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| Support - COM-Watch 2000 |
PCMCIA configuration
Applies to: CWOPT232LX/E, CWOPT485LX/E, CWOPTCANLX/E and CWOPTBRIL/E
Revision: 4.0 (4 July 2001)
The COM-Watch 2000 Portable Plug-Ins rely on PC Card (also known as PCMCIA) drivers for DOS, known as Socket Services and Card Services drivers. They are not part of the COM-Watch option because they should come with your notebook computer, due to license agreements. The Plug-In User Manual (chapter 4.2) introduces you to the PCMCIA basics and provides guidelines on the installation. In case you did not yet succeed, this document helps you to configure them properly in three steps.
Step 1: Get a PCMCIA driver set
The first step is to get hold of PC Card drivers for DOS. These provide access to the PCMCIA socket controller and
manage the insertion and removal of the cards. As the drivers are typically license restricted to the hardware, they should come with the notebook. Unfortunately, we see many notebook vendors moving away from including PCMCIA support under DOS.
We now offer a free 14-day evaluation version of CardWare 6.0, a set of Card- and Socket Services drivers for DOS, which is tested to work with COM-Watch 2000 Plug-In options. When you don't already have own a PCMCIA driver set, you are encouraged to try CardWare 6.0.
Free download: CardWare 6.0 for DOS(654kB)
Get your free 14-day evaluation version of CardWare 6.0, a set of Card- and Socket Services drivers for DOS. It supports many PC Card controllers, including CardBus adapters, and is tested to work with COM-Watch 2000 Plug-In options. You can purchase a CardWare license (part no. CWPCCLICENSE) through your local distributor or CER International bv. |
Step 2: Install the driver set
The driver set comes with automated installation procedures which detect the hardware in the target system and make the necessary changes to the boot files, the CONFIG.SYS to be more specific. Typically three drivers must are loaded here: Socket Services, Card Services and a resource manager. Depending of the driver set, the PCMCIA related part of the CONFIG.SYS looks like this:
DEVICE = C:\CARDWARE\DPMS.EXE
DEVICEHIGH = C:\CARDWARE\SSPCIC.EXE
DEVICEHIGH = C:\CARDWARE\PCCS.EXE
DEVICE = C:\CARDWARE\PCRM.EXE /AUTODETECT |
Check that your system boots and loads the PCMCIA drivers without prompting error messages.
Step 3: Check the resource allocation
COM-Watch 2000 automatically allocates the resources necessary to use the PC Card when the Plug-In device driver is loaded. The allocation of the I/O address range and IRQ-line is validated by the Card Services' resource manager. When successful, COM-Watch shows the number of ports found. In any other case, the message "No ports found for this device driver" is displayed. If so, you need to make changes to the allocation configuration file, part of the PCMCIA driver set.
This configuration file, called CARDWARE.INI, is used by the resource manager to indicate the system resources available for PCMCIA. At least one of the resource combinations supported by the PC Card should be available on the notebook system.
[Resources]
MEM=0xD0000,0x8000,E
I/O=0x140,0x20,E,10 ; normally not used
I/O=0x220,0x20,E,10 ; reserved
I/O=0x300,0x20,E,10 ; prototype card
I/O=0x330,0x40,E,10 ; COMPAD card
I/O=0x250,0x20,E,10 ; ARGOSY card
IRQ=3,E
IRQ=4,E |
Free download: PCC Test (20kB)
This utility checks your system, PCMCIA driver set and configuration for COM-Watch 2000 compatibility. If you encounter the message "No ports found...", use this test program to find the cause and solve it. It comes with instructions and troubleshooting tips. |
In rare cases (depends of your machine and resident software load to memory) you may experience problems booting CardWare configuration. If you have problems to load CardWare you may try add following settings to your CONFIG.SYS:
DEVICE=...\HIMEM.SYS ... /NUMHANDLES=128
...
DEVICE=...\EMM386.EXE ... NOEMS
...
STACKS=9,512
...
FILES=99
...
DEVICE=...\DPMS.EXE ... MEM=XMS |
We recommend usage of latest versions of HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE (from Microsoft DOS Version 6.22)
Please take time to read these installation notes:
NOTE 1: Exclude memory area
The socket controller typically communicates via a memory window. When you use a memory manager (such as EMM386)
this memory area must be excluded. Normally, the installation of the PCMCIA driver set takes care of this but you may need to verify it. For example, check the following line in your CONFIG.SYS to exclude the area D000h to D800h:
| DEVICEHIGH = C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS X=D000-D800 |
NOTE 2: PC Card bridge mode
New portables are often equipped with a CardBus adapter, replacing the older PCMCIA standard. CardBus is designed to be backwards compatible so it supports regular PC Cards. On some notebooks, however, you must explicitly alter a setting in the BIOS, often referred to as "PC Card Controller Mode" or "Bridge Mode". It can be set to "CardBus" or "PCIC" and sometimes "Auto" mode. For COM-Watch 2000, it should be set to "PCIC".
NOTE 3: Windows 3.x and Windows 95/98 compatibility
COM-Watch 2000 cannot benefit from PCMCIA/PC card support by Windows because COM-Watch is an DOS application which does not have access to Windows functionality. When you want to use one of the Portable PC Plug-Ins from within Windows 3.1 or Windows 95/98, the Socket and Card Services drivers must be loaded, just as in plain DOS mode.
NOTE 4: Windows ME/NT/2000 not supported
The COM-Watch 2000 Portable PC solutions do not operate under Windows ME/NT/2000.[ return to FAQ overview ]
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