Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: geoffl on July 17, 2012, 04:21:11 AM
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Hi,
I want to buy a USB device which uses a virtual serial port. The driver software assigns the next available serial port to it. How can I find the address of this port?
Regards
Geoffl
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I would consider trying to find it in Computer Management.
What kind of USB Device? A memory stick, mobile device, ect, ect.
Right click on "Computer" and click "Manage", or open up the command line and type in "compmgmt". Under the left plane, expand the "System Tools" tree, and click on "Device Manager". I would imagine that it would come up in "Portable Devices", so expand that and right click on the device and do "Properties".
Hope it helps.
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System info for Windows will report it i believe...still Free...
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A USB COM port appears in Device Manager as a COM port, I believe, since the driver basically fakes it's existence to the system. Therefore you can try visiting Device Manager and locating that "virtual" COM port. Right-clicking and choosing properties, you can then look at the resources tab to see any resourced allocated to the device.
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geoffl,
You could provide some detail as to why you need to use a USB device as a COM port. What OS are you using? What kind of computer?
Are you using n old DOS program that needs to directly get to the serial ports? If so, you may have some trouble.
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Hi,
Thank you all for your interest. I haven't got the device yet (snail mail). It is a trigger to open a cash draw using NTVDM under XP. I have one now which connects to a com port. It works fine using a program called porttalk. I give porttalk the address and it gets permission to open the port (Not allowed I know). I think that if I know the address of the virtual port the USB version will work the same. My laptop does not have a com port. I am guessing the virtual port may get the same address as the first com port on any system. On all my work computers this is 03F8. Is this the same on every computer. If so what would be the address of com port 2.
Regards
Geoffl
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geoffl,
You need to find out from the manufacture if the virtual port mimics all or just some of the port elements.
It maybe more feasible to modify the software you have by a hot patch of the actual low level code.
EDIT: Here is a reference for BASIC programers
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823179
A real serial port has three output lines a and three to five input lines. Two of the output lines are controlled only via the control port, not the data port.
Has the OP considered using the parallel port? Lot easier.
http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/cable/parallel.html
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I'd wait for the device to arrive and read the instruction Manual...
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Hi,
Finally got the device and it works fine. Device manager shows no resources tab, but it must have the address of the first com port 03f8 because porttalk opens it with that address. Thank you all for your input.
Regards Geoffl
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Hey! Don't go away.
That has to be great device. Please tell us more abut it.
A USB adapter that fully mimics a serial port is a great tool!
I had no idea that it would work that well! Who makes it? what does it cost? Web Sire?
Details please. Curious minds need to know! :)
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Hi,
The company is umd.com.au. The product is a serial cash draw trigger model 317. Cost is $AU95 I think. Paul Otto ([email protected]) is a very helpful and knowledgeable person. Thank you for your interest.
Regards Geoffl