ComCFG v1.0 Serial Port Configuration Utility ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1995 Andrea Battaglia. All Rights Reserved. ComCFG is the simplest way to ensure that your PC's com ports are configured correctly. In fact, it should be standard equipment for every PC. All PC's are succeptible to a problem known as Com Port Packing. When this happens, the affected com ports typically become inaccessible to DOS and Windows applications. ComCFG remedies this problem by un-packing the affected ports each time you boot your computer. Installing and setting up serial devices, such as serial cards and internal modems, can be a confusing exercise. ComCFG won't solve all the problems you'll encounter, but it does fix the most basic, yet the most elusive problem. ComCFG ensures that the com port numbers you select on your hardware (ie; through jumpers, switches, etc) are the same numbers that your computer uses for your software. This seems obvious, but because of Com Port Packing, this is not always the case. When you install ComCFG, you can be assured that you've eliminated the largest single obstacle to successfully using your com ports. WHAT ARE COM PORTS? =================== The terms 'com port' and 'serial port' both refer to the same type of connection on your computer. Your computer usually has two or more of these. They are referred to as COM1, COM2, etc. The most common devices you might connect to a com port include: a serial mouse, your modem, a graphics tablet, or a null modem cable connecting your PC to another computer. SHIPPING LIST ============= You should have received the following files with ComCFG: COMCFG.EXE The executable file. COMCFG.TXT The file you're reading now. REGFORM.TXT Registration form. FILE_ID.DIZ File description file. INSTALLING COMCFG ================= ComCFG should be run as the very first command in your autoexec.bat file. To install ComCFG: 1) Decide what directory you will put the ComCFG files into. For example, c:\util\comcfg is a good place. 2) Create the directory using the Windows File Manager or the DOS mkdir command. 3) Copy all the files that came with ComCFG into this new directory. 4) Using Windows Notepad or the DOS Edit command, edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and insert a call to COMCFG.EXE at the very beginning of the file: C:\UTIL\COMCFG\COMCFG.EXE 5) Save the file, then restart your computer to complete the installation. THE FACTS ========= Install ComCFG and you could save yourself hours of aggravation and wasted time trying to figure out why your Windows application can't find your serial port or modem, or why your head to head DOOM game won't connect. ComCFG will check for and fix Com Port Packing at the source, each time you start your computer. ALL ABOUT COM PORT PACKING ========================== If you need to know all the gory details about Com Port Packing, then read on! Otherwise, you can safely skip to the section entitled REGISTRATION, and rest assured you'll never have a problem with Com Port Packing again! COM PORT PACKING in DOS ======================= Every PC compatible computer is susceptible to a problem called Com Port Packing. Com Port Packing occurs when you leave 'gaps' in your com ports. For instance, when you have com1, com2, and com4 physically installed in your computer, there is a gap between com2 and com4. COM1 installed COM2 installed COM3 not installed - gap! COM4 installed When you turn on your computer, your computer's BIOS builds a list of what com ports are installed. However, any gaps in com port numbers will be skipped and the list of your com ports will look like this: 1st com port COM1 2nd com port COM2 3rd com port COM4 4th com port not installed When you examine your com ports using any DOS utility (MSD for example), you'll find that the com ports are reported based on their place in this list. The 1st com port becomes com1, the second becomes com2, the third becomes com3. So now the third com port in your system (com4) is being called com3. This is Com Port Packing. Your PC now thinks you have the following com ports: COM1 Correct. COM2 Correct. COM3 Wrong - should be N/A. N/A Wrong - should be COM4. DOS programs may still be able to communicate with the third com port (ie; COM4) because most DOS programs circumvent the list of com ports and refer to them by their actual port address in hardware, not by their assigned name. This assumes that you remember that the third com port is actually COM4, not COM3 as reported by your PC. Where you'll have problems in DOS is if you look at the list of the com ports in your system, and mistakenly try to use COM3 when in fact it's COM4 that you have installed. You'll waste a lot of time trying to set up your DOOM serial game with the -COM3 option, when you should be using the -COM4 option instead. COM PORT PACKING in WINDOWS =========================== Problems associated with Com Port Packing become more evident when using applications in Windows. You are more likely to experience the problems associated with Com Port Packing when using Windows applications. Windows uses the list generated by your BIOS to determine what com ports are installed in your system. When this list is incorrect, then applications running in Windows will be unable to find any com ports that have shifted. Using the current example, Windows will tell you that COM4 is not installed. You will be able to select COM3, since Windows thinks it is installed, however, you won't be able to get any response from the device attached to the com port. REGISTRATION ============ This is an unregistered, evaluation version of ComCFG. When you register you'll receive the current version of ComCFG, and of course, good karma. The registered version of ComCFG includes a -q option to bypass those 'Press Any Key' prompts. This allows your PC to start up without any need for someone to be at the keyboard. TO REGISTER =========== You can register ComCFG through CompuServe, GO SWREG #8283. To register by mail, fill out and return the completed registration form you'll find in REGFORM.TXT, along with your payment of $15 US per copy of ComCFG to the address listed below. If registering by mail, email a copy of the registration form to me so I know to expect your registration. SUPPORT ======= Support for ComCFG can be obtained via email through internet or compuserve, or by writing to the address below. Support is limited to ComCFG and its' correct operation. Support for configuring any of your hardware CAN NOT be provided. CompuServe: 103126,1150 Internet: andreab@interlog.com Snail Mail: Andrea Battaglia 279 Gowan Avenue Toronto, Ontario Canada M4J 2K7 DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT ====================== Users of ComCFG must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "ComCFG is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of ComCFG." ComCFG is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. If you find this program useful and find that you are using ComCFG and continue to use ComCFG after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of $15 US to Andrea Battaglia. The $15 US registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer. Commercial users of ComCFG must register and pay for their copies of ComCFG within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting Andrea Battaglia. Anyone wishing to distribute ComCFG for any kind of remuneration must first contact Andrea Battaglia for authorization at the address in the previous section. You are encouraged to pass a copy of ComCFG along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it. Upon registration users will receive the latest version of ComCFG. (end)