COM5 and COM6

[sjbender]

I recently purchased a SIIG ISA CYBERPRO 4 port serial addon card. I can not get the system to recognize COM ports 5 and 6 in DOS. Is this a limitation of DOS or do I need to load special drivers on startup?

I need a total of 6 ports in DOS, 2 on the motherboard and the four from the addon board. Thanks in advance.

[PCSolutions]

Is this a Plug and Play card?

------------------
Keep it simple!

[sjbender]

In windows all the ports are recognized, just in DOS they are not. I received an answer from SIIG and they stated that no matter what hardware is used DOS limits users to no more then 4 com ports. I cant believe that... is there maybe another version of DOS that will, like Dr-Dos or something?


------------------

SJBender

[PCSolutions]

The reason that it works in Windows is because it is setting up virtual com ports

DOS does limit it to 4 com ports
com 1 3f8 IRQ 4
com 2 2f8 IRQ 3
com 3 3e8 IRQ 4
com 4 2e8 IRQ 3

Com ports are assigned by hexadecimal address. Also note the shared IRQ's This means that the com ports can use a device independently but not at the same time. For example a modem and mouse on the same IRQ

------------------
Keep it simple!

[This message has been edited by PCSolutions (edited 05-05-2001).]

[sjbender]

Are there any DOS utilities out there that let you map com ports higher then 4? IE. TSR or so that sets up 'virtual' com ports for DOS? If not, is there a DOS alternative that will allow you to go above the DOS 4 port limit?

------------------

SJBender

[Vernon Frazee]

http://www.techarts.com/products/rocketport/