Computer Hope

Software => Computer software => Topic started by: alscrimp on March 30, 2010, 08:39:42 AM

Title: No RS232 support
Post by: alscrimp on March 30, 2010, 08:39:42 AM
First, I appologize for this being so long-----I have a laptop I was given to use at work that is dual booted into Windows 98 and XP Professional. The Windows 98 is being used for the DOS architecture only. It is not a full operating system setup. I use this DOS for operating a data acquisition machine. However, this new laptop does not have an RS232 port for the DB9 adapter cable that is on the data machine. What I am trying to do is to use a USB conversion cable as this laptop has many USB ports. I know I need a USB driver for this to work. I went to the adapter's webpage and downloaded the driver for Win98 (as there is no driver support for DOS). Here is my dilemna: being that Win98 is not a full operating system, the driver will not load. Is there some way I can manually place the driver in config.sys and autoexec.bat in the DOS architecture. I have tried many configurations that did not work. Unfortunately this data system has to run in DOS only.
Title: Re: No RS232 support
Post by: patio on March 30, 2010, 09:53:23 AM
No.
It would have to be a driver written specifically for DOS to work properly.
Title: Re: No RS232 support
Post by: alscrimp on March 30, 2010, 10:46:29 AM
Oh, also I went in and enabled the USB legacy support in the BIOS before making anymore chnages. How do I get a driver for USB then?.
Title: Re: No RS232 support
Post by: patio on March 30, 2010, 01:39:16 PM
Search for DOD USB drivers.
Why can't you do a full install of Win98 and just run thae external stuff in DOS mode ? ?
Title: Re: No RS232 support
Post by: Computer_Commando on March 30, 2010, 02:47:03 PM
Is there a reason your data acquisition can't be done in WinXP?  Or is the DA software DOS based?  Can you tell me more about the DA machine or system?  I was a data acquisition and control design engineer for more years than I care to admit here.  I knew this problem was coming and is probably beginning to hit hard now, since they have stopped making laptops with RS-232 ports and parallel ports.  Most DA interfaces are still RS-232 and the equipment has lifetimes of 20-30 years.
Title: Re: No RS232 support
Post by: alscrimp on March 31, 2010, 04:49:50 AM
This is a noise data acquisition setup that has to run in DOS. I tried to use a fully installed WinXP with no luck. I don't know why the laptop did not come with all of the Win98 software. I did not set it up because it is a leased unit. But now I find myself with this dilemna.
Title: Re: No RS232 support
Post by: alscrimp on March 31, 2010, 04:55:23 AM
Belay my last!! (sorry military talk). This data acquisition is what is known as a General Purpose Data Acquisition System (GPDAS) and was orginally written as a DOS system. There is no Windows support.
Title: Re: No RS232 support
Post by: rthompson80819 on March 31, 2010, 12:11:13 PM
You could try an adapter like this.

http://www.startech.com/item/ICUSB2321X-Professional-USB-to-RS-232-Serial-Adapter.aspx (http://www.startech.com/item/ICUSB2321X-Professional-USB-to-RS-232-Serial-Adapter.aspx)
Title: Re: No RS232 support
Post by: Computer_Commando on March 31, 2010, 03:10:59 PM
Belay my last!! (sorry military talk). This data acquisition is what is known as a General Purpose Data Acquisition System (GPDAS) and was orginally written as a DOS system. There is no Windows support.
I DOS to USB all the time.  That in itself is somewhat tricky but not difficult if you understand DOS, config.sys & autoexec.bat
Unfortunately, you're not USB to USB, you're USB to USB to RS-232.

There was a thread here, not too long ago about USB for DOS.  Search this forum and Google the same.

The adapter shown will require Windows, DOS support does not exist.  If you can "force" it to work under DOS is unknown.  You'll probably have to buy an adapter and attempt to make it work under DOS.

I'd say dilemma is an understatement.