyzer Utility Program to communicate serially with some legacy HP serial protocol analyzers.  Therefore FreeDOS is not "THE" requirement.  If either of you know of a way to do this under linux, windows or other OS, I'm "all ears".

Since serial communications appeared to work in the Win10 cmd window I had tried running the progam there and got the same result of unable to run in a 64bit environment. 

I asked HP if their freeDOS image is "tweaked" to work with their Optical drive/serial ports.  I haven't been able to verify that to date. 

I've tried two other HP models and am testing a Dell also. 

[Bob_ii]

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@timatboston wrote:

CF4 and Bob ii,

Thank you both for your responses. 

My key requirement is to run an HP Protocol Analyzer Utility Program to communicate serially with some legacy HP serial protocol analyzers.  Therefore FreeDOS is not "THE" requirement.  If either of you know of a way to do this under linux, windows or other OS, I'm "all ears".

Since serial communications appeared to work in the Win10 cmd window I had tried running the progam there and got the same result of unable to run in a 64bit environment. 

I asked HP if their freeDOS image is "tweaked" to work with their Optical drive/serial ports.  I haven't been able to verify that to date. 

I've tried two other HP models and am testing a Dell also. 

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(1) What operating system was the HP Protocol Analyzer Utility Program designed for? (MS-DOS, Windows 16, 32 or 64-bit, or ?)

(2) Restore the PC back to factory defaults. If needed re-install Win 10 and restore all the hardware to factory defaults. Verify serial ports are functional in Win 10. Adjust BIOS settings, if needed.

(2a) Connect a serial analyzer via a serial cable and test with a terminal program. You'll need to find a 64-bit terminal program because I don't think Win 10 ships with one. Verify the ports are functional and the serial link works. You can test both ports with this setup. At this point you're back where you started. I'll see if there's a free 64-bit terminal program available.

(3) I'd ask HP for details on how they tested the serial ports. Something doesn't pass the smell test here.

Point 1 will determine where you go from here. Hope this helps.

Bob

[CF4]

Hi

Here I am with the daft suggestions.

Recycling Centre and the oldest bootable machine?

[mdklassen]

>  Here I am with the daft suggestions.

My turn to be daft -- use any of the "Virtual Machine" hyperrvisors, and create a 32-bit V.M., and boot Windows XP inside that V.M. to run a program to talk to "virtualized" COM-ports.

Rube Goldberg, indeed. 

P.S. Don't shoot the messenger. 

[Bob_ii]

Can a VM boot freeDOS?

[mdklassen]

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Can a VM boot freeDOS?

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A VM can boot most versions of Windows or Linux.  Is booting freeDOS more or less complicated than booting Windows?

It would be an interesting experiment to try. Tell us the result. 

[Bob_ii]

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@mdklassen wrote:

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Can a VM boot freeDOS?

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A VM can boot most versions of Windows or Linux.  Is booting freeDOS more or less complicated than booting Windows?

It would be an interesting experiment to try. Tell us the result. 

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Maybe a better way of wording this is: Can Windows 10 64-bit boot freeDOS 16-bit o/s in a virtual machine? The OP will need to determine this.