CTS Serial Port Utilities, Version 2.3 HISTORY.DOC This file contains a synopsis of all changes in the CTS Serial Port Utilities up to and including this release. 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