T60 COM1 via ExpressCard possible? Pls Help! [ Edited ]

[s50]

Good day,

I came across this forum in hopes I can get support from others more knowledgable than myself.  From device manager, my resources tab indicates I/O range 7cf8-7cff, IRQ 18.  I need true IRQ com1 settings for operation of an automotive diagnostic interface.  I cannot alter the settings; "use automatic settings" is greyed out.  I have disabled com1 in  BIOS, and have verified no other adapters are using IRQ4.

I know there must be a way of adjusting this machine to emulate a "real" serial port, which resides on COM1.

Also, the device allows me to claim  COM1, but I know this is only a name, given the above listed I/O range and IRQ.

Tips, advice, and suggestions are highly welcomed!

Thank you in advance!

[TuuS]

So your trying to use a legacy serial port device on a laptop without a serial port, so you installed a serial port card.... correct? Why is it not working? the resources the computer uses shouldn't be an issue, even on 20yo computers the resources were adjustable, either though jumper settings or in the bios, so I doubt any piece of equipment or software is going to force you to use any specific resources. ps. I'm making a lot of assumptions here, so maybe it would be best to give us more details on what your trying to do. Also, if your test equipment is that old, why not just get a laptop from that period, you can probably get one for well under $50.

[s50]

In a nutshell, yes. The proprietary diagnostic software, which is current, loaded, operational and very expensive, "likes" the T60. The current, functional diagnostic interfaces utilized by the software require a true com1 port- signaled by a physical semaphore flag IRQ, not windows renamed "com1" port. Quatech expresscard is proven to work in this application- as they are one of the only known devices to do so. Unfortunately, because too many end users didn't know to disable their on-board serial port chip, and went on to configure the resources to conflict- Quatech no longer offers ANY support on this matter- and expressly states avoiding allocating resources which appear to peripherals as a true port. They did this because of computer lock-up complaints received. This configuration is wide spread across many industries. I just don't know anyone first hand utilizing this particular set up. I am not well versed enough to know what information to include, but I welcome any suggestions. Further research has revealed my challenge may be with windows ACPI management, as all devices are configured automatically, and "use automatic settings" box is greyed out, so I cannot un-check it and enter my own settings.

[s50]

Found my own answer, but thanks for the condescending assumptions. I think its funny when some people treat new board members as if they are stupid just because there aren't 10K posts associated with their name. Anyway, because this is a relevant and highly valuable piece of information, I'll post my findings. MS says it best. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315278

[TuuS]

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s50 wrote:
Found my own answer, but thanks for the condescending assumptions. I think its funny when some people treat new board members as if they are stupid just because there aren't 10K posts associated with their name. Anyway, because this is a relevant and highly valuable piece of information, I'll post my findings. MS says it best. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315278

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I don't know why you feel I was being condescending or making assumptions, I sincerely tried my best to figure out what it was you were trying to do, and being an ASE master auto tech as well as an IT tech, I thought I could be helpful, but if you feel I wasn't, I'll appologize, even though I spend a considerable amount of my valuable time trying to help you, and was just insulted for my efforts.

I guess it's true, no good deed goes unpunished, but I'm glad you found your solution.

ps. If you told us exactly what you were trying to do I woudn't have had to make any assumptions.

[s50]

No worries. Thanks for your efforts. Just wanted to post so the solution will eventually make its way into search engines for others.

For more information, I've wiped the HD, and reinstalled the OS to factory settings.  At NO point during the instal was I ever given the option to disable / disallow ACPI, and set for "normal PC".  I've spent the entire day fiddling with this laptop, and I'm still downloading updates-- and thats with about 30M download speed.  Very frustrating!

[TuuS]

You need to change that setting in your bios, there was probably no need to reinstall your OS.

[s50]

I've found the OS overrides any changes in BIOS. Others have confirmed this. I'm not savvy enough to figure a way around windows grip on the resource settings. I've been able to address the slot to IRQ4, but IO is still a challenge at this point; the manual configuration settings are still unavailable. I do have an option in BIOS for configuring PCI devices, they are referred to as INTA - INTH (INTa, INTb, INTc etc.) I can set IRQ's for them, but dont know enough about what I'm doing to determine what refers to the particular card, as nothing cross-references. UGG! PS- and you're right about the re-install. I've found a way to disable the ACPI; the re-installation didn't even give me that option. I had to "roll back" the driver under device manager, computer, which was ACPI. . .