CTS Serial Port Utilities, Version 4.2 HISTORY.TXT This file contains a synopsis of all changes in the CTS Serial Port Utilities up to and including this release. Version 4.2 December, 1996 ============================ NEW - PortInfo now reports the speed the modem(s) claims to support! Windows 95 specific error messages are now included! Improved operation of PortInfo, ResetCom, Resetmodem and Buffer in Windows 3.x and Windows 95 "DOS box" environments. ComxFIFO statements now verified in Windows 3.1x (registered versions) Enhanced Loopback plug detection and warning messages (registered versions) If a serial mouse is detected, the serial port used by the mouse is no longer tested by PortInfo. To perform a conflict on a serial port used by a mouse, run PortInfo from DOS without loading the mouse driver. BIOS_Fix has been changed to only update the BIOS data area as the default operation. Run "BIOS_FIX /WIN" to verify the Windows SYSTEM.INI file. Added support for new types of RPI modems. Modem Identification in the "PortInfo for Customer Support" version has been expanded to detect Motorola and Rockwell command sets (in addition to Hayes, USRobotics, Multitech and Microcom in earlier versions. We released a new standalone module called "Modem Finder for DOS". Modem Finder for DOS is designed for use by software developers who are installing new software or hardware and need to know details about the modem installation. Based upon PortInfo, Modem Finder for DOS creates a binary file containing the ports used by modems, the port addresses and IRQs, the modem speed, manufacturer (when available) and extended command set(s) supported. Contact CTS, Inc. for details. Version 4.1 (Custom Versions Only) ==================================== Version 4.0 August, 1996 ========================== ---------- -- New -- ---------- PortMaster - a User Interface for the rest of the Serial Port Utilities (SPU). PortMaster provides easy-to-use menus for PortInfo, ResetModem, ResetCom, HangUp and the port settings. In addition, PortMaster displays the command required to do the same operation from the DOS prompt so you can add the command to batch files as needed. PortInfo operation in a Windows DOS box has been improved to allow better operation in various Windows environments. Detects when a serial port is using a fast clock to provide data rates above 115,200 bps. PortInfo detects x2, x4 and x8 clock multipliers and reports in a WARNING message and on the summary screen. Improved RockWell RPI (TM) modem detection - detects both versions of RPI modems. Registered versions also detect if the correct driver is installed for Windows to use the modem properly as part of the SYSTEM.INI analysis. Several internal improvements provide increased accuracy and reliability. Version 3.4 January, 1996 ========================= -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- A "phantom port" would be tested in rare situations. Fixed! One type of port would occasionally report missing a few IRQs. Fixed! ---------- -- New -- ---------- World Wide Web Home Page and FTP downloading is available from: http://www.comminfo.com (world wide web) or ftp://ftp.comminfo.com/comminfo.com (current shareware versions) Version 3.3 October, 1995 ========================= -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- A program lockup would occur with BIOS_Fix in a few situations. Fixed! Version 3.2 September, 1995 ============================ ---------- -- New -- ---------- Added detection for RPI modems - these are displayed as "RPIFAXModem" on the PortInfo summary screen. Support is now available in the "Benchmarks and Standards" forum on CompuServe. GO BENCHMARK to join the forum and look for us in the diagnostics section. -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- A program lockup would occur in a few situations. Fixed! Version 3.1 August, 1995 ========================= It never fails. As soon as a new version gets released... The IRQ used by some new, inexpensive modems was not always detected by PortInfo (any version). Fixed! Version 3.0 July, 1995 ======================== ---------- -- New -- ---------- * Our phone numbers are changing! Please note our new area code is 770! Details are at the end of this file. * Added the BIOS_FIX utility. BIOS_FIX ensures correct installation and initialization of the serial ports when run from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The registered version verifies the Windows serial port setup as well. * Added the ResetMod(em) utility. ResetMod(em) performs a complete reset of a modem - doing everything possible (via software) to obtain or regain control of a modem. Very handy for use with internal modems when a power-off is the only other answer. An optional setup string can be added to ResetMod(em) if a specific modem setup is required. * Added the HangUp utility. HangUp will do everything possible to force the modem to hang up the phone line. Very helpful to run after programs that do not properly hang up the modem. * Added support for two new UART types to PortInfo: the 16650 from StarTech and the 16750 from Texas Instruments. These are identified as the "ST-650" and "TI-750" on the PortInfo summary screen respectively. Buffer-Trigger levels are also properly reported for the receive buffer. * Added new conflict tests: - Specific test for a Mouse/Modem conflicts; - A Long Test option for finding difficult to detect conflicts. * Added a new message type: "For Your Information". This message type will replace Warning messages, when appropriate (for example, when a Com4 port cannot be used in a computer). * PortInfo will perform a complete analysis of the serial port configuration and verify that Windows is set up correctly. Specific changes, if needed are reported. (Registered Versions) * A more complete interrupt scan. PortInfo detects the IRQs in CONSTANT use by devices that will definitely conflict with communications. These are listed and then avoided by PortInfo unless run with the /NoScan option. * A modem identification report that displays the modem identification command results (registered versions). * Introducing OEM versions of PortInfo - please see OEM.TXT or contact CTS for details. ---------------------------- -- Changes / Improvements -- ---------------------------- * The BIOS "sliding port" report has been greatly simplified. Individual ports that are mis-assigned are now noted on the summary screen. * Many other minor changes...please refer to the User Guide. -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- * Version 2.3 "over-fixed" the display card not detected problem - detecting cards that were not there! It's really fixed now! * Port address conflicts between a T/Port and other serial ports was not detected. Fixed! Version 2.3 February, 1995 ============================ -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- * Some newer 8514/A display cards were not being detected. Fixed! * PortInfo would "lock up" when running with one newer type of 8514/A display. Fixed! * An interaction between a Prohance serial mouse driver and PortInfo could cause a false report of a "T/PORT" port type. Fixed! ---------------------------- -- Changes / Improvements -- ---------------------------- * A new conflict test can often detect when both a "Com4" serial port and an 8514/A display are installed. If the conflict is not detected, the port type is shown as "Display" on the summary screen. * If a serial port interrupt is intermittant, the IRQ will be displayed on the summary screen along with an asterisk ("*") to indicate an IRQ was detected, but having a problem. * All utilities will leave the video mode alone - if you run DOS in 50 line mode, then it stays in 50 line mode! * Some error messages have been updated... Version 2.2 December, 1994 ============================ -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- * PortInfo would detect an internal loopback failure on a couple of brands of internal modems which do not support the loopback test. Fixed! * The Find_Com utility (Professional versions) did not allow excluding an address range from the serial port search. Fixed! Version 2.1 November, 1994 ============================ -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- * PortInfo would terminate with a "divide by zero" error on a computer with no serial ports installed. Fixed! ---------------------------- -- Changes / Improvements -- ---------------------------- * ESP detection is now optional - a potential existed for a system lockup on a few computers. Run PortInfo with the command line switch "/ESP" to enable ESP detection. * Log files and printer output now have graphics characters "filtered" so that the reports are more attractive. * Error messages about interrupt conflicts now include the IRQ number whenever possible. * New packaging reduces international AIR shipping rates. * Now accepting American Express. Version 2.0 October, 1994 =========================== -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- * One type of port conflict could cause PortInfo to lock up. FIXED! ---------- -- New -- ---------- * All utilities now operate within a Windows or OS/2 DOS box. * PortInfo now identifies which ports have modems and FAXmodems, also showing the FAX class(es) supported by the modem. * A new "short report" format option quickly shows current ports, IRQs, BIOS settings, and port types. * A new "install BIOS addresses" option allows PortInfo to update the BIOS data area with the actual port addresses. * PortInfo now automatically detects active network connections and avoids interfering with the connection. * PortInfo will detect a Hayes ESP card (version 1 & 2), and a Practical Peripherals HSSP. * Several of the port conflict tests have been improved. * A new local-loopback test detects failed UARTs. * All utilities are "aware" of the SMC serial port (UART) problem, and use the prescribed method of control to avoid system lockups with the port. * Additional bonus utilities and and program controls for registered users. * Many other minor changes...please refer to the User Guide. Version 1.3 February, 1994 ============================ -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- * Some network cards were interferred with by the PortInfo test resulting in a lockup after PortInfo completed running. Two changes in PortInfo address this problem: 1) There is a new command line option "/XIi" that you can use if you know which IRQ your network uses. This command line option forces PortInfo to eXclude Irq "i" from the test. For example, if your network card is on IRQ 5, then add "/XI5" to the command line. Use of this command completely resolves the problem. 2) PortInfo has also been changed to avoid the lockup condition if you don't specify the "/XIi" command option. Starting with version 1.3, PortInfo no longer causes a lockup, but you may lose your network connection. You canlog out and then back in to the network to re-establish your connection. * Under some circumstances, PortInfo would repeat message PI-3000 (a port address conflict message) when detecting two serial ports installed at the same address. Fixed! Version 1.2 December, 1993 ============================ -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- * PortInfo would not detect a PS/2 mouse on an ALR EISA system. Fixed. * DOS_COM /n was broken by previous "fix". Unbroken! Version 1.1 November, 1993 ============================= -------------- -- Problems -- -------------- * PortInfo failed to detect PS/2 mice. Fixed. * "DOS_COM /n /Aaaa" failed to install the port "n" at address "aaa" in the BIOS data area. Fixed. * The DOS_FMT command line was not parsed properly if the format was specified before the port ("DOS_FMT /n /Ffff" works, "DOS_FMT /Ffff /n" does not). Fixed. ---------------------------- -- Changes / Improvements -- ---------------------------- * PortInfo automatically detects and tests any ports listed in the BIOS data area when no CTSCOMn environment variables are set for the ports. * The "Emulated UART" note was expanded to cover original 8250B UARTs installed in fast computers. This UART is too slow for the faster computer bus, and is occasionally detected by PortInfo as an "Emulated UART". * Removed "/Iii" from a startup error message. "/Iii" is not used by any current utilities. * The control utilities BUFFER, COM_BPS, COM_FMT, DTR, IRQ, RESETCOM and RTS will first attempt to use the standard and CTSCOMn port assignments. If these fail, then they will check the BIOS data area for a possible alternate serial ports installed by DOS_COM or other BIOS data area update programs. Version 1.0 October, 1993 ============================ * Original Release Computer Telecommunication Systems, Inc. 3847 Foxwood Road, Suite 1000 Duluth, Georgia 30136-6100 USA Orders: 1-800-380-2666 Voice: 1-770-263-8623 FAX: 1-770-263-0124 CompuServe: 76662,2315 Internet: jjerrim@comminfo.com World Wide Web: http://www.comminfo.com